Hawaii Vacation Day One

Well our first day in paradise is in the books.

We arrived on the beautiful big island last night, about midnight, midnight thirty. After our 13 hours of flying (including layovers), we were down for the count around 1:30. Sweet Madeline and Anna Claire who were still on Tennessee time, woke up at 3:30 Sunday morning which meant so did we! No complaints! Who can sleep when they're in Hawaii? I would rather be going and doing! 

When Madeline wakes up, everyone in the house wakes up with her, we wanted to avoid waking up all 13 of our crew, and the best way to keep her happy is to take her places. So Larry and I agreed it was wise to get her out of the house. We also had no food in the house for breakfast so we set out on an adventure to find some food for everyone!

Thanks to GPS, it didn't take long to find a walmart, target and a Safeway (west coast grocery chain), all under five minutes away from our house! Only problem was nothing was open. We had an hour to kill before we could shop, so we were excited to find a Starbucks that was open, providing us with oh so wonderful and much needed caffeine.

We made it back to the homestead before 7 with muffins, pastries, cereal, fruit, juice and coffee! It was a lot of fun surprising everyone.

The rest of our morning was filled with a fun and laid back exploration of our house and beach area around us. I'm so glad we decided not to have any plans after a crazy day of flying, layovers and trying to keep a 5 year old and 9 month old happy.

We have a tidepool outside our house that's perfect for the littles to splash and play.

AC and Daddy in the tidepool.

Manny and Anna Claire playing in the pool that flows through our house!

AC just keeps getting more confident in the water. I love the puddle jumper for times I can't get in with her or when I'm needing to hold the baby.

After a full morning of water play, we were all starving! So we decided to head out to a restaurant for lunch, then to procure some food to stock the fridge for the week afterward.

The Fish Hopper! Great restaurant find by Clint and Lisa! Zagat rated and award winning clam chowder. Larry and I had some delicious ahi sashimi, which Madeline loved, I might add.

Our view from Fish Hopper. Loved that it was open-air and by the water.

Our view in the opposite direction. It's "the strip!" I've seen it in so many pictures when researching prior to the trip!

Manny and AnnaClaire at Fish Hopper.

After our delicious lunch, we headed to CostCo. We have some great food! Looking forward to crab and steak dinner at home, and beach picnic food later in the week.

Once we stocked the fridge we were able to get back to the important task of playing in the water.

Fun in our tidepool. Madeline loved splashing and grabbing fistfuls of sand.

I'm so happy she likes the beach!

Always playing with or flipping her hair. She loves wearing it down these days. I love it.

This pic doesn't really do it justice, but AC is standing in front of the waterfall that flows into our indoor pool.

This is how I will always remember Khloie in Hawaii. She was in her element and wins the prize for making the most of her surroundings. She found so many amazing creatures on her daily exploration of our waters: coral, sea urchins, shrimp, crab, not to mention the lizards she and Sean found around our house.

Uncle Qwint

Madeline in her vacation play yard. Allowed her a soft play space with an ocean view!

Manny (and everyone...adults included) loved Anna Claire's "magic" marker. It will color your entire picture for you, perfectly! Best purchase for plane ride and vacation fun. I highly recommend! It's made by Melissa and Doug. The coloring book has was all about sea life. Perfect for our Hawaiian Vacation!

Waterfall that flows into our pool. So pretty. Feeling spoiled and blessed!