Kauai, 2013

We kicked off our summer with our annual family vacation to Kauai. It was beautiful, happy, tropical, and fun, as always. The pics and video will provide the highlights.

D loved dancing in and teasing the little waves at a favorite beach, Hanalei Bay.

At our day at Anini Beach, Milo and Daddy sported some matching outfits.

Kev was our resident sandwich shop. Almost every day, he made everybody sandwiches to order, packed and ready for enjoying later on the beach!

Some locals at Salt Pond taught Dahlia how to "fish" with a net. Her bucket has tons of small little fish she helped catch (and release). She was so proud.

You know it's hot when Tito is sitting in the water with his clothes on.

D-Rae's perspective at our dinner at Makana Terrace in Princeville.

While we were away, the Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. It is such a huge relief to know my kids will never know anything but equality in marriage. That day, D and M wore their rainbow tie dyes, drew rainbows, and enjoyed rainbow shave ice. 

We did a new hike in Hanalei, the Okolehao Trail. Super fun, great views, geckos, frogs, orchids, Dahlia kicked butt, and we got eaten by mosquitos.

And Milo had a nap.

My bud for the entire hike. She held my hand tightly the whole way up and the whole way down (3 miles total). It was very steep, very muddy, and very slippery and she ROCKED it. It was a very special experience to share with my girl. 

Sweetness, Milo and Tita. Milo's favorite thing about the ocean was the phenomenon that you can throw sticks in and they will come back. He spent a lot of time testing this.

More stick throwing. We're not even sure of the name of this beach but Matt and I found it on our Honeymoon 9 years ago. It doesn't get published in the major guidebooks for some reason but we find it so pretty and perfect and always special to come back to.

Ke'e Beach fun with preggers Tia (at 28 weeks).

Silliness at Ke'e Beach

Family shot on our way to the airport. Last steps in Hawaiian sand for now...

 And lastly, a video of Dahlia enjoying her snorkel mask at Ke'e Beach. There aren't fish where she's swimming in this video but she did get to see lots when we snorkeled further out near the reef. Very exciting!