The Big Island Day 4-5

Sunday
Jackson was up at 5:00.  We got ready for church and headed South.  The kids were screaming and growling at each other in the car.  Instead of trying to stop it like we did yesterday, we just let them go crazy.  The fought a little, but had fun too, we just had to endure an earful and not get annoyed by it.  We went to the temple, but the grounds were locked so we only got a few pictures.

We attended church South of Kona in Ke'ei ward.  Our neighbor's brother was bishop there so we said hello.  After church we went to "the place of Refuge"  This was peaceful park with ancient Hawaiian buildings and boats to see. Hallie was melting down so I took her back to the car while Dave and Jackson finished exploring.

 

Captain cooks monument in the far background of this bay

 Both kids fell asleep on the way into town.  We decided based on a friends recommendation to eat at a seaside "Island Lava Java."  This was the ONLY time we went to eat out on the entire 5 day trip.   Mariah was crying the whole time, Hallie was whiny and complaining and Jackson was hitting things with the silverware and wouldn't stop.  Hallie peed all over Dave's lap, Mariah had a blow out and Jackson started yelling.  Embarrassed and overwhelmed. We left before even getting our food.  It was too late to cancel the order, so we got it to go and ate in the car, which meant that everyone had syrup all over their shirts.  What a disaster!  We learned the hard way not to eat out on Sunday (or maybe not to take kids out to eat . . . EVER).  My friend, Chiyo, and her son met us at the hotel and we got to catch up.  I knew her on my mission, she was such a great friend and inspiration.  She lives on the island with her two boys.  It was so nice to reunite with her.  We watched another amazing sunset from the hotel and said goodnight to a very rough day.

 

Monday - we decided to try to take it easy so as to leave the trip on a good note.  It was a perfect day!  We went to Hapuna beach and finally got the great beach we were hoping for.  It was perfect sand, crystal clear water, hot weather and a gorgeous stretch of sand and horizon.  I wanted to stay all day!  Dave and I got to boogie board because Chiyo came and met us and volunteered to watch our kids so we could go out.  We both caught a few waves.




At noon, we quickly checked out of our hotel and then went to the pool for the afternoon. There was a fun slide and sandy area for the kids (although Hallie refused to play in the sandy area - she only liked the cold pool and the hot tub).  We used the rest of our food vouchers (provided because of our brother's hotel point status!) for some amazing sushi, pizza, and sandwiches from the poolside store.
We met back up with Chiyo and her husband and he took Dave and I out snorkeling while Chiyo watched the kids again.  She is so amazing and willing to serve.  She was so prepared (with food, a tent, first aid for Dave's cut foot, etc, etc. )  She is still so inspirational!  Dave and I swam with a couple turtles and lots of fish.

The kids loved watching Winne the Pooh, it was so fun to see the grins on their face.

 

Second pool experience was very short.  She did like her first experience for 15 mins.

All worn out!

Jackson loved learning to play checkers

Our hotel entrance we stayed in the Palace Tower on the 7th floor with a Ocean view!

 The dolphins outside in the Lagoon.

We then went to a shallow reef area and saw more turtles and showed the kids turtles swimming.  Finally, we went to "Spencer's beach" for dinner and a gorgeous sunset.  It was the perfect end to a trip.

 

The hotel held our bags and offered us a room to 'freshen up' in (complimentary!)  it was so nice to be able to shower off the ocean and be totally clean for the flight.  The problem was that it took a lot longer than we planned so we were so late getting to the airport, Dave had to drop me and the kids and the luggage off alone.  I was scared, but just took it slow (luckily it is a super tiny airport with lots of workers doing nothing so I had help). Still, I felt like a super star doing it all on my own.  I hauled and checked 4 bags (while the kids were in the stroller).  Then I put Mariah in the moby wrap and got all 4 of us through security (with Jackson asleep, I had to carry him AS I carried Mariah through the metal detectors.) with a stroller, car seat, diaper bag, backpack and pillows.  Luckily Hallie was awake, so she walked through.  Mariah and Jackson were out and stayed sleeping until after we landed in Phx.  Hallie took a bit longer falling asleep and cried a little.  She was so whiny about dad doing EVERYTHING for her on this trip, it made it a bit difficult, but Dave indulged her and took great care of her.  She finally fell asleep (as did I) and the flight home was too quick (I would've liked to sleep more!)  We were able to fit everything in the car (as well as an extra person) and got Dave to work and me home.  Despite the little sleep the kids were happy to be home and were pretty well behaved after I got some food in them.  Clean up from a big trip like this was a bear, but things are almost back to normal.  It was so nice to have a break from dishes and laundry and clutter control.  With 3 kids in tow it wasn't exactly a relaxing vacation  (I only read 47 pages in the book I brought and didn't even sunbathe once), especially because we wanted to see so much on this 'new to us' island.  We did a lot of packing and unpacking.  But we were so grateful to stay in such an amazing resort and not have to move our stuff to different hotels.  We had a great time and Dave is already planning another trip back to the islands - but which one?!?!

I didn't say much about Mariah, but she really was the easiest kid on the trip.  I would feed her when she would cry (even if it was more or less than 3 hours apart).  I didn't stick with any sort of schedule or routine. She had times when she cried in the car, but within 5 mins calmed down.  She spend a lot of time sleeping (or calmly awake) in her car seat.  She loved being wrapped in the Moby and fell asleep every time.  The kids didn't bother her nearly as much as they do at home (since she was hiding out in her car seat tent).  I found it was super easy to nurse in a swim suit.  Anyway, she slept for 5 of the 6 hours on the flight there and slept the entire 6 hours home (if she did wake up I was too asleep to hear her!).   I think this age is better for traveling than an older baby that has a more difficult time getting to and staying asleep.  She was a doll. 

 

Good morning Arizona!  (it is only 3 am in Hawaii!)