we are home.
hawaii was good. simple. beautiful. warm. breezy. however, before we could get to that part, our trip was kicked off with a NINE hour delay in LAX when our flight was canceled. YES. CANCELLED. and we had to un-check our bags, and re-check into another flight, and walk to another terminal, where we didnt even have seats together. four children, two adults. one five year old and one who we call autistic because it’s just easier to explain that way even though that isn’t what she is, we kind of need to be together.
i was so upset and so frustrated and so angry about the wasted time, but after having a zesty beverage (or two?) in the airport at chili’s to go (bleck) jeff and i were able to relax. i was shocked he was cooler under the collar than me. i was ready to fight and scream. i hadnt slept hardly two hours the night before (always nervy before traveling) and he was just rolling with it. but it was mckenna that i was most worried about. her first plane ride was already going to be six hours. did we really have to tack nine more onto the misery?
but yes, we did. and we did it as well as can be imagined. and we managed to swing three seats together for us girls. mckenna was totally fine until the four hour mark of the flight. and then she started begging to be in hawaii, begging to be off the plane, spilling drinks, and kicking the seat in front of her and anna couldnt fall asleep unless her feet were sticking mostly into my real estate and up my nose and who whined for two hours until i wanted to jump out and hope for the best.
but, at last, sigh! we land. and we all run to the breezeway outside the gates to get our first smells and feels of hawaii. and it is good. it washes away the airplane.
we high tail it to the north shore where we stay with our lovely friends heather and kivalu, along with their two boys kivalu jr and keenan. we show up at 11pm and we are welcomed into their home with lots of love as usual. we pile into the one bedroom casita and fall asleep hard.
but oh no! the airplane strikes again when we realize the next day that the brand new iPod Nano’s that the boys received for christmas were left.on.the.plane. not to be found in the present or future. to whom it may concern, you there, yes you-the one who found two iPods in the seatback of a plane and didnt turn them into the flight attendants? SHAME ON YOU!
we freak out for about 30 minutes and then shrug it off, we are in hawaii. no feathers get ruffled here!
the rest of our time is spent as relaxed as possible with four kids.
here are just a few favorites from the trip, more to come later, wanted to get this post UP already!
welcome back!! ahh yes–the dreaded airplane seatback pocket. I learned my lesson to not put ANYTHING in that sucker after I left my daughters DVD case in one on our way back from the Turks and Caicos. Containing no less than 10 (or more!) Disney DVDs. (and a few wiggles and barney). not pretty.
the sad part was I realized it immediately after getting on our connecting flight (we are talking about less than 30 minutes later here) but NO ONE could (or would) help me locate them. :(
OHHH I’m seriously aching for your loss! Yes, it’s a LOSS. We left my daughter’s silky blanket on the airplane on our way to Disney World. While I wouldn’t normally spend $100 on a blanket, (yes. I did.) the purchase was made because of how attached she was to silky blankets she’d had since she was a baby and at the time they had been loved to SHREDS. She was three and a half. Cried every night for over 2 months for her blanket.
when it was clear no one honest would return the blanket…
Santa brought her a new one.
I’m so sorry!
I love the colors in these shots. Amazing…makes me want to go back!
These are just beautiful photos. What a great looking vacation.
I, too, have 4 kids, (a set of 4 yr old twins, 13 yr old and a 9 yr old) and i know exactly what you mean when you say “as relaxing as can be with 4 kids”. Glad you had a safe, fun trip; beautiful photos!!
welcome back! sorry the flight thing was funky. but still…hawaii is amazing. glad you enjoyed your trip.
cheers!
Welcome home, Tara and family! Looking forward to seeing more pictures.
Oh, Tara…glad you shook BOTH things off. My son’s nano was recently stolen…and it was ENGRAVED. Some people.
Glad you guys took some time for yourselves. I have convinced hubby that we are doing the same next year.
And I honestly think Anna is the most photogenic child on the planet. The photo of your whole fam…love that as well.
Damn girl. You get some mad comment love. I had to scroll for days.
You know there is nothing I love more than the North Shore. I could live on the North Shore.
