Kona 2017

A couple days before we left for Connecticut, Shane called to ask if I wanted to go with him to Kona, he had a couple days of work to do at the Temple there.

Um... yeah, I guess I can spend a couple days sitting on the beach with my good pal Lisa!

We arrived home Tuesday the 24th from Connecticut and less than 24 hours later we were on our way to Hawaii.

A rough gig... but someone had to do it!

Our flight got in at 8 PM and we headed to check in at our hotel, but we missed the part about having to get a late check in if we were arriving later than 7???

Hours later after lots of phone calls and unanswered texts etc. (since it was 5 hours later in Utah where our travel agent lives...) we ended up paying for a 2nd hotel for the night.

But we woke up to this...

And for two days these guys worked...

while Lisa and I... didn't work.

We got the whole hotel problem taken care of and enjoyed our time at the beautiful resort.

Lisa and I explored and relaxed on the beach those first two days.
Paradise.

The guys finished up Friday mid-day and we took a "night snorkel with the manta rays" tour that night.
Shane and I had done this back in 2006, the experience was different but still awesome. This time we all held onto a large central raft instead of having our own flashlights with nothing to hold on to.

Such a super surreal experience with those huge gentle mantas swimming inches under us!!

We saw a huge pod of dolphin on our way out.

The next day Lisa and I scheduled a round of golf for the guys.

They deserved it after their hard days of work!

I think they enjoyed it. ;)

We met them on the 7th hole for some pictures.

What a gorgeous course!

We enjoyed yummy food.

Beautiful sunsets.

Church up north in Wailea on Sunday.

Huge macadamia nut banana pancakes.

Some shave ice rounded out an amazing couple of days.

So glad that the Astle's got to share it with us!!

We headed to the airport for the long flight back.
(Shane headed to Oahu that night for some repairs there the next day.)

Two trips back to back made me grateful to be back to my regular life.
I was vacationed out...

Although now it's been 3 weeks and it's mighty cold... so if anyone needs someone to accompany them on a trip I'm ready to go! hahaha

Connecticut/New York October 2017

UEA was pretty awesome this year. 

We got to see our Saige!!

Thursday we flew into JFK and headed straight to Saige's "nanny" house in Westport Connecticut.

We were awfully happy to see her!

And the house... well it's gorgeous by the way.

We spent the next day in Westport. Doing what Saige does, helping her be a nanny.

 While the girls were at school we went to Compo Beach.

 

Later Jackie and the girls went with us to a pumpkin patch.

The girls had fun playing in the "corn bucket".

That night the Ibanez' family treated us to a hibachi dinner.

Yum.

We woke up early Saturday AM  and took the train in to New York City.

We spent the day exploring, and learned that getting around takes much longer than we had originally planned...

Grand Central

Our first NY "sweet treats".

A stop @ M&M World

The hop-on-hop-off bus is a great way to explore.

Cathedral of Saint John

we spent a long time @ the 911 Memorial/Museum.

A 1.5 hour train ride back got us home after midnight and we were off again by 7.. back to the city.  The plan was to attend church at the Manhattan Ward.

but...

Our cute little navigator got the train times wrong.

And then when we got to Grand Central we got on the Subway line going in the wrong direction.

Which meant we wouldn't have made it to the church until 9:45... ( it started @ 9).  Plus we would have ended up an hour away from our next activity... 

so... we were dressed for church all day but never made it. :(

We went to the top of the One World Tower.

Gorgeous views, but @ $34/person... it's definitely a "been there, done that" activity. 

We stopped at Trinity Church... so I guess we KIND OF went to church. hahaha

 My cute family walking in the Big Apple...

We walked a lot!  Like miles and miles.

A ferry ride to Liberty Island to see the Statue.

We had "pedestal tickets" so we got to climb stairs up to the base of the statue.

The girls REALLY wanted to be able to go up to the crown, unfortunately those were sold out before Saige even left to nanny, so we weren't able to get them.

A quick stop at Ellis Island... we can say we've been there... but we wish we had more time to explore!

Another ride on the hop on hop off bus...

We loved the headphones and commentary.

Times square.

Lydia and Jadyn's only request was the American Girl Store.

The American Girl Store is Shane's favorite store too....

(insert laughing face here.)

After some pizza we were off to see WICKED.

The girls LOVE the music, but Lydia and Jadyn had no idea what the store line was.

Saige and I were able to see it back in the summer of 2012 with Tayler and Lisa... we all LOVED it.

Shane, well he didn't even know it was taken from the Wizard of Oz... 

+ I had to wake him up a few times.

He says he really liked it...

but if he knew how much he paid for that night...

I bet he wouldn't have falling asleep!!  ;);););)

Monday we spent in Newport helping Saige nanny.

Our girls love Koda and JJ and had a ton of fun with them.

Jackie and Eddie were great hosts.

SO very kind.

Saige is lucky to be nannying for such a great family.

One more sleep and we had to leave bright and early for the airport.

We have sure missed having Saige at our house.

It was awesome to get to spend some time with her, seeing what her life is like this year.

I'm pretty sure it was a UEA we will all remember for years to come!