Reunited and it feels so good!

Taking a step back from my daily schedule was such a huge blessing. It truly made me appreciate and be so grateful for the joys of motherhood. When I am in the middle of the stress, a vacation sounds like the most wonderful thing. Then I go on vacation and my heart aches because I miss my dear little ones! It took me 3 days to get rid of that anxious feeling. I seriously had visions of asking my mom to put the kids on a plane and I'd pick them up at the airport, but then I realized they'd have no idea how to make the connecting flight in Seattle. But after about 3 days in Hawaii, I totally got the swing of things and was in full relaxed vacation mode.

When I saw my children again after a week away, I was overwhelmed with how absolutely beautiful they were. They have never looked more beautiful. They seemed so old and big too. And it seemed like there were so many of them!!!! Strange, I know I should know how many kids I have. Ava wouldn't even look at me when we reunited. She is NEVER shy (this is an understatement), but was acting shy towards me. It was really funny.

Chad called me "Grandma" by accident 3 times the day we got back. Chad keeps telling me how "Grandma woke up early just for us" and cooked them breakfast and how I need to do this too. Grandma has his heart I tell ya.

When I got home I was SO overwhelmed with gratitude for my dear Mom and Dad. The amount of organization, cleaning, repair, decorating projects they did is astounding and I swear they had to have not slept to accomplish all they did. My dad is a rocket scientist (he fixed my computer, printer, 2 faucets, hung a 1000 pound mirror, made shelving, and more) and my mom is a machine (cleaned and cleaned, sewed, baked and baked, and organized all sorts of things). Why didn't they teach me how to be just like them??? The amount of adoration I have for them is infinite.

Kauai is an amazing island. I took 300 photos! Here are a few...

This is a chocolate tree (cacao tree)...these fruits that grow on the trunk have the bean in them that produces chocolate. We took a chocolate farm tour and learned how to make it (SO labor intensive) and tasted expensive chocolates from all around the world in a blind taste test. Did you know that wine has 250 flavor tones and chocolate has 500?!

Each island is represented by their own flower lei...Kauai's is a purple orchid.

I've always wanted to drink straight from a coconut just like they do on Survivor and I got to for 5 bucks! This guy was hilarious. I was like, "Do you watch Survivor?" And he says, "No...they should watch me!"
Our favorite things we did were all of the gorgeous butt kicking hikes. We schlopped through tons of mud on the Kalalau trail along the Na Pali coast.

This is for my husband when we are in our 70's and I'll be like, "Honey, just close your eyes and picture me in my 30's!" :)

My handsome Honey!

The "Tunnel of Trees" by our hotel:

The islanders were awesome at church and even crocheted leis for all of the visitors:

This tree was the only thing holding me in place as I hung on to look over a 400 foot cliff over a waterfall after a long hike in Waimea Canyon. Russ wouldn't even go there:

Looking over the waterfall:

The waterfall reward after hiking nature's stair master:

Hiking Waimea Canyon. My phone almost rolled off this cliff!

At the luau, I was thoroughly entertained trying to get pictures of this guy's butt. The wind would blow and you could see the whole thing but I never snapped in time. I needed this comic relief because I was missing the kids and worrying about my mom that first night!

Poi:

Our Thanksgiving dinner...

The Fantasy Island waterfall:

The Na Pali coast from my helicopter ride:

Such hard work:

The Grand Hyatt. I ran into JW Marriott in the hallway after our hike. I thought it was funny that he was staying at a Hyatt! Must be doing market research:

Not being a morning person, this might be my first sunrise ever!

This was all incrediblely dreamy and a ton of fun and still way too good to be true. I LOVED it. But my greatest blessing from it all was increased perspective on what brings the greatest joy. That is family. And I have it all around me all the time! I am blessed.

Thank you Mom and Dad and Russ for making all of my dreams come true! I better make another "life list" because I knocked a bunch off in one week!