Timeout

One evening after Kensie was already in bed, I went into the guest bedroom downstairs.  In the corner I found Kensie's baby doll in timeout.  I had a good laugh.  Toddlers are funny.   

Mini Me

Now more than ever I hear this, "She looks just like her dad!"  Which is 100% true, I can't even deny it.  She is petite and will probably be built like me, but that's about it.  From her long eyelashes, to her little piggy toes, she looks just like her dad.

Grandma Child

 My mom was so sweet to watch Kensie while we went to Hawaii.  Kensie was probably in heaven with all of the one-on-one attention grandma gave her.  They played with toys, read books, and colored.  I'm really grateful they were able to spend so much time together since she doesn't get to see her grandma very often.  Kensie loves her so much!

My mom was able to stay an extra day when Niel and I got home from our trip.  Kensie opened her birthday presents from grandma early.  She got a highchair that converts to a car seat, a play phone, stickers, and clothes.  Kensie puts her dog in the car seat every single day and wants to take it with us when we run errands.  It was so nice to spend a day with my mom before she went home.  Thank you, mom!  We love you!

Souvenir

After two days of being home from Hawaii, I'd already eaten all of the delicious chocolate macadamia nuts we'd bought.  Note for next trip to Hawaii:  buy more chocolate macadamia nuts!!!

Besides chocolates, we brought Kensie home a Hawaiian dress.  She looked adorable in it.  Unfortunately, she is impossible to get pictures of these days.  

 She was pretty excited to have a dress from Hawaii she could wear to church!

Hawaii: Kayaking

We loved Lanakai Beach so much, we went back on Tuesday again.  This time, we rented kayaks and kayaked from Lanakai Beach to the Mokulua Islands.  

The hardest part of the journey was loading and unloading the kayaks from the top of our car and carrying them to and from the beach.  Kayaking was a workout, especially with the waves and current going against us but it was so fun and beautiful.

We stopped at the north Mokulua island, which is open to the public and had lunch on the beach.  Then we went snorkeling and saw two large turtles!  

We hiked around the back of the island which is all lava rock.

After our kayaking adventure, we grabbed some shaved ice with ice cream at the bottom.

We drove back to Waikiki for an early dinner at Hula Grill along the beach.  Our restaurant choice was determined by the fact that we had to have hula pie one more time before we went home.  It was just as good the second time!  The steak I ordered for dinner was also the best steak I've ever had.  The rest of the evening we walked along the Waikiki Strip and shopped for souvenirs.

Wednesday morning we swam one last time at Waikiki Beach and then headed home.  Leaving the beautiful island of Hawaii was hard to do.

Hawaii: Diamond Head and Lanakai Beach

Monday morning we hiked Diamond Head.  The view of the island from the top of Diamond Head was gorgeous.  

 Then we headed to Lanakai Beach for some rest and relaxation.  This was hands down the most beautiful beach I've ever been on.  The sand felt like powdered sugar and the water was cyan blue.  Wasn't crowded.

 Even the pathway to the sand was awesome with these palm trees hanging down over the steps.

Monday night we had dinner at Cheesecake factory with our friends Gregg and Veronica, who now live on the Island.

Hawaii: North Shore

Sunday we went to sacrament meeting at the cathedral in downtown Waikiki.  

Then we headed to the North Shore.  We stopped at Sharks Cove for some snorkeling on the way.  Then we had lunch and pie at the famous Ted's Bakery.  I could eat some of their pie right now.

Next stop was relaxing and sunbathing at Turtle Bay beach.  We saw our first turtle in the water there.  Then we hung out at the Turtle Bay Resort pool.

On our way back to Waikiki we stopped at the famous Sunset Beach to watch the beautiful sunset.

When we got back to the hotel we had dinner at one of the restaurants inside our hotel because it was so late.  It was the nastiest dinner of our life.  It was so bad we couldn't even be mad.  Definitely memorable.

Besides that, we had an amazing six year anniversary.  It doesn't get much better than spending the day together on the beaches of Hawaii.