Big Isle: day 1

It was a long travel day getting to Hawaii, but we pushed though it as best as we could. 

The first leg to Honolulu was not bad at all, and Camille did pretty good on the flight. Could be a different story coming from the older gentleman sitting next to Glen. She just talks a lot and asks so many questions, as any normal 3 year old would be- so you can't really blame her. 

Hawaiian Airlines provided a "breakfast box", which was quite pretty that I didn't want to open it.

Inside was a bread roll smothered with cream cheese, dried fruit & a mac nut cookie. 

Gotta love that 45 minute nap CJ took, thanks turbulence!

 

 

As if the flight wasn't long enough, the 2-hour lay over in Honolulu sucked. And we still had to deplane and wait. We just wanted to get to the Big Isle already...

The Kona airport was pretty cool- much smaller than Maui's airport and the waiting areas are outdoors and similar to huts, no walls. 

Crazy story...

Even calling a week ago to confirm everything...plane, hotel and (especially) our car rental, we almost didn't get a car. The Iron Man Triathlon on Saturday wiped the car rental companies out. 

When the shuttle drove into the rental area, something didn't feel right...it was practically empty!

We checked in to get our cheesy little economy car and here is the spiel we got. 

"Right now we don't have any cars, they are all rented out. We are really sorry, people are not returning cars and extending their rental. <bullshit> We will gladly shuttle you to your hotel and tomorrow at the earliest, your car will be driven to where you are staying."

OH NO YOU DIDN'T!

There were about eight other parties before us that were getting the same rigmarole.. 

I was about to call management or corporate to put in a formal complaint.

But slow your roll sister...low and behold, within that duration a few cars were returned and they moved faster than shit to get them cleaned and prepared for us.

Cheesy little economy car turned into full 4-wheel drive big truck!

Big truck for the Big Isle!

Our first day on the island was pretty shot. 

The ultimate plan was to hit up Da Poke Shack for dinner and head up to Waikoloa Beach and check in. Well, Da Poke Shack was located in Kona where Da Iron Man Tri was taking place.

Obstacles galore...blocked streets, pedestrians, parties, police, yellow tape, bikers and runners- oh my bikers and runners training EVERYWHERE! 

Of all the years vacaying here on the islands, I've never seen so many fit and crispy people in Hawaii at one given time. 

 

Day 1 down, more to follow!

Tiana

This little girl loves Disney princesses to no end.

I've been getting costume catalogs in the mail for the upcoming Halloween season, and she thumbs through these and will look no further once she gets to the princess costumes.

Some of the dresses aren't even authentic Disney, how dare they replicate Sleeping Beauty's gown and Snow White's apple handling pose!

 

This year for Halloween she is not about to don three different costumes like last year- although I did only buy one of them--- Abby Cadabby. Jessie (from Toy Story) was put together from a few different events and Princess Belle was a birthday gift.

I made sure to ask her at least a dozen times who she wanted to be...so Princess Tiana it is!

Well fortunately this ties into her cousin's birthday party this weekend.

A Princess Tea Party themed party ... how convenient!

Regardless of glitter getting everywhere and constantly worrying if she will eat it with those 1 inch plastic light up heels, I'm convinced she will live happily ever after.

remembrance

There are few events in my life that I will live to tell and September 11th, 2001 is one of them.

With today being the 11th Anniversary of the tragic event and every year that passes, I always have a heavy heart and think about all those who lost their lives on that very day.

It was a day that changed our lives forever and I will never forget.

To commemorate this special day, I woke up early on Sunday morning and headed over to the Cabrillo National Monument and ran the Race to Remember 5K with H & Sonyer.

It was a beautiful morning run that started at the monument and weaved through the National Cemetary. It was a mere reminder of our freedom and all the wonderful people deceased and still with us who help us live our lives, day in and day out.

Here are pictures from 1999 on a very memorable trip to the east coast with H & E.

We visited a few different cities, but NYC was the highlight of our trip.

We will always remember.

This was my second trip to NYC, but the first time to visit the World Trade Center. This is the infamous picture taken that marks your visit to this grand tourist site. So glad I made the visit.

Here I am on top of the World (Trade Center).

