Part 3 and final of Hawaii! Jeez!

We really need to stop taking so many darn pictures! But we have the cutest subject in the world, so what are parents to do?

OK, so the next day we drove into Kailua which is the next town over and there they have all the shopping you'd need. There is a mall, Safeway (instead of "Bob's Market" in Waimanalo), Starbucks...all the neccesities. We went and had breakfast and Moke's which is a mom and pop place...possibly the best breakfast EVER...is that because I'm hugely pregnant? No idea. But it was G-O-O-D. It was nice to sit down and have a real breakfast instead of a bowl of cereal or yogurt before running ot the door. We then went over to Kailua Bay, just down the street. Lanikai Beach is next to Kailua Beach. It's shallow, hardly and waves, there is an island out quite a distance and at low tide it's only as deep as 6 feet, so you could practically walk out to it the whole way (which we did not do). There is snorkeling, which we also did not do...I didn't bring my suit (why, I have no idea....a tip: always bring your suit!) This beach is the most beautiful beach, the sand is white and so soft...no rocks to worry about. This day in particular was just glorious!

This is my absolute favorite picture! I can't wait to blow it up and frame it!!

Needless to say, Zach had the best time this morning. As you can see, the kid never stopped smiling...not once. It was a weekend (Sunday, I think) so there were lots of people and kids to play with, although he really just needed the water to entertain him. Unfortunately, we had to go back to our hotel for naptime because we had a luau to go to and it would be a late night.

We cruised over to the west side of Oahu to Ko Olina, which is where Paradise Cove is. This place is a big luau spot, and it's very touristy. They do the whole show...they have demonstrations on how to open a coconut, climbing palm trees, a little canoe ride in a lagoon, tattoos for the kids, the whole roasting of pig and then unveiling and of course, the dancing, music, fire dance, singing, etc. during the buffet.

I didn't think Z would sit still for this...he never moved a muscle! I forgot he loves getting hand stamps at My Gym, so I guess I should've known!
Watching something spectacular, I'm sure.



This is at the unveiling of the roasted pig. They roast it in the ground for up to 8 hours in a pit filled with...hot rocks and banana leaves (I think...something like that) and everyone watches to see them pull the whole pig, yes head and all (ewwwww...) out of ground and take it to the kitchen. Zach was under the impression that all of these people had gathered around to see him dance.

Finally, we get to sit and eat, buffet style. While we ate the hula girls came out, the half naked, ripped little 19 year old boys...(sigh)...hey I'm writing this blog, not Jeff. Getting Z to eat at this time was a challenge. Actually, getting him to sit in the stroller was a challenge. So, being the best parents ever we gave him rocks and dirt and stick to play with. What a wonderful idea....everything from the kid to the stroller was filthy in 12 seconds. But, we got to eat.

Zach learning the hula.

Dinner was over, so Zach got to be free from his tortuous stroller...I'd swear, you'd think there were spikes coming up through the seat. Zach found this little girl who was dancing and he thought that looked like the most fun ever, so he cut a rug with his new little girlfriend for 25 minutes!

Now, before you all start judging me that my kid is running around with his pa-poo (pacifier), before he decided to cut loose he was cuddling with Jeff and we thought he was going to fall asleep. He uses his pa-poo for night-night. No, my child will not be 5 running around with his pa-poo, I promise.

My little Cassanova giving his girlfriend hugs...looks like he was trying to cop a feel and she was having to hold his hands back!

Ok, this is the best picture EVER. He's obviously having the BEST time, but to me he looks like that 50 year old guy that has too many cocktails at a wedding and suddenly becomes John Travolta. It'd be perfect if he had the tongue sticking out!

The next day, we went back to Lanikai Beach, in hopes of recreating the perfect day from the previous day. Well, no such luck. It was overcast, it rained, it was colder...Zach fell asleep on the beach again for almost 3 hours...yes, you read right...3 hours! Jeff and I are freezing our dupas off and Z was snug as a bug in a rug...er...beach towel and my wrap. We passed the time by making sand sculptures.

How come I look like an obse mermaid? Is this how Jeff see's me? He couldn't make me a svelte, sexy mermaid? Notice the sleeping child covered by the umbrella and the boogie board?

After Sleeping Beauty finally woke up, we went to the Pali Lookout to look out at nothing. It was raining, windy, cold and foggy.

We went into Waikiki again, and ended up eating at PF Changs. Yum!! We brought along the portable DVD player and while we ate a very enjoyable meal, Zach watched Toy Story. It was wonderful!

The next day, our flight didn't depart until 2:45pm, so we got to the Hilton Hawaiian at about 10:30 or so and went in the pool. It was pretty chilly, it was a bit overcast and the sun was hiding behind a tall building, but Z still had a good time going down the slide and playing on the big steps in the pool. We were going to forego his nap so he'd sleep a lot on the plane, but Z had other ideas.

The flight home was pretty good, he only slept for an hour, but it all worked out. We got back home around 1am. We gave Zach his milk and put him to bed not long after 1. He slept the next day until 12:30pm! His usual 11-12 hours! We skipped the nap, he went to bed that night at his usual time (between 7:30-8pm), and he got back on track in one day! Such a trouper!