Kauai, HI: Vacation Bucket List Adventure

This fall, Chris & I took the vacation of a lifetime.  Hawaii has been on my bucket list forever & I have finally managed to get myself all the way there despite our busy schedules and having three young children.  It's not everyday that your one and only brother gets married & of course, he did it big and got married in Hawaii.  It was a little tough logistically to get everything set for the kids for a week while we were gone, but thankfully Chris' parents came & managed the kids like two champions:)

After twelve hours of flying & two layovers, we landed at the Kauai airport.  And it really is amazing.  My dad was already there traveling, so he picked us up at the airport & off to the hotel we went.  We first stayed on the south side at Poipu Beach & it was beautiful.  Hello first morning in Hawaii...

The first full day we were there was my birthday & what a perfect gift (although I really missed my kids and one day, hope to take them there once they are older & would be manageable on a 12 hour flight:))  It was truly a birthday gift from God to wake up to something so beautiful as this.

  

On our first day, we drove up to Waimea Canyon...awesome, awesome, awesome.

We headed back to the hotel in the afternoon for snorkeling before attending a true Hawaii luau with the family!  First day, amazing.  The next day, we woke up early & headed to a catamaran tour of the Napali Coast.  This is definitely one of the top 10 favorite things that I have ever done in my life.

 I loved, loved, loved it.  I kind of think that in my next life, I will be the captain of a boat & live this life everyday.  The waves were crazy wild (major swells) which means one super crazy ride.  Many people headed inside to shelter from the sea spray & wild ride, but I loved every minute of it and everyone in my family stayed right in the front of the boat, even my trooper of a mom.  On top of that, we saw so many wild dolphins (including babies) and got to snorkel along the coast.  It's definitely a huge highlight of the trip!

 After we finished the boat ride with my dad, mom, & Jill, we all drove north to check in to our hotel on the northern coast of Kauai.  Andy got married up there which meant a long drive, but that means we got to see a lot of the island.  Each side is very different & distinct and I am so thankful that we got to see so much in the short time we were there.  We arrived in time for the rehearsal dinner with this beautiful couple.  It was a simple but sweet rehearsal dinner from the local fish market.  It included some of my brother favorites:  poke & seaweed salad.

The view from our room was pretty sweet, I have to admit.  We stayed at the St. Regis which is where my brother was staying as well.  It was super pretty & the perfect location to enjoy a few days of relaxation.  We spent the wedding day just relaxing & hanging out before the big moment.

 Sisters ready for their brother to finally get married...

They got married at Tunnels Beach, which is just beautiful.  It was a sunset wedding & here is the happy, happy couple.

We had the most awesome dinner after the wedding under this pop-up tent from a farm to table catering business.  Everything was super fresh & super delicious.  I loved that it was open to nature & a perfect night.

 The next morning was our last day so we got up early and headed out to hike the northern coast.  It was not an easy hike, but one of the best hikes that I have been one.  So much exploring & nothing beats a day in the true outdoors.  We didn't really go out too long because we wanted to make it back for lunch, but I would have totally loved a full day of hiking in this...

For views like this...

And then, sadly, we had to say good-bye to Kauai but it was time to head back to our kids and see these sweet faces.  I was so ready to hug these three kids and hear all about life at home again.  I missed them so much but am so thankful for this once in a lifetime opportunity to watch my brother get married & spend a week in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  Now, if only I could talk Chris into moving here?!?

I have so many more pictures on Chris' phone, but the chances of me downloading those within the next year are slim so I thought I better share what I have!

Our September in Review

This post is more for me than for anyone else so I can remember the busy moments of life many years down the road.  We kicked off this month by returning home from vacation at our favorite spot, Emerald Isle & Aiden was thrilled to spend a few extra days at Grandma Ruff's house with Jack.  That was the highlight of his summer.  The rest of us came home where Chris headed back to work & the littles and I got ready for the school year.  We had a nice & relaxing Labor Day weekend  before Aiden headed off to first grade at a brand new school for yet another year in a row. 

He is now taking a bus & was brave as can be in his first few days of school where he did not know one other soul!  Two days later, Andrew headed off to Pre-K at a new preschool (closer to our new house) & Abby started her very first year of preschool in the 2's class.  Andrew goes four afternoons & Abby goes two afternoons.  Both were excited and happy for their new school and have loved every day of school since that very first day!  The following week, Chris & I flew to Miami for the New Partner's Meeting while MeMe Ruff came back to stay.  

