Brian’s Birthday at Santa’s Village

Makai, Brian’s sister Brooke, Brian

Makai and koi pond

Brian’s sister Bree and mom Crystal. Makai and Brian in the back.

Makai’s friend and classmate invited him to celebrate his birthday with his family at Santa’s Village! It’s an amusement park in East Dundee, IL. Afterwards they went back to Brian’s house and had cake. Makai had soo much fun!

Christmas Eve at the Garfield Park Conservatory

This Christmas break, like last Christmas break, my parents came down for a long weekend visit. Makai was off school and I had a few vacation days, so I took them. We had a good time celebrating Christmas all weekend long.

IMG_0117_editIMG_0112_edit IMG_0130_editIMG_0133_editOn Christmas Eve Dallas had to work. I’d considered taking my parents to the Christkindlmarket, but the weather was a little chilly and so we decided to go to the Garfield Park Conservatory instead. Makai and I have been there a couple times and I always thought it would be something that my dad would enjoy. And he did!

IMG_0432_editIMG_0120_editOn previous visits to the conservatory, Makai would never attempt the great big curly slide, but this time, with a confidence boost from papa, he went right down. Over and over and over. One time he came out head first!

Goodbye Kauai Marriott!

After a long day at the pool and the beach, Paul and Kate had to pack it up and get ready for their flight back to Chicago. How depressing! They so did not want to leave! Especially Paul!

To procrastinate, Paul walkedl me over to show me the Kauai Marriott weather station.

Goodbye big, beautiful pool!

Paul said goodbye to the stray cats that live on the resort.

Goodbye koi!

Driving on Kaumuali?i. Goodbye Kauai Marriott resort! It was fun!

Marriott Kauai Koi Pond

When Paul met me at the Marriott Kauai Resort so that we could hang out at the pool, he gave me a quick tour of the resort. The craziest thing was the koi pond they have. They regularly feed the fish and one lady was doing it when we got there. It was making the koi go nuts! Freaky. The Hyatt in Poipu has a koi pond too, but not like this!

There is also a pretty bird that hangs out by the koi pond.

Brunch at the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort


Driving to brunch in the Jeep


View from the Ilima Terrace, The Hyatt


View from the Ilima Terrace, The Hyatt


Champagne Brunch at the Hyatt


Koi Pond


Kristin, Rachelle, Sarah


Cousin


Dallas, Kristin


Rachelle, Sarah


Rob, Cousin


Cousin, Rob, Dallas


Cousin


Cousin


Sarah, Rob


Birds at the Hyatt


Cousin


Birds at the Hyatt


Wet Floor


Birds at the Hyatt


Photos are for Cousin!, Shipwreck Beach, Poipu, Kaua’i


Rob & Sarah on Makawehi Point


Coconut on Shipwreck Beach


Shipwreck Beach


View of the Hyatt from Makawehi Point


Fisherman


Sarah


Views from the hike


Views from the hike


Rob


Sarah


Rob


Sarah, Rachelle, Cousin


The Hyatt Pool


The Hyatt Pool area


Rachelle & Cousin


Makawehi Point View full-sized version

After lounging around the pool all morning on Sunday, we started out our week of binge eating by going to the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort and Spa for brunch. The Hyatt is a beautiful property located just down the road from our condo. Champagne Brunch is served on the Ilima Terrace. It is an open-air dining area that overlooks tropical gardens, lagoons filled with Koi and swans, and the ocean, of course. As if the view and atmosphere weren’t enough, the food was awesome. A never-ending supply of mimosas, freshly made sushi, omelets made to order, a pasta station, a carving station, and the fruit… so delicious. I never want to eat another pineapple on the mainland again.

Here you can see everyone who was on the trip. Kristin and Dallas are friends from college who go to Hawaii every year. Cousin is Kristin’s cousin who has gone for the past few years. Rob is a coworker of Dallas’ and Sarah is his sister. Cousin, Kristin and I flew in from Chicago, Rob and Dallas from Boston, and Sarah from Washington DC. It was a great group of people.. we all got along well and 6 is just enough to make it fun but not unmanageable. Also, Dallas grew up in Kaua’i and Oahu, so his insider knowledge was invaluable. For the trip we rented two vehicles.. a Jeep Wrangler and a convertible Chrysler Sebring. Most of the time Kristin, Cousin and I were in the Jeep and everyone else was in the Sebring.. that varied depending on activities, though.

After brunch, Kristin and Dallas ran some errands while Rob, Cousin, Sarah and I checked out the rest of the Hyatt grounds. We ended up wandering over to Shipwreck Beach and then up Makawehi Point, a cliff that overlooks it. It was a nice hike to wear off some of the effects of the enormous brunch. The rest of the day was spent at our condo’s pool to relax.