All About The Rice: February 2016

Sadly, our much anticipated family vacation to Kauai did not go exactly as planned. However, we still had a wonderful time and are forever grateful to Molly & Brian for allowing us to stay with them in their beautiful island home.

This is how I looked on the morning of Tuesday February 16 - the day we left for Kauai. Long story short, I woke up during the night feeling nauseous, so I headed to the bathroom. When I got there, I blacked out/fainted and hit my face on the toilet on the way down. Good times.

This is the lovely guest suite that we spent our week in. My favourite part was the surfboard out front that Molly had painted.

In the 19 years I've known him, I have never seen Kevin on a bicycle. What a treat.

This is Christopher, Molly & Brian's neighbour, showing his absolute shock when I told him that Bradyn couldn't ride a bicycle without training wheels. LOL I love this picture.

Christopher showed Bradyn how to ride her new electric scooter. Thank you again for the wonderful birthday gift Molly & Brian.

Quickly becoming a pro.

Bradyn was so excited to help Molly paint another surfboard that she didn't even take off her helmet!

I spent the first several days in Kauai lying horizontal - either in bed, on the couch, or on the beach (sadly, fully clothed). Brian was kind enough to take Bradyn to the beach to teach her to surf. By the time I saw her at it, she had started to get the hang of it.

Kauai Coffee Company was a fun little tour.

It took a lot of explaining to convince Bradyn that children should not drink coffee regularly - even if it is decaf. She loved it! Whoops. Parenting fail.

Feeling a little better, Kevin and I headed out together to explore, while Bradyn spent some quality time with Auntie Molly and Uncle Bri.

The second we had booked our trip, Kevin looked into where Bradyn could take a Jiu Jitsu class. We ended up at the Gracie academy in Poipu where Bradyn impressed her Hawaiian instructor. I have also never seen Bradyn sweat so much in her life.

Bradyn found a special friend in Molly's garden.

Getting serious about surfing at Lydgate Beach.

This was near Opaeka'a Falls. I just loved how everything was so luscious and green, and that this little house was out in the middle of nowhere. This is my dream - live in a little place away from technology and the hustle and bustle of our current lifestyle, and just enjoy the quiet. (Who am I kidding? I'd probably go stir crazy after 2 days.)

After waking up with no voice on Sunday and making a trip to the walk-in clinic (yes, my bad luck continued), we headed to Waimea Canyon. Sadly, it was cold and rainy by the time we got up there, but you could still tell how amazing it was.

On Friday we headed to the North Shore. The surf around Kilauea Lighthouse was really something.

We checked out the Maniniholo Dry Cave ...

and HAD to get a shave ice. The cream topping (I think it was condensed milk) was ridiculously yummy!

No surfing at this beach. The size and force of the waves was breathtaking.

One of only two family photos we got in Kauai (the other looks almost identical).

Bradyn and I in front of Wailua Falls - the falls in the opening scenes of the TV show Fantasy Island.

On our second last day, we hiked to Makauwahi Cave where Brian used to give tours.

We also got to check out the turtle farm. Bradyn couldn't get enough.

This shot reminds me that although I wasn't feeling well for much of the trip and spent a lot of time lying down, I still had some great views. I'll take palm trees and the sound of the surf over rainy Vancouver in February any day.

Bradyn has really been loving her Jiu Jitsu classes. She works hard and definitely has a passion for it - more than I ever saw in swimming or gymnastics. We weren't the only ones to recognize this. Coach Don asked Bradyn if she would help coach the Little Orcas class at 10:30 am on Sundays. She loves it!

Pink and Red day at school (why couldn't they just say Valentine's Day?)

10. Double digits. Our baby is not such a baby anymore. This year Bradyn's birthday fell on a Saturday, so she was thrilled that she got to have her party on the day of her birthday.

Opening some gifts in the morning.

Modelling her new clothes from Nana and Poppa.

All ready for the Birthday Luau.

I absolutely loved the spontaneous singalong that happened. Diana sat down to play Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" on the piano and then all of the girls gathered around and started singing! It was awesome.