Aloha!

I am going to warn you now-this is quite possibly the longest post ever. So if you've been putting of going to the bathroom, you might want to go now. Bring back a snack and a Coke, because you're going to be here for a while. :)


The International Thermal Spray Assocation have an annual conference, and this year it was in Hawaii. Jack and I were lucky enough to go with Jason on this trip. It was fabulous! We were on the Big Island from the 13th through the 18th. It was such a wonderful trip! Jack did great! So great, in fact, that when we got home Jason said, in a very serious tone "Maybe we should take him to the doctor. He's just never mad!"

We split the plane ride up, Houston to LA, LA to Kona, Hawaii (for Jack's sake). On the trip from Houston to LA, Jack stayed awake and played, and on the trip from LA to Kona he slept. Couldn't have gone better!

Here he is with his favorite toy of the flight: the plastic cup.

On the first day (after we retreived our lost baggage) we headed down to show Jack the beach outside the hotel.

Check out those cute toes in the sand!

A view of the reef break.

Don't you just LOVE this one? Jack over his Daddy's shoulder.

At first Jack wasn't so sure of that water. He must be thinking "It doesn't stay still like the water in the tub."



This is a shot from a drive we took through the mountains on the first day.

Jack and I on the hiking trail. It was a VERY steep trail!

This beach is where the trail led, but since it was so steep and Jack wasn't in the Baby Bjorn (and Jason and I were in flip flops) we decided to go back to the top from here.

I think Jason looks so cute here, don't you?

On the next day's drive we learned from previous experiences and brought the Baby Bjorn.

This was the meet and greet for ITSA. Jack loved the leis!

A view of the sunset and a rain shower from the hotel lobby.

Jack sleeping later that night. Pooped!

Pooped again-Jack sleeping on the beach.

Playing in the sand once he woke up...

And a picture with me after he fell face first in it!

Playing on the hotel bed.

I posted this one because of the couple in the background. They stopped and talked to us because they thought Jack was so cute. The lady kept calling him Jake, even though I told her clearly three times his name was Jack. Too funny!

Jack loves having his picture taken. He is always ready with a big smile!

The hotel pool had a shallow area with sand just like the beach. Jack liked this much more than the real beach!

On Saturday Jack and I went whale watching while Jason and some ITSA people went golfing. Here are some whale shots, and a shot of Jack on the boat with our friend Rob.

Doing awesome with the sippy cup at the luau!

Sleeping through the picture with the hula girls.

In the pool on the last day. I can't get either of them to look at the camera this time!

On a chair getting changed out of the swim diaper.

On the last day we went over to Hapuna Beach, a short drive from the hotel. Jack was feeling much better about the waves by the last day (figures).

Looking intently at the waves...

One more time to the pool before showering to go home.

Happy as can be on the plane.

This was last night-Jack feeding himself a biter biscuit! I had to take it away, though. He broke off a huge chunk he could have choked on-he doesn't quite get the concept of small bites yet.