Vacation Diary... Day 3 in Hawai'i

It's so nice to be back home... I woke up a little later, 7:00 a.m. By 9:00, Charlie and Kalani had driven to Hilo for a quick Starbucks run and a little stop at Wal-Mart. (Hilo is 1/2 hour away, so I told him to get a BAG of coffee, not just a cup!) By 10:45, we were down at Laupahoehoe Point to take the kids swimming. It was such a nice, relaxing day with so many of the natural adventures that the Big Island has to offer, and all of it just 5 miutes away from my parents' home.

The kids started off swimming, then fishing, then swimming again. When my mom and dad came down, it got even better. Grandpa is the BEST fisherman out there. Kalani and I spent a good 45 minutes catching a'ama crab before I had to go and help decorate for the party, which is also down at the point. Charlie, my dad and the kids stayed by the water to play. They got to swim all day like they had gills, fish for hours upon end, and even watch 3 Sting Rays that had been hanging out in a bay there for 2 days. The best was probably getting to watch Grandpa lose a 6 pound Papio right as Charlie was about to grab it up out of the water. Best because my dad's reaction was priceless. Before Charlie and the kids could turn around to say, "One more time Grandpa", he was back at the truck saying "Let's Go!!!". That fish may have won the battle, but not the war...

Desiree and I decorated a majority of the gym for the party. Simple and elegant. Just the way I like it. That evening, we got to go to my Auntie Val's for a delicious dinner with family that I haven't seen in a while, including my cousin Greg who flew all the way from Chicago. By 9:00, Kalani was half asleep on my aunties couch and Kiale was in daddy's arms. And oh yah, Kalani got sunburned from Hell!!! You'd think that since she gets burned in Washington, she would have put on some sunblock in Hawai'i!!!

Today is the big day for Desiree. I'll have all the wedding details tomorrow!!!