We had lots of fun & learned a few things down in Miami.  The highlight of the trip was a boat ride in the Everglades.  I'm pretty sure that the highlight of MeMe Ruff's trip was McDonald's & a trip to Target.  

The rest of the month was filled with new adventures:  a new year at MOPS where I am co-coordinating the group, a new playground mixed with old and new friends, getting together with friends, lots of playtime in our backyard and front driveway, another fall season of soccer for Aiden, & getting ready for a few more trips in October.  

These are just some of my favorite pictures that captured our life in September.

Sweet Abby with sweet Aiden

Someone got new furniture for her room...

Andrew gets to take the elevator to his big boy preschool class!

Life really is exhausting some days...

Swingset fun!

Meet the Teacher :)

Our big bus rider!

Not only did school start for these kids, but it's time for another year of Mr. Rogers' school!

While Aiden is away, we still play!  Fun times with these two!

Love this happy face!

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Both of my little ones are in afternoon preschool.  I love it because we still get to do fun special outings, playdates, & sometimes things around the house (like today!) while they still get a full afternoon of preschool in after lunch.  One morning, after Aiden headed off to school, we decided to hit the pumpkin patch for some fun fall fun.  We were the only people there so the kids had a blast!

I always hate that he misses out on some fun adventures, but he was pretty excited that we picked out a pumpkin just for him!

A Quick Getaway to Miami

School started & life didn't slow down for us, it just picked up!  The second week of school, Chris and I headed to Miami for a big work meeting for him (and the wives).  This is a super rare opportunity where the company has spouses involved & are strongly encouraged to attend.  Thankfully, my mom is retired this year and was willing to watch our crazy kids while we headed south!  Destination...the super glitzed & gaudy Trump Doral in Miami.

 

There was a full two day of meetings (where the spouses actually attend most meetings and/or events) and not a lot of time for rest!  I kind of felt like I was back in "work" mode with waking up early for work breakfasts & sitting through meetings in "business casual" attire.  Although it wasn't a true vacation, we enjoyed some kid-free hours & even had some fun.  Doesn't this gala picture remind you of our prom picture about fifteen years ago?!

The last day, everybody that was attending got to pick a fun excursion to go on:  Segway tours, catamaran rides, golfing, & more.  I was super excited for our pick:  riding on an airboat through the Everglades.  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

I loved every minute.  We also took a tour & learned more about this beautiful place and saw lots of alligators.  And even held them...

I chose to hold the tiniest alligator... (no way, am I holding anything bigger!)

 

Thankfully, we had one last day in Miami to do nothing before we returned home.  We sat by the pool, enjoyed the beautiful sunshine, & got one last date night in before returning home to our sweet crew!

Good-bye Miami!

First Day of School 2015

All three eager & ready for their first day of school!

 Aiden, First Grade

Marshall Road Elementary

 Andrew, Pre-K

Holy Comforter Preschool

Abby, 2's Preschool Class

Holy Comforter Preschool

Our Last Week of Summer :)

I'm totally getting caught up as I am finally blogging about the last week of summer:)

After spending two weeks of vacation in NC, we were ready to home for one last week of summer before school started.  Well, almost all of us were.  My mom was going to head up to baby-sit Jack for a week in Baltimore but with a quick last minute decision, she decided to take Jack and Aiden home with her.  So off to grandma's house, Aiden went & he couldn't have been more excited.  He eagerly waved good-bye to us at the beach house while Chris, Abby, Andrew, & I drove away without one bit of nerves in his body.  This is his first time having a "sleepover" somewhere else & almost a full week.  He LOVED it & says it was his favorite part of summer.  They got lots of special treats, visited the museum, parks, & just got to be with his grandma and cousin Jack for several days. 

While Aiden was off to Grandma's house, the kids & I settled back into life in Virginia.  It was a lot of errands, getting everything for school, & enjoying a few more carefree days of summer.  Someone was happy that his Halloween costume came...

 And someone else needed a vacation from vacation...

  We had fun, but we sure missed Aiden!

Aiden finally returned & we enjoyed a nice three-day family weekend over Labor Day.  Just spending together, with no special plans, sometimes makes these extra long weekends the best!

 

Now, it's time to send these kids off to school...