Next time you fly, you need a Nanny. I will be your Nanny.
gorgeous as usual…
love your pics…
xx
I am so jealous. I love the picture of your daughter in the water holding the sand. Very pretty. It must be nice to see that you have this many people follow your blog and give comments on your every post. One day I hope to have that success. Until then I will talk to myself in my blog. LOL. Great pictures of your kiddos – for some reason when I am on vacation, I don’t take as many pics as I wish I would. I spend more time relaxing. Its good to have those memories. Hawaii looks just like I imagine it – peaceful and relaxing. Can’t wait to see more.
So glad you’re back even if it’s without i pods – have missed your posts.
Loving the trip photos too!
welcome home! what a wild journey it sounds like you’ve had! glad you found lots of relaxation in there too!
Hey, sounds like a nightmarish beginning to your vacation… but of course I’m sure you recovered quickly once on Hawaiian soil!! There’s something about those tropical breezes and 80 deg waters… That makes it easy to just cruz! Nothing like the OC most of the time. LOVE the pic of A in the water… what a little rock star model!! Yikes, watch out!
So glad to hear you had a great time in spite of your rocky start!
It’s been a while since your last blog I was getting worried!
welcome back! sounds like a fun/crazy/fun/crazy/fun trip:) your family picture is so great! love it…
how do you take those pics in the water? are you ever afraid of what will happen to your camera and lenses? I would love to know your secret. Maybe you could post a Q&A post all about how you work your magic. i love your pictures. i love the clarity. I love the color. i would love to be you. sigh…
have a very happy day.
one of your fans
abigail
Mercy I love them all but the one where the boy looks like he’s walking on the water and the one with the boy leaping from the rock…LOL…loves it.
So sorry to hear about all of the trip mishaps! Beautiful pictures though! So sad about the Nanos!
Oh Tara, these are beautiful!! Our flight to HI was hectic to say the least, too! LOL! No luggage our entire trip. We managed, though! How can you not have a blast in Hawaii, right?! Can’t wait to see you sooooooooooon!
wow, amazing. i can’t wait to go in April. It will be the first time we’re going without kids. great shots- Im guessing you’re running out of wall space hey? They are all frame worthy! I really like the one of your son jumping off the rock and the one of your daughter laying in the ocean. It’s amazing how well you can see the sand in it. Hope you were able to recharge!
must. go. to. Hawaii. NOW!!! That pic of anna is priceless.
I don’t blame McKenna for wanting to get off the plane after 4 hours! I would be the same way and I am much older than she is. LOL! Looks like you all had a wonderful time!
Too funny to see the title of your post. I must show my husband as he thinks that I am crazy that I am always saying that. Hope you had a great time in Hawaii. Looks like a blast.
Hi Tara,
I have kind of a silly question. I noticed you have 4 beautiful children and you seem so young and energetic. How do you do it? I only have 2 and am at the point of possibily thinking about a third, and it freaks me out? How do I overcome this? How do you do it?
Thanks
LOVE how the water LOOKS liquid, almost mercurial. Welcome back!
abigail-there werent any waves in this adorable little cove. i was kneeling in the water, taking care not to get my camera wet.
sorry to hear about the nightmare flight experience, I laughed at chilis to go BLECK. I enjoy reading your posts as much as i do the pictures!
lacey, i must be faking it really well! i am SO NOT energetic. im a limp noodle most days, just doing my very best to make it through the day with a very busy schedule and very crazy kids. :)
I am so jealous! I would love to see the beach right now! And walk in the sand! Love the jumping shot!
Glad you’re back from a beautiful trip. It’s always nice to get home, almost like a vacation from vacation!
Sorry about the flight over. What a hassle. And I can’t stand dishonest people!!! Loving your pictures though. I’ve missed coming here and seeing what you are up to.
Oh your photos inspire me..thankyou for sharing
You make Hawaii look that much more heavenly. Glad you’re back!
Update please. :)
I say this with total love of course. mwah!
ah, alligator pond, pounders, turtle bay, sunset…. looks like you guys had a lovely time! i just moved from laie back to california and i am really missing it looking at all these pics- luckily we move back there at the end of the year!
i love your photography, i come by here and your website often to be inspired- someday i want to take pictures like you!