Hawaii

Our impromptu Spring Break trip to Hawaii with the girls was a hit.

This was when we got in, early in the morning, we were all tired from no sleep so we looked around Kona and shopped a little until the condo was ready.

The view from our lanai.

After checking in we went out to look for shells, well, Ava and I did, Harper was content watching the waves.  We were ready for bed early.  After not finding any movies we wanted to watch, we started a 2010 season of Project Runway and watched it every night, good for lots of laughs.

Our first and only pretty sunset of the trip.  It was a beauty.

Monday we went to Old Airport beach to look for shells, no luck but they found a huge moray eel and

many sea slugs and crabs in the tide pools.

Then we found this beach which was wonderful, calm and clear, not many people.

They swam and dove looking for shells and at fish.  There was a crowd of people on the shore looking at a sea turtle,

Ava got a picture of it, then she noticed another one not far from Harper.

Harper was able to swim very close to it!

A funny picture after a pizza dinner in Kona.

Tuesday we went to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens.

So many fabulous huge leaves.

And flowers, this was the orchid area.

After the gardens we drove into Hilo for lunch and went to Big Island Candies where you can watch the candy being made.

Wednesday we headed south to the Place of Refuge

and Black Sand Beach.  Stopped at the Punalu'u Bake Shop where Ava and I tried

  malasadas, a Portuguese filled pastry, which we didn't care for.

More shell hunting in front of the condo.

Thursday- having breakfast in Kona before we head to the airport.

One last selfie, such a fun trip.

 

Liann's visit

We had a great visit with Liann and her Mom this morning.

Liann flew to Seattle last night to drive back to San Diego with Mariza,

who is in the process of moving to Oak Harbor.

We heard all about Liann's life.  She loves her marketing position at the Jack in the Box corporate headquarters in San Diego.  She also has a nice boyfriend of two years, and it sounds like he just might be "the one".  She also filled us in on Lindsey and how she's doing at UCSB (she's doing great).

 

 

Stardust Diner

The girls had early release yesterday so we picked them up and had lunch

at the Stardust Diner.  It was good, great service, large portions (Harper had the kid's mac n' cheese, so hers isn't huge).  We talked about our plans for Spring Break, then went to Ross.  

 

Wren and Brentley

Early Friday we got to see Wren one last time before they left for home.

She was startled to see Great Grandpa taking her picture! 

She's starting to coo and even told me a short story.

Such a sweet baby girl.

Later, we had a visit from the world's strongest baby girl, Brentley.  She's up on all fours and will be crawling soon. All those crunches she's done are paying off, she's ready to follow Hattie around!

Such a sweetheart, our family is so blessed with these beautiful babies!  

Note: The one picture I got of Hattie was blurry, darn it.

 

Wren

Monday we visited with Macee, Craig and Wren, or Wrenny, as Macee calls her.  I got to feed her a bottle and took this picture when she was on the floor with Des.  

She is such a cutie!

 

Meeting Wren

We finally got to meet Wren!  Macee and Craig drove over today to visit.

They said Wren was a great little traveler, sleeping most of the way.

She was a little nervous at seeing new family members (like Great Grandpa and I), but Macee and Des 

got her calmed down.  She was bright eyed and looking at everything, then had a bottle and a nap.

 

The girls came up after Ava's game Saturday (a 1-0 win).

We checked out the new Blueberry Hill store and then Ava asked to go into Cliff's Vintage Music Shoppe next door.   He's the only antique phonograph repairman on the West coast. He explained the history of them and how they work, really a nice guy.

Saturday night cookie baking

Sunday apple pie baking lesson

We all ended up working on this very tiny wooden puzzle, it was a challenge,

but Harper finally finished it.

When we took them home we got to see the cute miniature greenhouse Ava put together from a kit.   

 

Wren Parker

  Our Great-Granddaughter Wren Parker was born on January 26th.

Macee said it was a long labor but they both are doing well.

We think she is perfect.

Grandpa and Grandma are thrilled!

Aunt Rielee, too.

She's cute wearing a chicken hat,

or showing off her freshly washed hair, 

or just relaxing.  We can't wait to get to Boise soon and hold her.

 

The cutest visitors

We had the cutest visitors yesterday.  First Hattie came over to play, 

Uncle enjoyed some quality reading time with her.  She loves Brown Bear, Brown Bear.

Then Will brought Brentley over, she's so sweet, strong and alert, looking at everything.

Dad forgot her binkie which gave me some walking and bouncing time with her to keep her happy while we visited with Will.   Love these little girls.

 

Baby salamanders

While walking on the Dolan's canyon trail, Ava turned over the log to see the roots of a mushroom.  She was surprised to find a baby salamander.

Then Harper found one. They were so thrilled to see these cute, tiny creatures and let them crawl around on their hands.  It was difficult to put them back.

Ava got a sewing lesson this weekend, she's making a tote bag.