3 new Hawaiian teeth

Elin has been busy and has sprouted 3 new teeth while we have been in Hawaii. We have named them Kona (bottom right tooth), Kailua (top left tooth) and Kamehameha (top right tooth).

Hawaiian "must have" foods...a blog for Amy ;)

Here are some foods that we "must have" when we are in Hawaii.

Macadamia Nut Pancakes with Coconut Syrup

 

Hawaiian Shave Ice (with ice cream inside)

Elin's 1st Shave ice

Maui Onion chips

Malasadas

Malasadas

Kisses with mac nuts (sold only in Hawaii)

Mauna Loa chocolate macadamia nut

Watermelon, Pineapple, Passion Fruit, Mango and Apple Banana

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