Janie turned 8 today and it was a very different birthday this year. We are in the heart of Shelter-in-Place here in California but still wanted to celebrate this special day.
Mama picked up party favors and gifts from Target on her way home, picked up cake from Baskin Robbins, and then had a virtual birthday party with the family over Zoom. Auntie Jia had sent a bunch of gifts this past week too.
Once everyone got online, we all sang Happy Birthday, she blew out candles, and then the presents were opened.
Toni and Thomas also drew a special birthday picture for her.
Merry Christmas!! We all dressed up in matching pajamas this year!
Cousins came over early in the morning to exchange/open gifts!
Then we headed over to Toni and Thomas’ house to start the standing rib roast and make s’mores outside in the patio.
Janie helped out by peeling all the potatoes. Ankong helped keep the trashcan lid open.
It was fun watching all the kids play together.
All the kids got a new toy called a Springling. All had a different animal that comes with a spring-loaded container. They got really creative with how they played with them.
We had our annual Christmas get-together with Mama’s cousins and their kids. This year we made arrangements to buy $10 gift cards and each kid got to choose two.
It was another gorgeous morning in Hawaii. We are so spoiled waking up to this every morning!
We went exploring this morning before breakfast.
The kids also wanted to play at the beach so Dada took them down while Mama went for a run. You can see them playing from our lanai!
Auntie Yoon later picked us up and wen went to lunch at Tonkatsu Tamafuji.
After lunch, I took Peanut for a walk and he finally fell asleep once I let him run around a bit.
In the meantime, Janie stayed with Auntie Ranee and Uncle Jamie for the afternoon. They hung out at Paradise Pool and the lagoon until it was Happy Hour time.
Peanut did, however, wake up in time to ride on the pedal boat with the girls.
Back at Ali’i Pool, the girls continued to play in the pool and the grown-ups enjoyed Happy Hour prices.
In the evening, the kids showered and ate dinner in Yai and Ta’s room while Mama and Dada had a date night. Thanks for watching them!!
We woke up to a gorgeous sunrise today and the kids are now waking a little later so we enjoyed it from the lanai this morning.
For breakfast, we walked to Goofy Cafe that’s just around the corner from the hotel.
We got back in time for our lei-making class. The kids enjoyed doing all the threading themselves.
Don’t they look cute?!
Then it was time to change and head out to the beach! The kids had so much fun out there with the sand toys, waves, and the free boogie board that Sophie and Avia received from another guest at the hotel.
Look at these kids living their best life!
As if a morning at the beach wasn’t enough, we went to the pool after lunch and that’s where we hung out for the rest of the day before dinner.
For dinner, we went to the teppanyaki restaurant in the village. Yai and Ta also came along and we had no idea it was their first time! Peanut thoroughly enjoyed the show and ate well too.
This morning it was raining but that didn’t stop us from having fun!
After we went to Starbucks for coffee and breakfast, we headed out to the aquarium!
We took the bus through Waikiki and Peanut drew his version of a bus.
At the aquarium, each kid had a camera or phone and took they all took lots of photos. These fishie photos are Peanut’s. Not bad, kid.
Janie and Sophie also brought their homework and they were excited to work next to each other. It’s just funny that they were doing this at the aquarium!
Avia and Peanut worked on their own projects at the same table.
We love this little aquarium and we remembered to take the annual photo in front of the sign.
For lunch, we walked to our favorite tonkatsu place. We were smart enough to make a reservation on our way over because it was packed!
Then we walked to Island Vintage Shave Ice for a special treat.
Our crazy Peanut made a tunnel in his mountain of shave ice and was so amused by himself.
Back at the hotel, the kids really wanted to go to the beach now that the rain had stopped and it was super sunny outside.
Yai and Ta also joined us out there!
Later in the evening, we ended up at the Ali’i Pool (this place has so many pools!) and Uncle Jamie brought back Happy Meals for the kids and plate lunches from Rainbow Drive-in. YAAAAY!
Then it was time to grab a spot on the beach for the fireworks. We carved out a giant area for us, brought sand toys, and the kids didn’t mind waiting for the show to begin.
Shortly after 7:30, the fireworks started and they were right above us! We usually watch them from our balcony at the Sheraton so this was a special treat!
