Thursday, April 11, 2013

Hawaiian Family Reunion 2013

We just returned from our second family reunion with my side of the family in Kihei, Maui.  All twenty-two of us were able to go for a week and we had a glorious time playing at the beaches, swimming in the pools, and just enjoying the warm, balmy weather.  Here are some pictures of our week in paradise...

 
As predicted, Lia's and Logan's favorite activity was playing in the pool.  Many a mornings and afternoons were spent this way.  Here I am with my little fishes.


Playing with Logan in the pool while big sister tries to get in on the fun (a regular occurrence).
 

 
Ron tossing Lia in the air.


Our cool boy just chillin' in his fish floatie.
 

 
We learned that one of our favorite places to hang out was the large, grassy area outside our condominium.  It was perfect for Logan to walk on and the other kids to play games on.  Here is Logan strutting his stuff.
 
 
And he's off!
 
 
Lia was much braver this trip to Hawaii than her first and actually ventured into the ocean several times.  She loved to play a game she made up called "Queen of the Waves" which involved her running back and forth with the surf.  Her older cousin, Garrett, was kind enough to play this with her a couple of times.

 
The queen of the waves.

 
Lia swimming in the grandparents' pool with Bryce, Garrett, and Vivi.

 
The gang gathering around grandma.
 
 
Uncle Tip tossing Lia into the pool!

 
The triplets and Lia doing "pencil dives" into the pool.


The silhouettes of Grandma, Lia, Vivi, and Callie against the Pacific.
 

 
Lia, my mom, some of the girls, and me hanging out before eating dinner and celebrating Spencer's 16th birthday in their condo.

 
The cousins playing tag out on the grassy area during the birthday party.

 
The glorious sunset on Spencer's birthday.  What a way to celebrate the big 16!
 

The birthday boy and Logan.  As always, Spencer was a big help with Logan that week.
 

 
Grandma joined us on a walk one morning out to the jetty that was next to our condo.


A family photo with a grumpy Lia.
 
 
Logan hitched a ride on my shoulders on our walk back.

 
Introducing Logan to the surf.
 

The view from our condo's lanai. 
 

 
This was a common sight each morning from our lanai--Lia and papa swimming in the pool while I stayed in the room during Logan's morning nap.  Aren't they so cute?

 
While most of the group spent a 15-hour, marathon day exploring the Hana Road, we stayed back "home" and went to the Polo Beach in the afternoon.  This is where Logan was introduced to sand for the first time and really got a kick out of it.  Here is Lia, Logan, and Trenton hanging out on a towel before getting thoroughly covered in sand.

 
My two keikis playing away.  Just precious. 
 
 
The Hartland fam on Polo Beach.
 
 
I think this is my favorite picture from our entire week in Hawaii--Logan covered in sand and happy as can be.

 
Ron tossing Logan up in the air!

 
Lia entertained herself for many minutes on Polo Beach running and dancing around while singing to herself.  It was the funniest thing to watch.  Here is one picture I managed to snap of her.

 
And another picture.  Check out that artistic pose!
 
 
Grandpa playing with Logie.
 
 
Papa playing with Logan in the surf with Lia at their side.

 
Another morning, Lia accompanied me down to "the dumps" (one of my family's favorite snorkeling spots) while Ron stayed home with a napping baby.  Here we are traversing down the lava-rock path to the beach.


I was grateful that Lia happily played on the beach while I snorkled with Spencer.  We saw three turtles that morning!
 

 
Most of the gang on the beach after our morning snorkel was complete.

 
Another morning, the entire gang made the trek up the coast to Honolua Bay--a snorkel spot my family found back in 1988.  One of my favorite parts of the beach is the cool walk you have to take through a very lush jungle.  Here is some of my family posing amongst the vines.
 
 
The Hartland fam down on Honolua Bay.

 
Logan and Lia digging into the sand.


Some of the group getting ready to snorkel.
 

 
Lia enjoyed playing in the creek on the beach with Vivian for quite some time.

 
How we found Logan one afternoon in our condo's kitchen.  Silly boy.  He's never tried that at home. :-)
 

Grandma invited the kiddos over to Brent's and Susie's room one night for root beer floats.  Logan was as interested in the lawn chairs as he was in the yummy drink!
 

 
Lia and the triplets drinking their root beer floats out on the fabulous lawn.

 
Papa tossing Lia in the air!


Our little family enjoyed a walk on the nearby Keawakapu Beach one morning. 
 

 
 A close-up of our little family.


Logan sporting the cool, tie-dyed hat that we custom ordered from the Farmer's Market last summer.  It's pretty cool with the blue flames, isn't it?
 

 
Lia playing back in our pool with her Montana cousins and Aunt Susie.

 
We went shopping one morning and visited the outdoor market that we discovered last time.  We decided to stop and get some "shave ice" before wandering through all of the booths.  Lia and Logan loved it!

 
Logan devouring some shave ice with vanilla ice cream.  Yum!
 
 
Shopping away!

 
Our little family spending time on Keawakapu Beach with some of the cousins.

 
Lia playing with Garrett, Riley, and Trenton.

 
We managed to hit up our favorite breakfast place, the Kihie Caffe, one morning for their delicious French toast and eggs on fried rice.  It was so delicious!

 
After breakfast, we walked to the park across the street and spent some time on the playground.  This was Logan's first time playing in a park and he loved it!
 
 
The gang swinging away.

 
Lia climbing a cool tree in the park.

 
Lia playing "Queen of the Waves" one more time with her cousins before they had to catch their flight home!
 
