We really had a great time in paradise. Yes. It was a lot of work. And I mean a lot. But the kids had a great time and so did the parents. It might be a while before we try another vacation though. I need a week just to recover!
This was when we arrived. Trent and I really wondered if we made a mistake bringing the Hoard. The plane ride over was a nightmare. The first morning Paige and Morgan started stirring at 3:00. Morgan was up at 4:00 and the rest followed at 5:00. We had gone to the beach and then to the pool. I was already for lunch and a nap. I glanced at my watch...8:30?!?! We were in for a long day....
Aiden loved being in the water. He is our adventurous one! He always wanted to go in the big pool with his life jacket and Josh. Thanks to everyone for going in the deep with him!
Andrew loved the Pirate ship most of all and I didn't even include a picture of it. Duh. I love the bottom right picture. He would sit like that and wait for the waves to hit him. And the picture on the left was Heidi's doing. Yes, he is peeing in the Hotel's bushes.
Oakley had a lot of fun in the sand and the shallow water at the Pirate ship. The funniest thing was her swimsuit. Her cute little bum was always showing. I am sure she will hate her bum pics when she is older!
I do not know what is up with Paige's smiles these days. She is such a goof. She loved the sand too. It took a little while for her to get used to, but she did end up loving it!
Morgan realized she loved apples over there. The first one she ate she gnawed right through the core. She liked the waves too....when someone was holding her that is.
Trent ran the Maui Oceanfront Marathon while we were over there. I know, doesn't sound like anything I would like to do on my vacation. He did really well and came in third. They had to detour the race because of a fallen power pole so he ended up running 27.2!! I can't even imagine that.
On Wednesday Teri took all the girls over to Oahu to do a little shopping. We went to the fantastic swap meet. It was heaven-jewelry for cheep, Asians, clothing, and, of course, Lulu. We got to enjoy the whole day with one of our favorite people! (Lulu is Brooke's second personality of many). It was so much fun to shop all day, eat a peaceful lunch on the beach, ride the airplane without 5 kids, and spend way too much money! Thanks Teri!
The cousins. My kids were in heaven being on a trip with James and Josh. They couldn't get enough of them. Whenever they weren't within "seeing" distance they would ask where they were. They went through withdrawals when we got home. We almost had to put them in Rehab...
The Group. There were 19 of us total. It was quite a sight when we would go places together. It was so fun to have a vacation with the whole family (minus Annie)! It really was Heaven on Earth. Thanks Brad and Teri for giving us a great escape from life for a week!
28 comments:
WOW!! Your Hawaii vacation was TONS different than mine! LOL You guys are brave souls for taking over 5 munchkins, but it looks like you had a lot of help! Those pics you captured of the kids are so cute! Looks like you had a fab time and I'm glad you guys got away for a while!
Great job on this post. It is fun to relive that vacation through photo's. It seems like much less work that way.
Amen. I got tired just watching you guys take care of The Hoard. I can't imagine how you did it for over a week!
I love your collages. All the pics are so fun! I really was an amazing trip. Loved remembering Lulu - hat was such a fun day.
That pic of Trent running with the ocean behind him is awesome.
That looks like a wonderful vacation. I'm really jealous! You look great in that first picture!
So much FUN! And from what I can see of your swimsuits, they are so cute! Where do you get them?
i totally freaked out when i saw the first picture...thinking you took five (young) kids to hawaii by yourselves! i felt (a little) better when i realized it was a big family vacation! still think you should go back just you and trent sometime. you might actually come back refreshed!
looks like you guys had a great time and i can only imagine the recovery effort upon coming home! what fun memories, though!!!
Amy, I just have to say that you are a remarkable mom, even though you may refute that. Your kids are amazing and it's really apparent, even to an outsider, that you love them a lot and work so hard to take care of them.
The Hawaii trip is just another testament of that!
Thanks Amy! I know Mindy through Adam (you know the story)... After going on a family trip with them, Mindy and I became good friends and have remained in touch. I'm definitely a fan of hers too.
Oh, gosh... I'm a little embarrassed. I didn't expect to see my name in Amy's comments. ;) I love you both!
Anyway, I am so jealous! It looks like a wonderful trip (and you are brave to go with all the kids... but the memories are priceless!) Amy, your swimsuits are all so cute, and you look great! Oh, and that's awesome that Trent ran the marathon there!
I love the picture where all the adults are lined up in the beach. I guess i just love the pictures where most of the group is in them. You put everything together so well.
WOW! Your trip looks likes like it was so much fun...maybe a little work, but when are you and Trent ever NOT working??? My favorite pictures are Andrew peeing in the bushes, Aiden looking like he's trying to shake of the sand in the first picture...SO Him! Oakleys cute little bum, Paige doing a semi bitter beer face on the curb(I think it's Paige) and Sweet little Morgan eating her Apple. Your group picture on the beach where Jake is in the sand is so great too! I'm happy that you guys had a great vaycay and that you were able to come home with super cute things and a killer tan!
Oh and I vote that Trent start doing triathlons...he makes this marathon business look far too easy...3rd place!!!...
Wow. I'm more than impressed that you took the whole hoard with you. It looks like you all had an awesome time in your bathing suits and shorts...i'm envious.
How fun! I love Hawaii! I am so jealous even if you did it with five kids in tow!
I've been waiting for this post and it definitely didn't disappoint. Looks like an amazing trip . . . and tons of work. But, I can tell your kids had fun. You guys got some GREAT pictures! I love the big family vacations and all of the memories. So glad you girls got a kid-free shopping day.
Welcome home. Now you need after vacation vacation! :)
p.s. What's up with Trent running a mile OVER a marathon and still coming in 3rd place? That's awesome.
Wow..talk about being brave! I can only imagine the headache you had after getting off that plane! But man it looks like you guys had a lot of fun!! I love all the cousins/your kids pictures! THose were dang cute, especially the one with the boys in the sand!
oh, so jealous! I agree, I always need a vacation after a vacation. Not that I've been on one in a while, actually I need a vacation after going to Wal-Mart! Who am I kidding! Seriously though, you guys will ALWAYS remember this trip!
It looks like you had a great trip and I am sure it was nice to endure your chaotic life in paradise! Trent's family seems so great. I love all the photos...every single one of them! And I must admit I am very jealous you got to go to Hawaii in the middle of winter! I love your swimming suits too - where did you get that striped one in the last collage?
It looks like heaven!!! Someday...
I love this post for so many reason! That trip was so much fun and I LOVED every second I got to spend with your kiddies! I miss them so much! I'm so excited to see you guys at the end of Feb. I love all the pictures you got. I need to see the cute ones you got with me and your kidos!
Wow- I really think it's so awesome you all got to go together- that would be so difficult to work with everyone's schedules. It looks like so much fun. And way to go Trent! He's an animal
Sounds like fun! I am glad that you survived, and congratulations to Trent too.
Looks like you all had a blast!! I bet you are all as tan as can be. I love Hawaii! Great pictures too!!
Looks like so much work, and so much fun! What an awesome memory you guys made with your little family!
I can't believe you went to hawaii with all your kids! You are awesome. i'm so glad you went. That had to be crazy expensive just to be over there (especially with all the great shopping and food). Your hubby is wild! A Marathon? THIRD place? Wow! He really takes that running stuff seriously.
Looks like a blast...I love Hawaii
How fun! Tell Trent congratulations. He's pretty impressive with his running. I didn't know you were bringing the kids. They look like they had a blast.
So cute! Looks like you guys had tons of fun!! I'm jealous!! :)
How fun! You guys have more energy than anyone I know. Im glad you have lots of great family to help out. And again CUTE KIDS!
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