March

Before Sasha's dentist appointment, she thought it would a good idea to write this on a helium balloon we had around the house.  She took it with her to the appointment and the staff thought it was just so cute. 

Warm sunny days in March?  The norm in New Mexico.  Part of why we love living here!

Jack's church outfit that he picked out.  Who said you can't wear a tie with a jersey and an argile vest?  When I protested, he said, "But, mom, this IS fancy."

Sasha using her quill and ink that she got for Christmas this year.

The highlight of this month, and for this year perhaps, was our trip to Kauai over the kids' spring break.  The travel there was a breeze.  The first two nights we stayed at the Garden Isle Inn, a small bed and breakfast close to the airport.  We immediately changed into our swimsuits after we checked in and headed for the public beach across the street despite it being 9 pm New Mexico time. 

The next day we drove around part of the island and stopped at Kauai coffee plantation for lots of free samples and tropical fruit smoothies.

The next stop was at an old sugar plantation that had an old fashioned train tour through the groves and orchards on the plantation.  The lovely restaurant on the grounds served the fruits and vegetables that we saw on the tour.  The train tour also included a stop where Sasha and Jack got to feed bread to a herd of ferrel pigs.

Two days after arriving we headed to the north side of the island where we had a rented a house for the week with Uncle Joe, Aunt Teresa, and cousins Jake and T.J who were arriving that day.  En route we stopped at Lydgate Beach Park which had several shallow swimming areas completely walled off by rocks.  It very windy that day but we still had fun playing tag, catch, and making a flag with palm scraps.

Sasha getting into Hawaii mode at our new lodging.

Our first morning together we went to the Princeville Resort for their Sunday brunch.  The setting overlooking Hanalei Bay was unbelievably gorgeous and the meal was one of the best I've had.  Sasha loved the dessert spread and I ate more fresh seafood than I thought was humanly possible. 

These four cousins got along so well the entire week.  Not once were there unkind words spoken or bickering amongst them (other than the occasional sibling disagreements).  It really made the whole trip so enjoyable for the adults since the kids entertained each other so well. 

Phil and I did ziplining one morning while Joe and Teresa watched the kids and we swapped them out in the afternoon.

It was one of those things I've always wanted to do. 

Phil diligently trying to break open a coconut that Sasha found on the ground.  It was harder than anticipated, but the water inside was delicious when he finally got it open. 

The low point of the vacation for Sasha and Jack was when this centipede skittered up the swim noodle Sasha was using in the hot tub.  It was 6 inches long and very fast.  Both kids, who were the only ones in the hot tub at the time, started screaming hysterically and so did I once I saw it.  I hate centipedes!

One day we drove around the island to the Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.  We had a picnic on an overlook and then hiked down into it for a bit. 

We ended the day at Poipu Beach on the sunny south side of the island and were lucky enough to see a huge sea tortoise come ashore and plop down to rest.

I did some snorkeling.

Sasha practicing her cartwheels

We ended the day with a late dinner at Duke's on Kalapaki Beach.

Phil and Joe took a helicopter ride the next day and saw an aerial view of the amazing topography in Kauai. 

Sasha and Phil gussied up for the luau that night.

The entrance to the luau.

The luau began with an open air bus tour of the tropical grounds followed by the ceremony where they take the roasted pig out of the pit.  Sasha and Jack were enthralled.

The buffet wasn't just good--it was GREAT.  The live ukelele music during the dinner was very atmospheric and Sasha even went up on stage when they asked for volunteers to learn the hula.  After the meal we all walked to an amphitheater where there was an hour-long show with various cultural dances and pyrotechnics.  Jack was the only kid able to stay awake for the duration!

Enjoying Hawaiian shaved ice

 

We found a way to contain them!

One evening we hired a babysitter and the adults had a very unique dinner out.  Once a week this famous (on Kauai) chef sets up a big tent on a lawn in Hanalei and prepares a gourmet prix fix 4-course dinner out of his food truck that he serves to 30 people at community tables.  The combination of ingredients he used was unusual and surprisingly delicious. 

The next morning we hiked the first part of the famous Kaulala Trail along the Napali coast.  To do the whole 13 mile trail you need a permit and overnight camping equipment, so we went about 3 miles roundtrip.  The trail hugs the coastline and has gorgeous views the whole way.

We spent the afternoon at the beach right at the trailhead.

Our last night at the rental house. 

We then headed to a hotel for the last 2 nights that had fun activities for the kids.

Our last day we returned to Hanalei Bay, my favorite beach on the island.  The kids happened upon this cool shelter and we spent time watching all the surfers from the pier.  Overall, it was one of our best vacations yet.  Kauai lived up to and even exceeded our expectations.  Hopefully we will return when the kids are teenagers and can do all of the Kaulala Trail and go ziplining with us!

Back in Santa Fe, the kids created these costumes with the babysitter one night.  Pretty frightful!