 
Callie, Riley, Lia, and Garrett awaiting the next wave.


And here it comes!
 

 
Mama even joined in for some of the fun.


This is how I found my mother on our last full day in paradise--out on the lawn reading a book!  I just loved how she looked with the the palm tree shadows on the grass.
 

 
 After the majority of my family left (with the exception of my parents), we spent our last evening driving up to the mall in Lahaina to attend the weekly, free hulu show.  Logan was almost as interested in watching the show as Lia.  It was a fun way to end our time in Hawaii. 
 
Thanks everyone for a wonderful week in Hawaii!  Until next time...
 


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

14 Months Old Today!


Our little keiki turned fourteen months old today...and in Hawaii of all places!  What a lucky baby!  Logan is about to complete his first vacation in Hawaii--making this his second trip on a plane and the fourth state he has visited.  With the exception of the five-hour flight from San Francisco to Maui, Logan has really done a great job travelling this week and has enjoyed his times on the beach and in the pool.  Besides this big trip, he has really started to "grow up" this past month.  He got his first haircut which made him look more like a little boy than a baby for the first time.  In addition, he is doing so many news things and, of course, we just think he is the smartest baby ever! ;-)  He is picking up toys that look like phones and "talking" into them and also picking up brushes and trying to comb his hair.  He likes to help me put away things, sit on my lap when I am on the floor playing with him, and feeding himself with a spoon if we hand it to him.  His ability to communicate has continued to develop and he will now walk to the fridge and scream when he wants his milk AND he officially said his first word (uh oh) in Hawaii after dropping a toy on the sand.  Logan has since said "uh oh" a few more times.  The funny thing is that this was Lia's exact same word!  What are the chances of that?!  Logan also understands many of our commands and statements and will even tug at his clothes when we say that it is time to change his diaper and he will also try to take them off when we turn on the water for his nightly bath.  He also has begun to take out his sucker and even pick up his blanket when we get him out of the crib.  Logan has also become very playful and LOVES playing little games with us and laughing with us.  And, lastly, he will now cling to my leg if I put him on the floor if he is in an unfamiliar location or around a stranger.  That's our cute boy in a nutshell!  Until next month!

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter 2013

Easter weekend was a glorious one this year due to some unbelievable warm weather and some good times with family.  We enjoyed spending Saturday evening at my parents will all my brothers and the cousins and Sunday at home with our own little family.


Since Logan began walking, we really have not had much good weather to merit him walking around outside.  As a result, yesterday was his first time walking around in sneakers.  It was so cute watching him try to figure out how to walk around with these heavy things on his feet.  Besides one fall and a scrape on the knuckle, he did pretty good.  Look at that cute boy!


After dinner, the kids were treated to an Easter egg hunt put on by grandma.  Here is Lia finding one of her treats hidden in a bush.


Mom posing with her kiddos.


Lia showing off her book of mermaid stickers that she just found!


All of the cousins after the hunt was complete.


On Sunday morning, Lia and Logan found their baskets and their hidden eggs first thing in the morning.  I was too busy filming the affair to take any pictures.  Oops.  So here is Logan playing with his sister's Easter bucket afterwards.


And playing with some eggs!


Lia and Logan and their loot.


We had such a busy week leading up to Easter this year that we never had a chance to dye any Easter eggs in the evening.  We finally got around to it Easter morning after Logan went down for his morning nap.  Better late than never, right?  Here is Lia and papa working hard on coloring their eggs before soaking them in the color! 

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Preschool Easter Egg Hunt

Yesterday, Lia and I went to Clark's Creek Park for her preschool class' Easter egg hunt.  We love this park, but have not been there since last summer!  Lia enjoyed playing on the massive play set with her classmates and participating in a giant egg hunt.  It was fun walking around the field with her trying to locate the dozen eggs that had her name on them.  Lia is now happily munching away on her stash of chocolate candy and her brother is having the time of his life walking around with the Easter basket/bucket that she brought home with her. 


Lia and Sienna--her good friend from class.

 
Lia picking up one of her eggs!


Lia enjoying her loot after the hunt was over with another classmate, Mollie, and her best friend, Kaylee.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

13 Months Old!

 
Our little man turned 13 months old today!  He is a walking machine now and only drops down to all fours in order to climb down stairs.  So, really, I can say that he is walking all of the time.  It's so fun to watch as he just waddles around like this little, stalky penguin.  He still loves to get into anything and everything and throws a little fit whenever choke-worthy or dangerous items are pulled from his hands.  He loves playing games and laughs, laughs, laughs whenever we do this with him.  His dad has also taught Logan a slew of things from the high chair!  He will now feed Ron his own food, eat food from a spoon that is hanging out of Ron's mouth, and bonk you on the head whenever we ask for it.  So funny.  Logan has also developed a definite preference for his papa and will give him "love" all the time by laying his head on Ron's shoulder.  I, on the other hand, get none of this!  Apparently, I am just the woman in the house who takes care of this boy's needs all day long, but gets nothing in return. :-)  Logan caught another bad cold the end of February and has been a cranky, snotty mess for a week now.  This is his fifth bad cold this winter and we are all getting so tired of it.  Hopefully this will be the last illness during the winter months, but we shall see.  Logan is definitely understanding lots of things we say (about bath time, meal time, finding his sister, or welcoming his dad home from work) and will respond accordingly.  He still isn't really saying any real words although he says "mama" and "papa" a lot, I don't know how much of it is just baby babble.  Logan also LOVES to point to everything with his entire hand and touch everything.  Such a fun stage!  Love you, Logie!