hawaii

So last month Leif and I went on vacation to Hawaii.  While we in Kauai there was an unseasonable storm and we were literally stuck in our rental unit for three full days due to flooding.  At the time it was really shitty but we can laugh about it now.  Who can say that their vacation was literally declared a disaster by the government?  Seriously, there were Red Cross tents set up and emergency evacuation warnings and all kinds of other very un-fun vacationy things going on.

Oh well.  We still ended up having a good time, especially when we finally made it off Kauai and to Maui.


I've been meaning to share some photos for the last four weeks but just haven't gotten around to it until now.  Clio has recently decided that when she is awake, and that is most of the time now (naps?  not for her), she only wants to play with me.  She is currently napping -a rare moment- and so I am taking the time to slap these up here.

Kauai 

The 200sq ft studio guest house we were stuck in for three days.  There are worse places to be stuck, right?

The valley where we stayed.  That river there in the corner was what flooded, drowning the entire valley.

The only day that the weather was nice enough to go to the beach while in Kauai.  Makeshift tent for baby.  Creepy stalker poultry.

River flooding.

Last day in Kauai.

Maui

Probably the most beautiful view I'll ever have while breastfeeding.

Clio couldn't get enough of the water.  We gave up trying to get her to stop licking the water in the pool and in the ocean.  

My dear friend Jennie met us in Maui for the conference I went to.  

Rawrrrrrrr!!!!!

My Winter Vacation, by Brianna.

Still being in school has some definite perks. One of those being long winter breaks from the tedium of class (and in my case, clinic as well). Seeing as Leif and I have a baby on the way I thought that those three weeks might be one of the last chances I would have for awhile to take a trip to see one of my oldest friends, Jackie and her husband and their twins. They just happen to live in the most beautiful state of the Union (sorry Oregon), Oahu, Hawaii.

Leif couldn't go because he is saving up all of his time off for when the baby arrives. But he still wanted me to go because that is just how awesome he is. So Cathy, a friend of mine who I met through school came with me. Like many other people, Cathy has a very strong love of all things Lost. Seeing as the show is filmed on Oahu we decided to take a Lost Tour. First of all I have to admit that although I like the show I wouldn't say I am a huge fan. The tour, however, was a lot of fun and an amazing way to see the island.

As you can see we ran into Hurley's (really the Dharma Initiative's) old VW Bus.
Just moments later we were forced to flee from the oncoming smoke monster.
Lost films quite a bit on Kualoa Ranch, which is quite possibly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.
Tap-dancers in the mall.

Because I love food, even not quite four months pregnant (at the time) and losing weight because of morning sickness, so we went on a "Hole in the Wall" food tour. So much fun. Thank God for Zofran. Or as I like to call it, "Mommy's sanity pill."

These are the fabulous ladies making fresh, handmade rice noodles at the Look Funn Noodle House in Chinatown. Across the street, fresh fish. We ate some pretty amazing food like Rambutan fruit, mochi ice cream, Peking Duck, and fish balls (not my favorite, for sure).

Jackie and her twins; Darla and Dexter. Jackie is so much fun and she has the sweetest, mellowest babies I've ever met.

And what would a trip to Hawaii be without a visit to the beach where Leif proposed to me? Waimea Bay. March 23rd 2006. Up until my wedding day it was the best day of my life.