Preschool

This summer Jesse told me that we should apply to get Atreyu into the Headstart preschool.  Headstart is for children of families with low income.  They accept children who's families make more if they have extra slots.  We applied and Atreyu didn't get in but he was put on the waiting list.  When we got home from our cruise we had a bunch of messages saying a spot had opened up and Atreyu could go to school.  He has terrible separation anxiety!  He wouldn't go to Camp Carnival on the ship and when I tried to leave him at school his first day, he cried and cried.  I ended up staying the whole day. 

Every morning he tells me he doesn't want to go to school but when we get there, he gets distracted enough for me to sneak out and then he has a great time!  He's making new friends and learning more social skills which I think he needs more than learning his numbers and letters, etc.  That's important too but he is such a smart kid.  He really just needs to learn how to behave with other children and that it's okay for Mommy to leave him in a safe environment for a few hours.  I am glad that we have this opportunity and that he seems to be doing better everyday.

2013 Hawaiian Cruise: Ensenada, Mexico

Our last day on the ship we stopped at Ensenada for a few hours.  The last time we were there we were told that if we wanted to get real vanilla we should find a grocery store and buy it from there because all the tourist shops mark it up so much.  So our first order of business was to find a grocery store.  We just walked and I was able to get three large and three small bottles of real vanilla for $11.  If I had more room in my luggage I probably would have gotten more.

We then walked around and looked in all the different shops.  Jesse got a Volcom hat that would normally be about $50 or $60 in the US for $10.  In one shop Atreyu found a black Spider-man mask that he loved.  We found a store that was not very typical for the area with a bunch of different, random items.  We found a few antiques to go in our room. 

Jesse found this dragon which he fell in love with.  I think it's cool looking but it's not really my taste but he loves it.

Walking around Ensenada really made me realize how blessed and fortunate I am.  There are different families on the street with even the children trying to sell things to you.  They would be happy if you would buy one of their items for even a dollar.  We are so fortunate and I know I really take that for granted.  A lot of the time I think of the things that I would like to have instead of the things I am already blessed with.  Mexico was really an eye-opener and I hope that I can be more grateful for the many things that I am blessed with.

2013 Hawaiian Cruise: Halloween

We were able to celebrate Halloween on the cruise ship.  They had inflatable decorations all over the ship which the kids just loved.

Atreyu pretty much refused to go to Camp Carnival (the kid hang out) the entire cruise but we were able to persuade him to go there for trick-r-treating.  We had to drill it into his little mind that Mommy and Daddy weren't going to leave him there.  We started trick-r-treating at Camp Carnival and then they gave us a map to different locations all over the ship to stop at.  It was pretty fun but we all got sick of going back and forth.  It all ended at Dr. Frankenstein's Lab where they had a Halloween/costume party for the kids.  Atreyu and Cambria both won prizes for scariest costume and silliest costume for kids under four.  Atreyu had been telling us the whole trip that he wanted to get Legos in Hawaii and he got Legos for a prize.  He was thrilled!

 Everyone loved our costumes.  There was a costume party for the adults later that night but we were so hot and tired from traipsing all over the ship that we didn't participate.  It was a lot of fun checking out everyone else's costumes.

2013 Hawaiian Cruise: Hilo, The Big Island

Our last stop was on the Big Island in Hilo.  Our guide took us to Rainbow Falls (I think that's what it was called). 

We then headed to a private waterfall where we were able to swim and have Hawaiian BBQ.  The waterfall was beautiful but it was so cold.  Bernie absolutely loved it and didn't seem to mind the cold at all. 

After lunch we piled back into the van and headed to Akaka Falls.  We stopped along the way at a great spot for photos.  We had some tired kids: sleeping Cambria, silly Atreyu.

We then arrived at the falls where we were able to go on a little hike through the rainforest and enjoy more of the beauties on Hawaii. 

We were truly blessed to be able to visit such an amazing place.  Hawaii is firsthand proof of our Heavenly Father's love for us.  There is beauty everywhere you look.

2013 Hawaiian Cruise: Nawiliwili, Kauai

Our day in Kauai was the hottest day we had.  The island didn't seem to get the same cross-winds as the others.  It also didn't help that the AC in our bus wasn't working.  Thank goodness they brought us a new one as we stopped to see Opaekaa Falls which was right next to the highway. 