Standing on the observatory deck was AMAZING! 110 stories high!

Good 'ol Rudy Giuliani, what a man!

Big Ups to the NYC Firemen, even the cardboard cut outs.

New York City, Center of the Universe.

I Heart NYC!

preschool

We breezed through the long weekend and made it through today...

...the first day of preschool for our little Camille Joy.

The morning was rushed, and I wish I had more time to get her ready and get myself ready.

Camille actually woke up a little cranky and was telling me "I don't want you to leave me."

Today was the big day and after all the prepping over the weekend, it finally sank in for her.

This worried me a bit, but I've been told that after 15 or 20 minutes with out us there, they are just fine.

Here she is with her sis, saying good bye and letting Cloie know that she was going to school.

Too cute!

We of course had our camera and took a bunch of pictures and Glen had the video rolling, as well.

Must savor these precious moments.

Here is Camille in the play yard, warming up before entering the classroom.

Nice pose, huh? I told her to smile; she smiled AND assumed position.

 What is a phone booth?

Slides are her thang these days.

One of the water toys she will come home soaked from.

Proud Daddy. Sad Daddy.

So excited!

Camille and Mr. Muller...same hairdo!

Roll call...

Giraffe Room

Can't believe this baby is in preschool. Wow!

First day of preschool down in the books!

She told me she cried and I'm sure she was telling me the truth. 

I'm not too worried about it, my big girl is growing up and she will get use to this. 

I will admit, I shed a few tears as Glen & I walked back to the car hand in hand. 

And as much as we would love another child, we feel so blessed to have Camille.

She puts the sunshine in our day and amazes us with her every movement and every word that comes out of her mouth. I see her getting to like preschool more and more as time passes and she will shine!

Ines Maria

She's here!
<3

long weekend...short week

Yippee, things can't get any better than a 5 day weekend!

This will also mark the end of summer and a new chapter in our lives, as little Camille starts preschool on Tuesday. Bitter sweet for sure.

This past week has been crazy busy preparing for the First Week of School; Tuesday I had a one-on-one meeting with the teacher & Thursday was orientation for kids and parents. Those two events made for time off and shorter work days. We also had our office Fantasy Football draft a few hours after I came in for a half day of work <--- yeh, not much of a work day.

We gotta do what we gotta do.

While most are excited for the 3 day weekend, I'm more excited about my 5 day weekend!

Not even thinking about Labor Day, I planned way ahead and requested Tuesday (1st day of preschool) & Wednesday (our long awaited Disneyland visit) off.

I only work 2 days next week, oops!

A LOT is on my to-do list between today & Wednesday and if I'm even lucky, half will get done.

quality, no rush, morning coffee

cleaning

shopping
(lots of sales, hello anthro!)

(I already did my share of damage at LLL at lunch today)

running

park time

organizing, purging

cooking, bbq-ing and making yummy guacamole

pool time at the Chinnster's with the cousins

preparing for preschool
making sure I spent some quality time with my girls

And Sea World...check!

We've neglected our passes for months and finally made it tonight. It was a blast, even for the short 2 hours we were there. Sharks, penguins & turtles...oh my!

freebies

Of all the photo sharing websites online, my go-to source is Shutterfly. I've ordered photos, books and cards from them and have always been happy with the end product.

In the last week I came across two Shutterfly promotions- one for a free magnet and another for a free mug. Of course if free stuff presents itself to me, I can't pass it up. I wouldn't normally buy a personalized magnet or mug, but once again, why not if I can get it for free, right?

 

So I just placed my order and observed a few things that I wanted to point out:

Ordering stuff via Shutterfly takes some time. In fact, you should probably do it in a quiet place, free of distractions. Trying to pick a few photos from thousands of photos is a tall task.

 

Shipping fluctuates depending on what you get and ultimately it seems like you are paying more for shipping because you are getting stuff for free.

 

I paid $10+ shipping for two free items that would normally be $20+.

Nonetheless my order is in and I'll be receiving my magnet and mug in a few days so we shall see.

The hassle and time it took from start to finish makes me wonder if it was worth it.

 

Do you question promo deals like what I just went through?