The airplane ride was my biggest fear. I was afraid that Mason wouldn't sleep and that he would cry the whole time. I was pretty much right. He didn't cry the WHOLE time, but enough of the time to make us crazy. He would go to sleep for short increments and then wake up screaming. Just unhappy altogether about the plane. The big kids did awesome though. Micah slept a great deal of the way and Maddie was perfectly content to watch movies, play her electronic toys, color, etc.
We finally made it there and Mason really did quite well throughout the trip, considering the drastic change from his normal routine. And Maddie and Micah did great too, of course. Just give them a beach and they are happy!
Mason's first airplane ride
My three sweet babies
Loving the beach
Love this sweet little blondie
Miss Hollywood is off to get a bucket of water
This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip. A big boat race was going on this day, and these guys were sitting there waiting on their boat to finish. Micah squatted down with them to wait it out! I think he might have been trying to talk with them (he will talk to anyone) but I'm not sure if they were receptive :)
Playing in the sand on the 4th of July
More playing in the sand
Here comes the water!
Family picture on the beach. Too bad Mason isn't looking at the camera.
He really, really wanted to like the water but was still afraid. He was trying to work up the courage to get in
This little girl is not afraid at all. Big change from just a few years ago when she was still pretty timid, just like Micah
The beach was definitely our main activity, but we did do other things as well. One of the big highlights for both of the big kids was a catamaran ride that we took. Mason had to stay behind with Mimi and Papa - he does not like to be confined so we knew he wouldn't like it. The ride was much rougher, bumpier, and more adventurous than I expected. However, the kids loved it and were not afraid at all. At the advice of one of the boat's workers, we moved to the roof of the boat which helped us avoid getting drenched. It also gave us a great view. And unfortunately for me, a great sunburn as well.
Before the ride. The sun was in our eyes which is why Micah looks unhappy, although he wasn't
Another favorite activity of our trip was walking in the evenings and checking out the street performers. Waikiki Beach is a crazy area, for sure and there are a number of interesting characters to be found. One night we let the kids give money to the street acts and have their pictures taken with them. They loved it at the time, but the next day Micah told me that we shouldn't really "waste anymore money" by giving it to them. Not sure if he came up with that wisdom on his own, but it was pretty funny.
We called this one "Silver Guy" (for obvious reasons) He was our favorite of the street performers - not creepy like some of them and willing to smile or give a high five. He was also near our hotel so we saw him every single evening
With an Angry Bird. We weren't really crazy about this one. Maddie said that he was too angry :)
Gold guy
Hello Kitty - a bigger hit with Maddie than with Micah
This was not all of the street performers either. There was a guy covered in newspaper, another silver guy, a lady dressed up like a flower, many people singing, people dancing, people drawing pictures, people making balloon animals, and probably many others. A simple walk down from our hotel could provide lots of entertainment!
One of our last activities that the kids loved was the Dole Pineapple Plantation. This is something that we do every time we visit and this time was Micah's first time to visit there because he went to a different island on his last trip to Hawaii. The kids browsed the store, picked out their pineapple souvenirs, and then we set off to ride the Pineapple Express, which is a train ride that tells about the plantation and it's history. Micah loves trains so this was something I knew he would enjoy. Mason did not enjoy the train and he tried his best to make sure nobody else enjoyed it either. We did get him settled down eventually but it was a constant effort to keep him happy. The kids also did a maze shaped like a pineapple where you try to find certain checkpoints along the way. It was a fun stop for sure!
They have their tickets for the Pineapple Express
My little pineapples
I surely better not forget the bubbles. In the International Marketplace, which is a huge shopping area right across the street from our hotel, they added something new from the last time we visited. It was this large pool of water and these big bubbles that kids could get into and then run around like a hamster, if they could even stand up. Maddie did this early on in the trip and Micah didn't want to do it, but then he changed his mind so we went back and they both did it together. They both loved it and it was funny to try to watch them stand up without falling down.
She's up - at least for a second or two
What a nosedive!
Right before he got in his bubble. He is ready!
He didn't stay on his feet long enough for me to get a picture!
Those are the highlights of the trip. We did have a great time although traveling with a 15 month old is truly a challenge. And the plane ride home - oh my. The rest of the airplane was trying to sleep but Mason didn't want it to happen that way. Actually, he wasn't all that bad. He just couldn't stay asleep, bless his heart! He would go to sleep and then wake up very upset. And I tried to hold him, thinking he might sleep better, but I was 100% absolutely miserable from my boatride-induced sunburn so holding him was not the best option for me. And since we arrived home, sleep has not been good for any of us except Micah, who seems to be 100% immune to all sleep issues. Mason struggled for several nights but eventually got back in the groove. Mark also had a few hard nights. But as usual where sleep is concerned, Maddie and I struggled the most. So much that I ended up getting some Melatonin for myself to try to get myself back into a good sleep pattern. And I actually checked with the pediatrician as to what to do about Maddie and she recommended Melatonin for her too. I bought some, but haven't had to use it. Right after I got desperate enough to ask the doctor, she finally went to sleep at a normal time and slept all night.
I don't really mean to complain about the sleep and the travel difficulties, because I do know how blessed we are to be able to go on these fun trips that so many don't get to experience. We have a great life and I'm so thankful!
