Kua'aina Sandwiches

 The girls sipping lemonade and waiting for their food.

Aloha Tower Marketplace

 Joy crawling around.

 Lucy and Amelia with the little hula girl.

 The girls found some fun toy trains to play in.

 The Girls.

The girls with Grandpa. 

Whale Watching

We met up with Grandpa in town and went ona whale watching lunch cruise. We didn't see any whales (it is the end of the season), but we enjoyed good food, visit with Grandpa, exploring the ship, lei making, and hula dancing.

 Leila, Amelia, Grandpa and Lucy

 Amelia and Lucy took a hula class while Leila worked on her lei. Poor Leila wanted to participate in the ukulele class and never got to. Something to put on the list of things to do. 

SUP Surf

Uncle Nate and Aunt Heidi run a Stand up paddle surfing business and we all went out as a family and it was excellent! 

 Sam with Mia and Lucy. Mia loved being on the water. She really wanted to paddle on her own- maybe next time. At one point when Kezia was off of her board Mia quickly hopped off of a shared board and swam over to Kezia's got on it and started paddling. Lucy was a bit nervous at first but mid way decided it was ok. 

Cousins! Leila, Ivy and Elyse

 Stopped at Rainbow Bridge for a quick picture. Grandma, Aunt Heidi with Joy, Sam and Lucy, Leila, Erica and Mia.

 Erica with Mia, and Grandma

 Nate towing the kids. He said that one day his kids will be towing him as he sits on a lawn chair in the back taking it easy. 

 Leila did awesome! She went solo and did great!

Mia and Erica

We can't wait to be able to do this again. We have seen quite a few people on the river by our house and so we are going to have to look into this becoming a Swenson Family sport. 

Sleepovers!

Our family stayed at a condo that was about a ten minute drive from Grandma's house. Even so, the girls had plenty of sleepover time with their cousins. 

 

Elysse and Lucy, the best of friends

Kezia and Leila, inseperable

Grandma and Mia, two of a kind

Relaxed on the Beach

This was our first day at the beach. The girls enjoyed swimming, looking for treasures and playing in the sand. I must have been so relaxed on the beach because of all of the Hawaii photos that I took these are the only ones that were taken on the beach. Oh well.

 Sam and Joy

 Leila and Amelia

We Forgot the Binkie

 The binkie accidentally got left in the car and so Joy and all of us and those around us endured the 5 hour plane ride to Hawaii without it. Sam was pretty good at keeping her entertained.

Our Saturday

Sam had to work this Saturday and so I asked the girls what we should do today. We hurried and did our chores then packed a lunch and went on a nature walk that is near our house. Leila's school class did a nature walk here a few weeks ago and so she was eager to show us the way. We had an excellent time and I am so glad that Leila had suggested this wonderful activity. The weather could not have been any better. It was not too cold and not too hot- perfect. The sky was blue with speckle of clouds dotting the sky. Absolutely lovely, we just missed having Sam with us. Maybe next weekend. 

Leila and Mia on a side trail.

 Lucy watching some horses that we saw. One got loose while we were there, fortunately nobody got hurt. 

 Joy always enjoys being outside, today included. 

Four sisters and four best friends. These girls are so blessed to have each other. 

Saturday continued

 We found a stage while on our walk. The girls gave me and Joy a show. It was so much fun to watch that I even got up on the stage to do a little "ballet".

 Lucy walking up and down the bleachers where the stage was set.

 Leila and Mia enjoying a sandwich together. 

 Lucy dancing for us.

 Mia totally in her element- out in nature and climbing a tree. 

Leila and Mia.

Saturday continued

After our nature walk we ended at the playground where the girls played for quite a while. It was a beautiful day and we had nothing to rush home to and so we enjoyed the gorgeous day to the fullest. 

 Lucy peeking through the window of her "house-car"

 Joy loving the swing

 Leila finishing up another set of monkey bars

 Joy and Lucy sharing a swing

Mia pushing Joy in the swing

We sure missed Sam, but I am so glad that we live in an area that the girls and I could take a short drive up the street and have such a great adventure with these fun-loving girls.

When we got home the girls had a nice bath and then we had some dinner (the girls looked like they were all going to fall asleep on their plates) and then we watched the movie, Ramona and Beezus. I shed a few tears at the end. Sisterhood is a very powerful thing and I am so happy that these girls each have not one, not two, but three sisters each. I love them all dearly.