Aloha!

Hawaii makes everything better. More specifically, two blissful weeks in Hawaii. That's right. I'll say it again. TWO blissful weeks in Hawaii.

Sigh. Just thinking about it is conjuring up swaying palm trees, sandy toes and an island breeze...

From the moment we landed, all the hassles started to melt away.

Planning hassles - we started planning it a year ago, when Auntie LN came a-visiting for Thanksgiving - which makes me wonder why, if we knew about it for a year, all our packing was accomplished in a day (in a world where packing equals running about the house throwing things at random into three enormous - and destined to be useless - suitcases.)

Money hassles - should we buy Sebi his own seat or take advantage of his under-two-fly-free and be stuck holding him for two 6 hour flights?

Work hassles - where everyone who has known for months that you are going to Hawaii decides to save up lots of vital things for you to do 15 minutes before you have to leave for the airport.

Travel hassles - will Sebi sleep on the plane? (He did.) Will we pack too much crap? (We did.) Will Auntie LN survive the invasion? (She did.)

By way of a short visit to Seattle to meet the newest addition to Abra and Chris' clan (Adam-licious!), we arrived on a warm, balmy (is there any other kind?) evening to Oahu. From that moment on, we were all in complete vacation mode. I think it helps that the island is so isolated - distance and time-wise - from everything else. With the time difference, if a work-related emergency arose in Boston in the morning, by the time we woke up in Honolulu, they had probably figured it out. What a liberating feeling!

The next two weeks were spent in a pleasant state of limbo - we'd wake up to sunny mornings in Ellen's lovely home, and breakfast.



Just as the day started to get warm, we'd head out for a long walk, usually along Waikiki, heading nowhere in particular, following the gorgeous breeze.


This was the perfect time of day to hit to beach, when it was still cool and still empty.

When the mood hit us, we'd stop somewhere for lunch (okay, in reality we'd suddenly realize it was time for Sebi to eat, then stand around arguing for a few minutes, and then end up walking into the closest restaurant.)

And then head home for a well-earned nap, which Sebi generously allowed us all to partake in.










After Sebi's evening playtime (including sunset on the beach and lots of gelato), and his bath and bed-time routine, we'd generally head out (or stay in) with Ellen and Jamie to find yet more food.

When we were in the mood for a change from the usual humdrum heavenly Hawaiian existence, we mixed things up with trips to Hanauma bay and the Polynesian Cultural Center (where Sebi got in touch with his inner Island self! Play the video below to see it.)

Yes, I can see you all shaking your heads in sympathy for the difficult time we had, all thanks to Auntie LN. Yet we endured it without a word of complaint. And we'll never let her forget it. ♥