Growing up!

Every month goes by and I am struck by the fact that my baby is GROWING UP!

Sometimes it would be nice if time stood still so I could fully soak up the sweetness! We are doing our best to soak up what we can.

Hawaii 2011

Destination: Kailua Kona, HI
Length of stay: One short week!!

Purpose: To visit Shane's brother Jed, his coffee shop AND to lay on the beach!!!!
Our Posse: My husband, daughter, Grandma Elizabeth, Kara, Jed, and our BOB stroller!
Sights Visited: Kona Brothers Coffee shop, Old Airport beach, Hapuna Beach, the Big Island's inactive volcano, Mauna Loa Macadamia plantation, a black sand beach, Alii DR., farmers markets, Hilton Hotel in Waikolia, a boat cruise out to watch dolphins, and a huge ice cream cake for Grandmas birthday!!!
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Flowers on the beachKalia took a nap on the airplane on the way overFirst time at Uncle Jed's Coffee Shop!!Hanging with Uncle Jedasking for a low fiveJust getting a real good look at this niece of mine!I love this picture!Hugs for Auntie KaraShe seems to know exactly what she wants on the menu!

The Posse eating at Bubba Gumps

Getting a feel for the sand

and...her first dip in the Pacific Ocean!!!

Our little beach babe

A sweet view at the Hilton Hotel.

The sunset during dinner at the Hilton

The beach we spent a lot of time at!

Kalia just watched the back of her eyelids most of the time we were at the beach.

Another sweet sunset!!

Turtles laying on the sand at the Black Sand Beach

Hugs for daddy!

Just to show you how BLACK the sand was. It was so amazing!

Jed's landlord was sweet enough to take us out on his twin hulled sail boat. It was such an awesome ride! Here is Shane and Kalia heading out to the boat.

Kara taking the wheel!

Up close to the dolphins! Oh they were so amazing! I had a hard time keeping track of them in the camera, so this is the best picture I got.

Jed, Kara, and Shane at Hapuna Beach after some Boogie Boarding.

Um....this doesn't look like its going to turn out well!! :)

Shane and Kara riding a wave (a small one, but it's a wave)

Daddy and Kalia watching the waves

Grandma letting Kalia try her coffee!

Another sweet sunset picture!

Grandmas birthday dinner and Kalia is having a blast!!

Those tiny toes in this picture are growing up so fast! It was so fun to take her at the age she was! Thanks to everyone who made this trip possible! We will treasure every memory of our trip!!

Summer time and home improvements.

We have FINALLY had a few days of summer (Now that it is August!!!!). So, we are enjoying some warmth and sunshine!! One afternoon we checked out a local lake that is apparently THE place to hang out! It was loaded with people, but we still enjoyed letting Kalia get her toes wet! We had to prepare her for our trip to Hawaii this next week! Although, I'm sure the water isn't as warm as it will be in Hawaii!Filling up mommas had with rocks and then taking them back out.

We have a few deer that hang around our place, and Kalia gets a kick out of watching them!

We had our first overnight guests this weekend. Nicole and Connor stayed for a night on their way home. It was so fun to have them here!

Must have been the place to be!

Poor Connor, had to play with pink toys! Hopefully he won't remember!

Kalia is army crawling everywhere and at light speed. But, she hasn't figured out how to get up on the landing yet. So....I see this look often from kitchen! Makes me laugh every time!

My view on my walk this morning! Poppies line the street!

Up close.

First time in a swing and loved it!!

Out with the old!!!

And.... in with the new!!Sure will be nice to be able to OPEN AND CLOSE, the garage door! This is just the first of many replacements to come! We are enjoying this instant change as we come home!
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We are so glad we are finally having some nice weather (just as we are taking off for nicer weather! :) but, hopefully when we return we will have some more summer adventures to share.
Ta-ta for now.