Hawaii Family Trip!!!!

I still can't believe we made it to Hawaii! I've been wanting to go for YEARS. And we finally made it. Maybe I should say Nanna finally made it happen for us. LOL For reals. Nanna found a great flight deal for non-stop tickets Phoenix to Honolulu and refused to get off the phone with Ron until he said yes. Haha That isn't EXACTLY how it went down but pretty much why this trip happened. I just love that girl. I was actually in a continuing education class when Nanna tried calling me about the plane tickets. I obviously couldn't talk so she called Ron. None of my kids have ever been on an airplane before so that was fun for us all. Sadly, Ron needed to fly out earlier in the day than us. Long story but basically in order for us to secure the rental car (a hot and rare commodity in Hawaii) he needed to arrive earlier in the day. April was just the cutest on the airplane.

April’s first airplane ride:

“My first time going on an airplane. I’m so freaked out” 

As we are walking onto the plane. “This is differenter than I thought” 

“Is it ok if I hold your hand really really tight”

“Hopefully we don’t crash”... then she said “I prayed a prayer about it” 

“I think that’s enough pictures for now mom.”

“I’m scared-ish and excite-ish”

The plane had just lifted off the ground in Phoenix and while looking out the window April says “I don’t see the ocean”

The stewardess brought us the drinks and April said “what’s this?!” I said “a water for you” April said really loud “Oh! That’s nice of her!” Haha the stewardess smiled really big and said “no one has ever said that to me” April kept talking about how nice she was to bring us snacks and a drink! “That was nice of her. It really is!”

"I like this plane"

Our trip was 9 days total. We got a solid week filled with beaches, hikes, lots of walking, snorkeling, swimming, hanging out and lots of sand. (Much to Callie's dismay! haha) I absolutely loved snorkeling. I was shocked that my extreme fear of sharks didn't really ever kick in and I swam A LOT out in the open ocean. We saw sea turtles, dolphins (not super close), and lots of fish. The sea turtles were my favorite. I just loved diving down and swimming by them. 

My friend Erin moved to Hawaii almost 2 years ago (her husband is from there and that's where they met). It was really fun to meet up with her and experience her hometown. She showed us around and we got to play on the days she wasn't working.

April surprised me the most on this trip. The first day at the beach she didn't want to get in and was scared of the waves. But it didn't take long for her fearlessness to kick in and head out into open water by herself (which of course I had to constantly remind her that's not ok to go out alone). She was so much fun exploring with, her only complaint was the taste of the salty water. So she didn't put her head in the water a lot. I still can't believe how great she was about food. I was surprised at the lack of GF options in Hawaii. I just assumed there would be more options and plenty of GF awareness. Thankfully I packed an entire suitcase full of GF snacks and of course as always she had a great attitude about accepting her food limitations. 

Some of our favorite and least favorites:

Ron's FAV-the Beach/including non-freezing water but his Least FAV-probably the $$$ haha

Shelly's FAV- snorkeling/sharks but my Least FAV- getting on the plan heading home (also maybe the lack of GF food for me and April was very disappointing in Hawaii but didn't ruin the trip at all)

Mason's FAV- Hanging with Friends and his Least FAV- nothing :)

Noah's FAV- Cliff jumping at Waimea Bay but his Least FAV- snorkeling 

Callie's FAV-snorkeling but her Least FAV-THE BEACH (please insert eye roll. LOL more specifically all the sand was the worst for her.)

April's FAV- The Ocean & Shaved Ice and her Least favorite was NOTHING She loved absolutely everything.