AE Vacation Lens | Kauai

The kids and I spent the week right after Christmas with my parents in Kauai.

This was my fifth visit. Once as a child, once in college, and twice with Chris. My grandparents originally purchased a timeshare many years ago in the town of Kapaa and our family has traveled there on and off for many, many years. This was my first time being there with both my parents.

I've loved it every time for so many different reasons.

This time I loved it because we did a whole lot of just being at the pool or the beach. There wasn't a lot of traveling around or sight-seeing (which I've done before and enjoyed as well) - it was more just being together and letting the kids (and adults) enjoy each other and the water.

The photos I'm sharing today were taken by me, my Mom and my Dad.

I'm an ocean girl.

Give me the sea and I'll give you a really deep breath.

Give me the sea and I'll give you a calm heart.

And oh those sunrises.

At my parents house on the Oregon coast we get the insane pleasure of seeing sunsets. Love that Kauai to me is so much about the sunrise (and the roosters who tell you it's time to wake up).

I also love having my parents there to capture me capturing those two.

And the laughter.

And the fresh-squeezed juices my Dad lovingly prepared.

And the water. Pool or ocean. Love that my kids love it too.

We visited a local Catholic church and lit candles and said prayers for our loved ones.

And we relaxed. Always love my Dad's daily cocktail hour concoctions.

She is amazing. Fun, silly, wide-eyed, lovely.

And she learned to swim just like her brother did on vacation when he was four.

Simon, as I already knew, shares my love of the water.

This trip for him was all about boogie boarding. Dad and I each spent time out with him, showing him some pointers and just generally being around while he worked through the basics.

I think he liked it.

He did not, however, like losing two of his masks. He's definitely a fan of his masks but made a ton of progress on this trip in not having to have his eyes/nose covered with a mask the whole time.

Nice capture Dad.

Love being there.

Thanks Grandma Marie and Grandpa Neil for setting the precedent. Thanks Mom and Dad for continuing the tradition.

And now, love being home.

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67 thoughts

  1. dawn says…
    01/07/2013

    How awesome these photos are, love that all of you take them and share!! My goodness is Simon having a growth spurt, must have to buy his clothes monthly now, WOW!! Miss Anna is so sweet, love the happiness and fun she's having. Hard to believe she'll be 4 next month.

    Our dream is to one day visit this gorgeous place too, thanks for making me smile this morning.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Marie says…
    01/07/2013

    Beautiful pictures and awesome memories! Happy New Year Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Amanda Susan says…
    01/07/2013

    I still kind of miss the chickens. We had sirens when we island hopped to Honolulu.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. janie says…
    01/07/2013

    What awesome memories you will all have. Last year my husband and our 2 kids spent the Christmas in Kauai and we missed it soooo much this year. We want to make it our new family tradition too. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. ElizabethJ says…
    01/07/2013

    Love the photos of Anna and her Grandmother. The sunrises are some of my most vivid memories of my time in Hawaii. Have a wonderful 2013, Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Mrs. V says…
    01/07/2013

    Wow! I loved seeing the pictures mixed with your words. It seems like between the three of you, you were able to capture so many dimensions of the trip. I agree with you - I love the pictures your mom took of you taking pictures of the kids.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Alida says…
    01/07/2013

    Ali, how blessed you are to have this place in your family and even more to have a family of photo lovers. Totally agree with what you said about the sea:)

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Heather S. says…
    01/07/2013

    Loved the gorgeous photos! I so want to go to Hawaii someday. I'm making some Hawaiian tea to enjoy now.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Susan says…
    01/07/2013

    such awesome memories made. some times we need to just kick back and enjoy the time.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Sarah Jane says…
    01/07/2013

    AWESOME PICS!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Lisa W. says…
    01/07/2013

    aHHHHHHHHHHHHH those photo's are amazing...I gotta say all the pics with Anna and your Mom PRICELESS!!! Went to Hawii once many many years ago on my honeymoom, hoping someday to be able to go back! Thanks so much for sharing AND I missed you:)

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Carrie says…
    01/07/2013

    This made me happy. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Janet White says…
    01/07/2013

    It looks like all of you had a fabulous time! Your comment about being an ocean girl got me thinking about how I'm a mountain girl and how my folks helped to foster that by building a cabin in the woods when I was a girl.

    We all have a Spiritual Geography - don't we? I've got to dig out my copy of Dakota: A Spiritual Geography to reread sometime this year.

    Thanks so much for sharing your stories. Your stories jog the stories of my own.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. pearl says…
    01/07/2013

    i love kauai and the pictures you posted. amazing. i'm with you, the ocean makes me take a deep breath.

    i think my favorite picture is the one of your dad making OJ. only someone who loves you very much would make OJ that way. LOVE.

    thanks for sharing

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Cathy L. says…
    01/07/2013

    Beautiful photos and memories. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Kim Early says…
    01/07/2013

    Thank you for sharing. Beautiful photos.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Christine says…
    01/07/2013

    It looks like your kids got some quality grandparent time. Love the photos especially the sunrise. Boogie boarding is so much fun. My family and I were in Hawaii too and it was really sad to leave the warmth and come home to 30 degree temperature.
    As always, thanks for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Stacy says…
    01/07/2013

    So nice. Happy New Year and welcome home :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Kay Gregory-Clark says…
    01/07/2013

    I love love love the photos of Anna and Grandma—of course I'm a grandma, so I can so relate! How fortunate you are to still have your parents who are able to interact with your kids this way!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. laura g. says…
    01/07/2013

    i love the ocean too, but live 450 miles away! lucky for me i have a daughter and her family in forest grove and can go over a couple of times a year. wish i was there now...instead of here....wonderful memories, wonderful pictures of your vacation!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Paula says…
    01/07/2013

    Love how the photos convey the feeling of closeness and wonder. So happy you experienced this good time, hoping one day I can visit Hawaii, it would be awesome.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Tere (Marie) says…
    01/07/2013

    Your photos warm my heart. Welcome home. You were missed.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Liz Ness says…
    01/07/2013

    Love see you all together and the love in every photo. Awesome.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Lida says…
    01/07/2013

    So glad you are having a wonderful vacation with your family. Looks like alot of wonderful photos. I will be interested to see if you will be using all of your photos in your PL or will you make a special vacation album?

    I've always had trouble with tons of photos and wondering whether to edit or just make a special album.

    Thanks for sharing your life!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      01/07/2013

      Most of them will just go in Project Life. Working on that now.

  25. Jen says…
    01/07/2013

    Looks like you had an awesome time! Me and Hubby are planning out 5-year wedding anniversary and thinking of going to Hawaii. That is definitely on the list of places to visit.

    Reply 0 Replies

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