Hawaii 2013 Days 1 & 2

Hawaii 2013 Days 1 & 2

Leaving the frozen tundra!

Our friends, Cindy and Manuel, gave us a ride to/from the airport.  We didn't get much rest the night before we left because Matt had just returned that evening from a week long trip and I was recovering from a week of being ALONE and from a bit of stress due to an upcoming choir concert so I couldn't pack until late Friday/early Sat.  We were all so happy to be leaving the cold.  This picture of Ellie makes me laugh because it's how I looked and felt....."get me outta here!".    

Ellie looks how I felt - "Mr. Sun, please shine down on me!"

 Not much rest on the plane.  Ellie was a trooper but Rachel wasn't a big fan of the plane ride from LA to Hawaii.  Matt and I traded her back and forth trying to keep her calm.  Yikes! 

We arrived in Hawaii around 11 PM and got to our hotel around 12 or 1 AM.  We had reserved a "premium ocean view room" and got stuffed back in a corner of the hotel where we had to sort of lean off the balcony a little to see the ocean!  :)  Matt called the front desk right away (he doesn't like complaining and always tries to be really nice) but they weren't very accommodating.  When we woke up in the morning, we saw a lovely construction area with the ocean off to the far left.  Premium ocean view?  It's a long story, but we were finally able to get a better room on Tuesday.  See the before and after pics and let me know why you think the "before" pic could be a "premium ocean view" room....seems obvious to us....

Premium Ocean View Room BEFORE

Premium Ocean View Room AFTER

We went to church that morning and then spent the rest of the day on the beach soaking in the much needed sun after a long MN winter.  Words cannot express the joy that filled my soul when I felt the warmth of the sun!!!  No exaggeration....this girl needs sun!!!  :)

View of Molokini - a great place to snorkel (we saw an eel and lots of turtles)

Matt, the hot lifeguard :)

Rachel and Ellie LOVED playing in the sand/water

Yummy sand!

Smiley girl!

Rachel doesn't look happy but she really did LOVE it!

I love this picture....Ellie kept hugging me over and over.  HEAVEN!

The happy Gray Family at Makena Beach

Love this!

We ate dinner at the resort...the first of FOUR disappointing dining experiences there....My sweet husband wanted to keep giving the place a chance to redeem itself while I tried to talk him out of it but, alas, I failed and after the fourth time, Matt finally said something like, "What was I thinking?!!!"  :)

This dessert was pretty good.  We both though the cream on the side looked like a pineapple. 

Ahhh, the palm trees waving in the warm night air....

This is the very first cup of water Ellie has drank in her ENTIRE life!!!  It was a momentous occasion so we took a picture of it!  She normally refuses water or spits it out so we have to give her watered-down apple juice.  We always joke that Hawaii heals everything....it's true though!  Ellie had a cold and it was gone when we left!  :)