I had grand intentions of blogging a lot on this vacation. 

That hasn’t happened. 

Here’s the thing… I don’t feel bad about it. Because instead of writing, I’ve been living which always makes for more interesting stories later. We’ve enjoyed so many things this trip, and it isn’t even close to being over! 

The trip to Kona was surprisingly l-o-n-g. Although we only had to change planes one time, there was a layover, and we ended up being awake for nearly 24 hours by the time we arrived. As we landed, we felt the warm tropical air descend upon us and we knew that finally, we were here!!! 

We started our first day in Kona with breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants, Bubba Gump’s. Sadly, they changed their breakfast menu and don’t have the same rum French toast I enjoyed here on our honeymoon but I am willing to let that go because a) the breakfast was still pretty dang good, and b) they make a damn fine Bloody Mary, which I enjoyed immensely. The kids shared a breakfast dish with mahi mahi in it… Never let it be said that I am raising picky eaters! They loved it!  After breakfast, we walked around town a bit. Later, my SIL and I went to Costco for groceries, while the guys and the kids played in the pool. There is really no way to vacation affordably without cooking facilities and a trip to Costco, and I am thankful for both. It rocks! 

Hey! One of those is mine!!! 

Day 2: We visited one of our favorite beaches, which is Hapuna.  It’s a little bit of a drive from where we are staying, but totally  worth it.  They improved it a lot since B and I went there for our honeymoon 14 years ago. There are pavilions now, a lifeguard stand and a snack shack. I didn’t go to the snack shack, but we almost did when we discovered that most of the frozen water bottles we grabbed had salt in them, left by the previous condo renters in the hopes of making more usable ice packs.  Live and learn!

 
The kids loved Hapuna though. It was so fun to watch the smiles on their faces as they headed towards the water. It reminded me of the times I spent on the beaches as a kid, the first time this Oregon girl realized that it was possible to be in ocean water that didn’t require survival suits.  They spent a lot of time just playing in the waves, but also did some snorkeling and boogie boarding.  Alex snorkeled and boogie boarded at the same time, because he is awesome like that…. Lily took to the water like a proverbial fish, and couldn’t stop smiling. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my kids have such a great time! 

We are off to an amazing start here. My goals for this trip are simple: I just want to slow down. To be in the moment, free from anxiety and stress. Truly present for each memory with the people I love most… More to come later!

Wow! This water is so warm!

The aquatic multi-tasker!

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