Day #5: Last day with Grandma and Grandpa Hicken

On our last day, Mom, Elysse, Soul and I went on a walk down the bike path and stopped at a tire swing on the beach.  Dad stayed home to finish up some much needed projects.  It was so helpful!

 Then we went to Shark's Cove to search for hermit crabs, eels and fish.  It was ccccold and windy, but we had a blast.  Grandpa especially loved seeing the waterlife!

 Can you see all of us there?

 Grandma and Kezia collecting shells

 What seems to be a tradition now:  Getting ice cream at Scoop of Paradise before Grandma and Grandpa leave

Saying goodbye.  I gave Mom the pendant she's wearing for an early Mother's Day gift.  It was made by a friend of mine (Amy Hart) and is a bird's nest in silver and pearl.  To me, it symbolizes a mother's love, and I'm grateful for the mom I have!

Beach Day - Grandma and Grandpa Visit Day #3

 We decided to go to the beach for a bit in the morning...and stayed til the early afternoon.  It was super fun, and the girls got to show off their skills in the surf for Grandma and Grandpa.  And, family, have you ever seen Dad so relaxed?!?  He often said how much he enjoyed relaxing on the beach that day.  And it really was relaxing.  Good surf,  good body boarding, even good bird catching (or at least, attempts at it!)  Speaking of, can you believe Ivy actually caught a wild pigeon before with her own two hands?!?

Elysse's Birthday Celebration at Sea Life Park - Grandma and Grandpa Visit Day #2

 High FIVE for Elysse turning 5!!!!!

We celebrated by going to Sea Life Park (Thank you, Maka'i Card deal, for your perfect timing)

First we saw the dolphin show with "the world's only Wolphin!"  And no, it is not a mix between a dolphin and a walrus. ;)  We decided to choose our seats quickly -- but obviously using our bottoms and not our brains, seeing how we sat right in front of a pole.  Duh!

 

 Penguin feeding

 

 Sea Lions

 Touching a baby honu

The girls were super excited to get wet during the main show, where the dolphins splash in a big pool that sprays the first few seats.  They remembered from last time we went a few years ago how soaked we all got, unawares.  This time they were prepared with swimsuits.  And Grandpa and Grandma were prepared with warnings given 10 times by each child.  Well, we sat in the same seats, and the girls watched every other row but ours get soaked.   Nate and I told the girls to wait -- our turn will come -- but their impatience couldn't hold out and they ran to the already wet seats -- just as a dolphin made its biggest splash and got Nate and I and the girls' empty seats all wet.

We told them not to worry, that we'll get wet at the next show.  So in the meantime we played Sardines on Elysse's request.  She chose to hide in a small twisted tunnel on the playset.  Somehow, the girls, Grandma and I crammed ourselves in there!

 However, the next show was (*lame*) and there was no water spraying, and suddenly the totally cool birthday celebration turned into "the worst birthday party Ever!!!"  and Elysse sulked back to the parked car.

Ah, but the Party Angels must have been looking down on that Freshly Five year old that day, because as we stopped for a potty break, I spotted a food stand and bought a giant cookie for Elysse.  Her eyes lit up and suddenly it didn't matter if she got wet or not -- at least she got her sugar -- and the birthday again was a hit.


And speaking of food, she requested pancakes for breakfast.  She definitely got what she asked for!

Happy Birthday, Elysse!

Here are 5 things I LOVE about you:

1. Your smile

2.  Your knock knock jokes

3.  How you repeat things other people say -- jokes, stories, etc.  so you can get the same attention they did

4. Your love for your daddy (you are always thinking of ways to serve him or show him love, like buying him candy at the store.

5.  Your love for beauty.