Hawaii 2009

Our trip to the Big Island of Hawaii over Labor Day weekend was a blast! Carys took right to the ocean this time and you couldn’t get her out. She kept her balance really well in the waves right from the get go and even tried swimming. Once again, sand was a big hit. We did A LOT of driving, including an all day trip around the island, and she did great. Only one major melt down at the end of the long island loop day that we have some funny video of that I’ll post later. Here are a few pictures from the trip. We’ve got a lot of video and once I get through looking at them all I’ll add a few clips.

A feral cat colony outside our balcony. We learned that the hotel has about 100 wild cats in several different colonies and that about 90% of them now are now fixed. The kittens get adopted out when the can find them. Every morning we had to look for the "moews" and they were by far her favorite thing at the hotel. Although, she was always a little disappointed when she would “call” (patting her hand on the ground or clapping) for them to come over to her and they wouldn’t.

An Irish restaurant/pub a block from the ocean, hence “Almost By The Sea”

The Waipi'o Valley

Once the home to many of the rulers of Hawaii.

A stop for lunch at Ken's House of Pancakes in Hilo during our unintentional trip around the island. We had only planned to go to Waimea for lunch but ended up being way too early (I had no idea it was so close to Kailua-Kona). We went on to the Waipi’o Valley but were still to early for lunch and decided to keep driving. Once you hit Hilo you’re at the halfway mark and it’s a little bit faster if you just keep going instead of turning around. Ken’s has been opened since the early 70’s and I’m sure has never seen any updating. I think our waitress had been working there since they opened. Carys is pouring coconut syrup, I think there was also mango. Sean had coconut pancakes, coconut inside, topped with coconut and served with coconut syrup. He said it's better than anything he's ever had at IHOP.

We stopped at this amazing black sand beach totally by chance. We were surprised how soft the sand is, by far the favorite beach we visited. The waves were a little rough, and I didn’t anticipate us getting in but Carys had other ideas.

Shopping

Yesterday we went shopping with Aunt Kim in Plano.

A Look Back

2 Days Old

594 Days Old

ABC

In the last week or so Carys has began saying words. She’s a little late, most kids her age are already using 2 word phrases. Aunt Kim says she read that babies who walk early are often late to talk and vice versa. Until now she would only say "up" and "out" on a regular basis. The few other words she was learning she would only repeat when she felt like it. Now, she'll try to repeat most words you ask her to say and has begun to use them on her own. The other day I found her reciting the alphabet when they played it on Sesame Street. This video only shows her repeating a few of the letters but at the end she shares some of the new words she's learned overthe last week.

My Big Girl Hanging at the City Pool

Hurst has the best city pool ever!

Pretty New Dress

My Aunt Alison sent my mom home from California with a ton of outfits. Here's Carys in her pretty new cherry dress. She keeps showing everyone her new dress. It's too funny. Thanks Aunt Alison!!

4th of July

Here are some picutres from our 4th of July party at Grandma and Grandpa Murphy's.

Summer 2009 - Cancun

Cancun was actually cooler than Texas (100 here, 90 there) and the humidity was about the same. Since it was such a short trip we mostly hung out at the hotel beach and pool and didn’t venture out of the hotel zone. Next time we definitely will though. I really like the bus, cheap, fast and you don’t have to bother with parking… Sean, not so much, but he couldn’t argue with the price. Here are a few pictures and videos.

Dad can we go to the pool now?

You gotta look good before you can show yourelf on the beach.

Perfecting her swimming skills.

Carys loves the sand. I think we'll have to get her a sandbox of her own or visit the beach on a regular basis.

Every hotel has it's own local vermin. Usually it's stray cats or bunnies but in Cancun it's iguanas. Every afternoon they come out to sun themselves and beg for french fries (I kid you not, they eat french fries).

Even though she was exausted she waved for the camera.

Pool fun

First time walking on the beach.

Entertainment on the bus.

Grandma & Grandpa Murphy's New Pool

Grandma and Grandpa Murphy's pool got finshed last week and we spent the weekend splashing around.