The morning started with our last buffet breakfast, then we headed to try and get a photo with Santa. Hawaiian Santa was pretty exciting.
Once we got a photo (which the kids are having difficulty looking at the camera), good thing Santa was patient, we headed back to the rooms to pack. Lola and AA packed the day before, so they were just ready to help the others.
Check out the photo in the middle of this blog post. He has sure grown up in 2 years.
Lola helped MBM while AA enjoyed the cartoons on Disney Jr with the kids. We were hoping during the packing we would find the headphones T lost, but no such luck.
We packed up and headed on the tram to the Lobby. We dropped of the bags in the luggage locker, and then made our way to Kona. The kids weren't happy about leaving, but eventually we got calm and had a good drive to our first stop, Target.
The landscape is very cool, Lola just looked out the window the whole time. T found a pair of headphones, AA got his strap for his golf bag that is a little broken, emergency airplane snacks for Lola and MBM got a christmas book for the kids to share. T was reading it through the whole store, making sure there was no violence before showing it to B.
We got back in the van and headed to try and make B's dreams come true. She wanted to drink out of a coconut. We headed to a farmers market that Lola and AA went to the last time they were on the big island. Lola saw a guy drinking out of a coconut, so she went to ask him where he got that. He gave great directions, and we found the little market where a man was cutting the coconuts to drink.
B watched patiently. She took a few sips, and said, it is enough. She didn't really like it (the progression of the photos says it all). T on the other hand thought the coconut water was really good, and cleaned it dry. We all enjoyed the meat of the coconut after the water was gone.
Then we headed towards the water to have a little picnic of snacks Lola packed. T was wearing Lola's hat because he left his in the car.
We headed back to the van to go to a park that AA found. The park was amazing! The kids had some great "unstructured free time".
Next up was Kona Brewing for supper. The food was just a good as we remembered from the last time we were there. DD loved his Shrimp Melt. MBM had a pork "hawaiian" pizza and AA with some meat trio including a spicy sausage. Lola had the seasonal fish. There was also a live band, the singer was very good.
We still had hours before we had to get to the airport for our Red Eye flights, so we headed back towards our hotel for dessert. After waiting to go to the Macaroni Grill and looking at the christmas trees and fish in the pond, we aborted the restaurant choice and the kids and DD had ice cream while Lola had a root beer. Then we got some Starbucks for the drive.
We wasted enough time and headed to the hotel to get our luggage. Packed up we headed to the airport. AA dropped off all the crew, and went to take back the rental car. Lola waited to check their bags until AA got back, while the others in the party dropped off their bags and headed through security.
AA got back in good time, but the Westjet desk was so behind that there were over 50 people in the line waiting to check their bags. (we know that because these 2 kids were playing games with their parents, counting people, asking people where they were heading too, and just trying to kill time).
Unfortunately Lola and AA didn't make it through security to say good bye to their friends, but we exchanged photos through text. We were all a little sad that no good byes were done.
Lola and AA slept all the way to Vancouver and then barely made their connection to Winnipeg, but did with no delays. B had a night terror on their red eye, but other than that they survived too.
 |
| AA eventually had to put pants on...in Winnipeg. |
Everyone made it home, and missing each other but we all know christmas is coming soon. Sure glad to have better internet than what we had at the hotel, makes blogging much easier!
Hope you all enjoyed the blog, until next time.
Lola.
Thanks again for the blog. Always enjoy all the photos and stories.
ReplyDelete