Disturbing

My Aunt B. sent this to me.  The email was titled "Tweety Turns 60"  It's just disturbing!!!

One

My Carter-Baby!  You are a whole year old.  I can hardly believe it!  You are so sweet.  You love to cuddle and give hugs and kisses.  I love to listen to you talk.  I think you have a great sense of humor.  I just can't wait to know what you're talking about so I can laugh along with you.  You started walking exactly one week before your birthday.  You only take three steps at a time but those are three steps in the right direction.  You admire your brother and love to follow him around.  We love to sit back and watch the two of you interact.  I get a little scared when you and Michael think it's a good idea to stand on the sit-n-spin.  You are an adventurous climber.  You are a great sharer thus far.  I sure hope that sticks!  You are one in a million and I wouldn't trade you for anything!  I love you!!!

You had loads of fun with your birthday balloons.  My baby, you need another haircut.  I think Michael was 18 months before he even had one.   Happy Birthday cake to you!   You did much better than your brother.  We had to push his hands into his first cake.  You dove right in!   It's fun to be one!  I hope you enjoy your second year of life as much as you enjoyed your first!   I love you Carter-Baby and I can't imagine life without you!

Atlantis

This is Atlantis.  It's a submarine that takes you approximately 100 feet under water.  Quite honestly it's a tourist trap.  Gwenn sent me all sorts of magazines and pamphlets on Oahu.  Atlantis was one of two whole things that I really wanted to do.  So... we called.  They wanted $106 per adult to take this tour.  So Gwenn asked if they had a Kama ai'na rate.  They do.  Kama ai'na is what they call the locals.  (Comma eye na) The Kama ai'na rate is ...... (are you ready for this?) THIRTY-SIX DOLLARS!!!!  I could NOT believe this.  Lucky for me, I was going on such an adventure with Kama ai'na so they had the necessary Hawaiian state ID.  Usually they get like a 10% discount not 70%.  

The girls looking out our porthole. A Man-made shipwreck.  They had a few things strategically placed on this tour.  Some ships and an airplane for example. The babies couldn't come on this adventure with us so Gwenn was gracious enough to stay at home with the boys while Alex and I went with the girls. Everyone got a "Dive Log"  when boarding.  In the book their was a checklist for things you may see on such an adventure.  I gave each girl a pen and away they went.  Jadyn had an agenda.  She went right for the humpback whale.  She kept looking out, where there was nothing to see, and shouting out "There's a [insert name of fish]!"  Just so she could check them off.  It was so cute! By this time my good camera had broken so I'm sorry I don't have a better picture of the dolphins after we resurfaced.  They were near that catamaran.   Waikiki from the ocean.  The short pink hotel was where "Blue Hawaii" was filmed.   The surfers at Waikiki are pretty far out.  It's nothing like the North Shore where the waves will throw you into the beach. 

Hawaii #6 (I realize that I forgot to name #5)

Alex and Jadyn getting ready for the Atlantis.  In the background you can see Waikiki and Diamond Head.

Julia was drinking her fondue dipping chocolate.  They served it as a dessert at the Oceanarium, a seafood buffet.  She is SO FUNNY!   This is a hotel at Kapolei.  I tried to talk Cille into staying their for her Anniversary trip with Keith.   Carter taking a swing through the Pacific.  It was, as Michael says, F-F-F-FREEZING!   More North Shore waves.  Again, no amount of photos could do these waves justice.

Another neat tree.  The plants are so different here.

You can't see the top of the mountain.  I've actually gotten to see this cloud coverage a few times.  It's just as sweet every time! This is the view from breakfast.  Let me just say that coconut syrup is simply dreamy.  I might be able to drink it.  Seriously!!!  It is AMAZING!!!  If you EVER have a chance to try it... DO IT!!!  YUUUUUMMMMMMMY! This is North Beach.  The waves were kickin'.  There were signs.  Lots of signs.  Mostly "NO SWIMMING!"  Out of all the pictures that I took that day none of them did the waves any kind of justice. Turtle Bay Resort.  Well, at least it's the parking lot.

Hawaii #4

Here's one more shot from the beach.  You might just be looking at the next Gwenn and Helen.  We are pretty sure these two are going to be great friends.  They will have each other forever.  Isaac isn't sure what exactly to think of Carter but we keep catching Carter talking to Isaac.  It's so cute!

This is the corner of the Polynesian Center.  I just really liked these Tiki guys!

These two are Turtle Bay.  I was really expecting a little more.  *shrug*  Anyway, This is where the turtles migrate every year.

These shrimp trucks were ALL over northern Oahu.  It was cracking me up.  They have ponds where they grow their own shrimp and sell sell sell.  Some of them have signatures all over their trucks.  

This is the United Methodist Church near North Shore.  I really took this one for Brian.

This was a pretty typical house on the North Shore.  I hear they sell these shacks for roughly $750,000.  I was FLOORED!!!!  That is absurd!!!  

We really liked the name of this beach!!!  

The Hukilau Cafe is the name of the cafe in "50 first dates."  Turns out, the cast and crew used to frequent this cafe and liked the restaurant so much that they paid for the rights to use the name.  They built another one in the middle of nowhere and tore it down after filming.  

Hawaii #3

Sorry it's taken so long.  Blogger wouldn't load my pictures yesterday so here is an abundance.  Here is that Isaac boy!  I could just eat him up!

This is Diamond Head. We climbed a mountain for Gwenn's 30th.  It was hard because we had the babies in the bjorns but it was worth it! Carter's Bjorn picture.  It was so windy that it actually pushed us up the hill a couple times.  Julia is so light that it would push her. The pacific.  We were looking for whales.  Gwenn may have seen one.  It was a big white splash really.  Alex and I saw the after effects.  *shrug* It was a little foggy but the turtle~shaped island is where Jake is stationed.  I might be able to get a better shot of this today.  It really made me miss him more.   This is the sea life park where they filmed "50 First Dates."  Isn't it cute?  This was taken from the lookout at the top of Makapuu.   Isaac & Gwenn's bjorn picture. Yesterday we went to the beach.  This is one of the lagoons.  The rock walls broke the waves so the girls really enjoyed swimming.  Isaac laying on his Daddy.   Jadyn and Julia running to Alex and Gwenn. What a view!!! Carter was having a day yesterday.  After long attempts, we finally got him to take a nap and he perked right after waking.   This is another lagoon.  It was a little better for sunset. You can't tell me this doesn't make you happy.   Tom, I tried getting a lizard.  He was too fast for me.  I'll attempt it again today.  We are driving the island to look at some touristy things today so I should have plenty for tomorrow.