99 days to go...

So I am still working on how to sum up the two weeks we spent in hawaii....there are over 450 photos documenting our adventures and many more memories that could not be done justice by a photo. In a nutshell, we spent the first 5 days on Oahu staying at a military hotel (hale koa) on Waikiki. we spent our days adventuring to see "DOG: the bounty hunter," Leonard's bakery -excellent donuts, surfing - well not me, playing at the pool, scuba diving, playing at the beach, paddle boarding, and all water activities. I personally got to do some shopping, and even take some naps. Lilly was an angel as long as she was fed and got to sleep when she was tired. We celebrated christmas in the hotel room complete with a crab pot christmas tree - flow over by my mom, stockings, and even making some ginger bread houses (a hoover family tradition). We had a wonderful buffet on christmas day, and finally got to spend sometime with my little bro (the whole point of the trip).

The second leg of our trip started very early on the 26th with a flight to Kona and a long but scenic drive around the big island to the volcanoes. Again, Lilly was a trooper, and enjoyed all of our side trips. We managed to see sunrise at Java on the Rocks, wonderful breakfast at the coffee shack, green sand beaches, black sand beaches, and even a zebra (no joke-it was just on the side of the road in a pasture). We spent the next two night less cramped in a military camp on the volcano national park. During these two days we did some hiking, got to see lava flowing down to the ocean, sing my mom happy birthday with the lava flowing in the background and spending more quality family time. The big island adventure continued with a trip back around the island for a tour of the "sea horse farm" we even got to hold a sea horse, then we checked in to the swankest of our abdos....Sherton...other then the price it was a super sweet place to stay. The pool was perfect and Lilly loved playing in it. That evening we boarded a boat (well 4 of the group) and went to scuba dive/snorkel with the manta rays. What a treat....nothing quite like being in dark water with a huge flashlight and waiting for these 10ft. across creatures to come out of the dark....spooky. But again a once in a lifetime experience. We got to relax the next morning by the pool before we checked out and headed back to Oahu. Lilly again loved the pool and I was very sad to have to make her got out!

We made it back to Oahu, and then started the drive to the North Shore. It did not take as long as expected (which was nice) so we settled into our 3 bedroom house directed across from shark's cove and some really nice tidal pools. We were able to spend the next few days lounging around at Waimea Bay, Pipeline, Shark's Cove; doing some shopping at Hawiea. This was by far the most relaxing part of the trip, and the most time we got to spend with Uncle Bobby. As for adventures; we got to watch my dad and bro boogie board pipeline; Fitz, my dad, and bro boogie board Waimea Bay, eat at a bus on the side of the road; taste some of the famous shave ice that Hawaii has to offer; do some more shopping; and all in all just hang out. Lilly also loved this part of the trip because she was in the water everyday and there were tons of other kids to watch and play with. On Sunday the 3rd of January, started our trip back to Honolulu and eventually on to an airplane that would bring us back to reality. We were temped to let them bump us and stay longer, but we were starting to run low on money and patience for spending so much time together.

Since being back it has been a rough adjustment for Lilly most of all due to her having to wear lots of layers to ward off the cold and actually have to wear shoes. After nearly two weeks of being back we are all missing the great times and weather from Hawaii; not to mention my brother, but hopefully we will get to return one day! On a cute note, Lilly will pack a bag up and tell us she is going to the "north shore." I think she really misses the weather!

As for other news, we are 99 days from the arrival of #2, and boy do we have a lot to get done before then. If he happens to come early like Lilly did we are a mere 56 days away from his arrival, but we are hoping to keep him in a bit longer then she did. If anyone is bored and needs to kill sometime; I have tons of things to be done in the near future....painting, cleaning out closets, washing baby clothes, and not to mention keeping up with Lilly.