On the white sandy beach of HAWAII (yes, again.....)

In mid-July we spent 12 days in Kona on the Big Island. Yes, we went to Hawaii AGAIN this year. (it's tough to be us, huh?)  James and I realized that in the (almost) 6 years we have been married we have been to Hawaii together 5 times.  Elin, who was not quite three when we went this year, was on her 3rd trip to Hawaii. This was Anikka's first trip to Hawaii.

The flight to Kona was completely uneventful (5.5 hour non stop flight). Our girls barely made a peep and they even took a nap. Lucky us!

Elin got this suitcase for
Christmas and was excited to
finally use it in the airport and
not just in our kitchen.

Girls with our plane in the background

Amazingly, they both napped on the flight.

By the last hour, Anikka was trying to escape.

Welcome to Kona!

Our days consisted of swimming in the pool,

going to the beach,

 and usually taking an afternoon nap. For the baby, of course.

After our first few days our friend (and former nanny) Katie joined us. She is also known as "Elin's best friend" (per Elin).

We had great food,

Anikka's first shave ice on the day we arrived. It
was bigger than her head!

Macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup

Malasadas from Tex's

Katie's first shave ice

 we saw hula dancing,

and had beautiful sunsets.

These are some of my favorites places/pictures of the beaches we went to.  My girls LOVED playing in the sand and surf.

Keiki Pools

Hapuna Beach

Magic Sands

Some of my other favorite pictures of my girls. Yes, people asked me if Katie was my oldest daughter :)

On our last day in Kona we went on a catamaran to Kealakekua Bay Marine Sanctuary for snorkeling. Everyone had a great time.

Spinner dolphins

Spinner dolphins right next to our boat

Anikka and James

Maija and Katie

Elin looking through a see through boogie board to see the fish

Tired girl

Exhausted baby

Last shave ice

The flight home wasn't quite as peaceful as the flight there.  We had to find many things to try to distract our tired and bored children.

iPad time

diaper hat

Lots of snacks

As always we had a great time in Hawaii.  We played in the pool and at the beach everyday, had great food and we were even able to find some time to relax (which is quite hard with two small children to keep amused).    James and I had a couples massage on a private lanai,  Elin and I got pedicures,

and we made lasting family memories.

When I am having a hard day I will look at this picture which is the view from our oceanfront lanai at the Royal Sea Cliff.

Maija