We then headed to Kilohana Plantation where they grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables and raise different animals.  We took a train ride through the plantation and Jesse arranged for Atreyu to ride with the conductor.  He was even able to drive the train but was ready to sit back with Mom about a minute later.

We were able to get off the train and feed some "wild" boars.  They are common in the area and the people decided to catch a few and they have multiplied.  We also fed some of the wild chickens that are common on the islands.

After our excursion, we caught a shuttle to a nearby beach and enjoyed swimming in the waves, playing in the sand and doing some shopping.  Jesse held Atreyu in the water and we would all jump when the wave came.  Atreyu would laugh so hard.  He also loved chasing the waves and then turning around and running away as they chased him.

2013 Hawaiian Cruise: Honolulu, Oahu

Our third stop was on the island of Oahu.  We really wanted to see Pearl Harbor but arranging all our excursions the way we wanted to didn't make it possible.  Instead, we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center.  On our drive there we stopped at this cute little gift shop that had all kinds of differently coated macadamia nuts.  I loved the caramel ones and I am kind of regretting not buying a bag.  This was outside the shop.

The Polynesian Cultural Center was such a neat place.  Unfortunately, we only had about three hours there so we didn't get to see near as much as we would have liked.  We were able to visit a couple different islands areas and we saw The Pageant of Long Canoes.  It was interesting learning about the different cultures all these people have.  I don't know how they are able to do some of their dances on water.  I would surely fall in.

We also enjoyed a delicious Hawaiian lunch while we were there.  I definitely want to visit again someday.

We then hopped back on the bus and our driver stopped at North Beach for about fifteen minutes.  Jesse and Bernie got pretty wet collecting shells and coral.  It was such a gorgeous beach.  Atreyu and I had fun drawing in the sand.  Cambria had fallen asleep on Grandpa's lap so he stayed in the bus.  On our trip we were able to stop and see a couple large sea turtles.

This island was definitely one of my favorites.  We were lucky and had perfect weather pretty much everyday we were in Hawaii.

2013 Hawaiian Cruise: Kona, The Big Island

After booking all our excursions, I was the most excited to stop in Kona.  Jesse, Bernie and I were able to swim with wild dolphins.  It was awesome!  We got into a boat that looked like this:

Our captain drove us out to an area where he heard the dolphins were and sure enough, we found them.  He would drive the boat ahead of the dolphins a little ways and then we would all jump in and start swimming.  The dolphins were usually pretty deep under the water but we could look right down and there they were.  Once they got too far ahead of us, we would get back on the boat, get ahead of them, and jump back in.  It was such an amazing experience!  On our last jump, Jesse was able to keep up with them for a long time and two eventually came up and started swimming right next to him.  Our captain called him the "Dolphin Whisperer".

We then headed back to the ship to get Grandpa and the kids.  He was so great to watch them for us so we could do something so awesome.  We then took a taxi to a place called Turtle Beach.  It was a beautiful area with a black sand beach.  We brought our snorkeling stuff and we had some of the best snorkeling there than we ever have.  There were so many beautiful fish.  We also found a few sea turtles in the shallow water.  Atreyu thought they were pretty cool and was brave enough to walk closer to them on his own.

 

Cambria was a bit cranky and kept crying which would scare the turtles away.  I don't think she really noticed them.  Grandpa bought us some snow cones and fudgesicles and her mood turned all around.  It was such a fun day!

2013 Hawaiian Cruise: Kahului, Maui

Our first stop was on Maui.  We decided to go on an excursion that takes to on the road to Hana.  It was so beautiful.  We drove through rainforests and saw beautiful beaches.  The road to Hana has over 600 curves and 54 bridges.  It was very windy but all of us did really well without getting sick. 

 

 

One of the trees on the islands is a Painted Eucalyptus.  It sheds its bark and then looks like someone has painted it.  They were awesome!

We stopped at a place with this some waterfalls and a bridge over all of it.  We would have gone swimming had we known to bring our swim stuff. 

 

 

When we got to Hana, we had a delicious lunch had this little restaurant.  They had amazing burgers!  We then headed back on the road and saw a few more beautiful spots.  We didn't get back to the ship until dark but it was such a beautiful, amazing day.  Our Heavenly Father has truly given us a beautiful world to live in.