It was Mathieu's first trip on an airplane
!
Upon leaving the plane, everyone was VERY tired. But Alpha Dog had one surprise in store for Caitlin - she got her very own Hawaiian lei! Beta Dog was WAY impressed with this little touch!
The tykes recovered quickly by breakfast the next morning, with spirits high and enjoying each other's company thoroughly.
First stop was to check out the grounds of the hotel. Cait fed the birds.
She fed the fish.
She tried out all the hotel decor.
She checked out the Christmas decorations.
Lots of time was spent in the hotel room.
It was time well spent lounging around and soaking in the ocean view.
Mathieu and Beta Dog bonded.
Alpha and Beta Dogs decided to stay at a swanky hotel with a super fancy pool and kids amenities, just for Cait.
But in the end, Cait preferred the beach to the pool.
She met new friends on the beach.
She tried snorkeling with Beta Dog.
And she played "chicken" with the highly unpredictable waves.
Lesson #1 for Alpha Dog: Save on lodging costs and get cheap hotel with no amenities and great beach location (i.e., stay at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel next time).
Mathieu wasn't too fond of the waves the first day.
But by Day 2, he was used to the constant crashing sounds and he slept by the sea shore after indulging in some pineapple and a good book.
By Day 3, he expected a little more. So Alpha and Beta Dogs splurged on a cabana rental where he slept for 3 hours each afternoon after indulging on more pineapple and a little Hawaiian style milk (milk on the beach).
On Day 1, Alpha Dog bought Cait a beautiful beach dress, which Cait wore every day afterward. Lesson #2 for Alpha Dog: Break back finding awesome dress on first day of beach vacation and save packing space by leaving Cait's clothes at home.
Beta Dog got to do some much needed bonding with Cait by participating in many activities he'd been wanting to do for some time.
Aren't they pretty?
Well done, Beta Dog!
Every morning was spectacular.
On Day 4, they went to a luau where Cait got to display her phenomenal dancing skills learning how to hula.
Having practiced her dance moves plenty at home, she figured out how to sway to the ocean breezes and Hawaiian music quickly.
No stage fright for her.
When she finally made it to the pool, Cait did have a great time. She rediscovered the fun of waterslides and went down them for hours...
...with Beta Dog catching her at the bottom, just in case...
Kick those legs, scoop those arms...
...and back for more.
The family did manage to gather enough energy to make a couple of trips on the island. First trip was to the aquarium.
Mathieu slept through the whole thing, as usual.
Second trip was to the volcano, Haleakala. Cait clung to Beta Dog tightly. She didn't want to risk falling off the mountain.
But she enjoyed the view.
Third trip was up and down the beach to visit the other hotels, search for neat sea creatures washed ashore, splash in the waves as they rolled up on the beach...
...with everyone shoeless...
...and Mathieu sleeping through the whole thing, again...
Not to mention relishing in the fact that they were staying at the very best hotel a nearly five-year-old girl and her five-month-old little brother could ever imagine.
~ Yours Truly
