Kona Hawaii, Week 1

 Aloha!

We have been in Kona a week now and have enjoyed a lot of time relaxing and playing in the water.

Last weekend was King Kamehameha Day, a state holiday for Hawaii, we were able to see the parade, go to the street fair and a concert in Kona.  

We took Elin to the beach for the first time.  She seemed to think it was pretty fun but she wasn't quite sure what to do about the sand. She would get it on her hands and didn't really like it, so she would lick it off then get mad that there was sand in her mouth.  We didn't end up staying very long.

After the first time at the beach she decided it was more fun and she has been having a great time. 

Kieki pools

Spencer Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 We have also spent a lot of time in the pool at our resort. 

We have found some time to do a little "touring" of the island.  We went "up country" one day to see the northwest side of the island.

 We snorkeled a little near the City of Refuge (south of Kona)

 

and went to the Painted Church

My mother is here for a week so she watched Elin while James and I went on a date night and had a fabulous Hawaiian couples massage at the Sheraton. 

We have had a fun week of sun, surf and relaxing.  We are looking forward to week two!

Maija

The past vs the present - Our First family vacation to Hawaii

I remember being on the train in Italy and making fun of the people who had so much luggage that they could get it all into the train. We used to comment how it was just ridiculous that they needed so much stuff.  Back in the "old days" (pre baby) we used to travel with the following items:

2 Small carry on size bags
1 Backpack
1 Shoulder bag
+ an empty duffle bag to bring home souvenirs if needed

That would be 4 items and all could be carried on the plane if necessary. 

We are now on our first family vacation in Kona Hawaii for two weeks.   It was astounding and shocking to us how much "stuff" we needed when traveling with a baby.  We came to Hawaii with the following items:

2 full size suitcases
1 stroller
1 baby back pack
1 car seat
1 diaper bag
1 shoulder bag
1 backpack

Yes, that would be 8!!!!!! items.  This is what we looked like trying to leave in Seattle.

Never before have we had to rent a cart to get our stuff to the counter.  Well, it appears those days are over at least for a couple of years.

James and Elin in the SEATAC airport

Gone are the days of traveling light! But I am happy to say that we all arrived here safely.....with all of our luggage/stuff.

Aloha!

Maija

Another trip to Utah.....

Although I wasn't all that excited to be getting on a plane by myself with a squirrely 8 month old, I couldn't pass up the opportunity for Elin and I to go to Salt Lake the first weekend in April.  My youngest brother, Oscar, was going to be there with his family and he was the last of my siblings that had not met Elin.   My Mom was going to be there to go to conference and she had not seen Elin since she was 3 weeks old. Also, my sister and her kids hadn't seen Elin in 6 months.  So, there were many reasons to go and I decided that it's only a two hour flight so hopefully it can't be TOO bad....right?

The flight over was fine.  Elin did her very best to talk over the noise of the jet engine while standing on my lap and grinning at anyone who looked at her.  Seriously, she was YELLING the entire flight and although it was probably cute at first, I'm sure the lady trying to sleep next to me didn't think it was all that cute after 2 hours.  But, we made it just fine.

It was a low key three day weekend that went by much too fast.  Here are a few pics.

Elin and Aunt Tuula

Sylis and Elin

Julie, Olivia and Elin

Lincoln, Oscar, Randi, Deekon and Elin

Elin and Leina

Noah (6), Ella (8),  Elin (8 months), Deekon (6), Lincoln (3) and Marty (10)

As always, Elin had a great time with her cousins.

The flight home was.....well.....interesting.   Our flight took off just as she was ready for food and a nap. She was not so pleased this time to be stuck sitting on my lap in a small seat.  What she really wanted was food and her bed.  I did my best to try to find something to interest her but she was most interested in trying to get  the phone from the young man next to us or the magazine from the seat pocket (paper is a magnet that she WANTS to eat).  After much crying I finally got her to take a little milk and she fell asleep.  It ended up being OK but not really something I care to repeat anytime soon without James.  I do have to say that this is the only flight (of 6) where she has not been great, so I guess that it was time.

We are now home for the next two months. Our summer travel plans include 2 weeks in Hawaii in June and a Gillespie family reunion in Colorado in July.  I realized the other day that by the time Elin is one year old she will have been on 5 trips that involve flights and 2 trips where we drove.  7 trips in 12 months....not bad for a one year old!

Maija

Washington DC & Maryland

In mid February over Pres. Day weekend we traveled to the east coast to visit family.   This was Elin's second flight and first cross country flight.  I had a lot of trepidation about traveling 6 hours on a plane with a 7 month old.  I should have known that my super traveler baby would do just fine.

Elin is a really social baby and loves to have people talk to her, smile at her and pay attention to her.  We have learned that she gets easily bored and loves to be out and about. So, a plane full of strangers was right up her alley. She smiled, cooed and flirted until she had everyone charmed.  She was even too busy with her fans to take a nap so she was really tired by the time we got to Baltimore. But even at the end, when she was so tired she could hardly see straight, she was still smiling and babbling to anyone that would listen.

We stayed for the first two nights at National Harbor in Washington DC.    On Saturday we got together with some of my family.  Pentti, my brother, and Amy live just across the Potomac.

Pentti, Amy and Elin

 My brother Erek and his family came from Kentucky.

Laci, Elin, Kijanna, Kali & Erek

Kijanna, Elin & Kali

My cousin Lee lives close by and came with his family.   Lee and Melina have 10 month old twins boys and Elin loves little people her size.  She was very interested in everything the boys were doing.

Veikko, Elin & Aarni

 We had a great day just relaxing, shopping, swimming, eating and catching up.

Peeps store @ National Harbor.  Maija, Elin, Mr. Peeps & Amy

On Sunday, we had breakfast with Pentti & Amy and Erek's family then hung out with Pentti & Amy for the afternoon.

Elin

 We introduced Elin to Pentti & Amy's "fur babies" Mia & Rocco.  Elin thought they were super fun...I don't think the dogs thought she was quite as great.

Elin, Mia & Rocco

Elin & Aunt Amy

Elin & Uncle Pentti

We went to Old Town Alexandria.....

James & Maija

Pentti & Amy

Pentti, James, Amy & Elin -"Sunnies on all"

Original cobblestone street

...then went to lunch at Cactus Cantina (YUM!) in Washington DC before heading up to Westminster MD.

Elin

We spent Monday and Tuesday in Westminster MD with James' sister Laurie's and her family. Elin really loved playing with her cousins.  Landon would sing his special song for her called "Elin Girl".  She laughed every time he would sing it...and it is a really amusing song that he makes up new words for every time.

Landon, Elin, Madison & Kiely

Landon & Elin

Kiely & Elin

Madison & Elin

Baker family: Brian, Landon, Laurie, Madison & Kiely

On Wednesday we took a 7am flight from Baltimore back to Seattle and once again, Elin did great even after we woke her up at 5 am to get to the airport.  Luckily, the flights were not full and we were able to take her car seat so she could sleep a little. 

It looks like we got just what we asked for, a good baby that will travel with us.  I am still amazed at how great she was for the entire 5 day trip and I'm so glad that we went.  It was fun to finally introduce Elin to our east coast family. 


Maija