Kauaii: The No Rules Love Trip

This trip has been 50 years in the making and also 80 years in the making! Laz and Shaz together and in love for 50 years and my daddy turns 80!! We were so grateful to celebrate these momentous events by making new momentous events with our WONDERFUL family who are also our friends. We began in beautiful California, with a great meal, vomit-ous joy (more on that) and then continue onto paradise... the island of Kauai!!

First things first! A family portrait to honor Mr. 8-0! Jake and Joanne recommended the wonderful Shanti, their photographer from their wedding to capture our eccentric group - she did not disappoint!

Here we are all sporting the Eagle River Duck Pond golf hat made famous by Larry.

I even found a cap for the littlest of Thomas blood!

Then it was party time. Joanne captained the festivity with a feast to celebrate dad's day of birth sooooo many years ago.  The menu was dedicated to Dad's favorites, including pot roast and creme brulee, and as always, executed to the upmost deliciousness by miss Joanne (and can I say that she is astoundingly simultaneously juggling vomiting/pooping/laundry/sleeping-in-the-living-room/house-full-of-loudies/packing-for-Hawaii/getting-9-people-to-the-airport-planning... unbelievable, can we please give a virtual shout out to the Penko/Thomas division?).

 

Joanne's torch was out of fuel, so Matt made it a point to search the area for propane cartridges. After copious google mapping and a bit of driving, success was had, much to our rejoice. Creme brulee is just tepid custard without the flame!!

We dined on this exquisite meal as if it was our last. And it turns out, it was! So to speak. And some some of us (Nate! Nate! Nate!!) even got to revisit the meal several times in the span of the next couple of days. Yes. Norovirus. A scourge on our trip that was not to hold us down (for long anyhow). So yes, Nate had both ends going all night and Joanne and Jake up throughout tending to the gentleman. So much laundry was done that the dryer went on strike and stopped working. My heart poured out to them, and sobbed for our immanent future.

Well, somehow, we made it. While the norovirus was incubating, we had time to make it on and off the plane before it hit. Nate somehow made it through the trip as well thanks to a dozen extra pairs of pants. Here we are in our splendid Air BnB.

View from the window.

Brock had a "family emergency" that allowed him to leave CPS for 10 days, but he had to bring homework.

Gawd I am crying looking at this in March. Kauai is amazing. I think this is Poipu beach? Next to where we stayed?

So how this norovirus went down was that each of us had it for 48ish hours, and we overlapped such that we had 2.5 totally vomit free days with all of us together. Of these pics, note that there are days missing and people come in and out of adventures as their orifice expenditures allow them.

Here we are at Waimea Canyon Lookout!

Brock is joyus(?). Maybe some macadamia nuts can help, look at the joy of the ladies!

No, Nate is not pooping over the edge. He is feeling better, but Jake and Joanne might be ready to jump at this point, not sure where they are in the epidemic.

We got into some hiking at the top, which was noted that it is one of the rainiest spots on earth (yet we have clear skies!).

We meet back up with the crew at a lovely little cafe. Chickens and roosters are everywhere in Kauai and at the cafe, the nice cashier gave Brock some chicken feed (I did make a purchase of a chicken luggage tag which might have won him over).

I think this picture goes here, as I believe the beast was found at the cafe, but, really, this could go anywhere, it is amazing.

On the way back we investigate a nifty area of the mountain.

Yay! Seven photos that are almost the same except for different crazy arms!

Did you see the waterfall? Do you need me to add a few more pictures of it?

This is Alice and I with norovirus the next two days.

But we recovered! And went on a beautiful and truly amazing hike.

The mud situation was insane. Joanne lost her shoes and Brock was happy we forgot his shorts and that he was wearing a water/mud wicking swim suit.

I just had to bring this picture back again.

Is Brock making fun of my island glamor? Speaking of island glamor, what's that over there? Yeah, like you didn't see her. Even from five hundred feet away that wahine is stealing our glory.

Oh that island glamor! Now that I'm 42 and two children in, I stuck to a front shot.

Ahhh, a nice restful hike.

So, we kinda found the coolest place ever. A swimming hole! With a rope! But it was going to be in our skivies. Brock was happy we forgot his shorts for the second time.

Daddy ride back.

So mad at myself for filming this sideways. Sorry for the headache if you choose to view. My other video was supposed to have Brock but I wasn't fast enough. Fail. Moving on.

Despite the view, Alice likes looking at daddy.

A very cool playground on the beach. Brock makes a friend.

We then embarked on a river boat trip into the fern grotto. 

Here is my tribute to Colonel Kurtz.

Compared to me, Nate appears to be on a different trip.

Ahhh, the fern grotto. A sacred place of love!

And here are the lovebirds now!

Alice was a huge hit with the band. This is Pepelani, the front woman for the group that played lovely local tunes down by the grotto. She was so sweet and adored Alice. Alice gave her many smiles, and I don't think it was because her name started with pee pee.

We found an awesome mini-golf course as well. Note that it is a beautiful day.

The boys tee off. Wow. I am noticing that Nate actually has great form here.

You can't tell here, but it is now pouring rain. Luckily, it's Hawaii, and it will stop soon. We take it in stride with a Popsicle and a fashion moment for Al pal.

There is a frog in there. And someone's ball sadly.

The rare but aggressive sow-shark. Grrrrrr-oink! 

Run Nate run!! Oh no! He is likely stuck in a poop!...but perhaps the poop is defense enough.

Our last day and mom and dad's official 50th and we are off to see the Spouting Horn.

This is the Spouting Horn. It makes awesome sounds.

Gawd I miss you Hawaii. 

Well, it is the nights of nights for our 50-year-strong lovers and after many deviously plotted  celebratory plans fell through, Jake and I resorted to the ol' go-out-to-eat. Luckily it was at the beautiful Tide Pools restaurant at the Hyatt right next door to us. 

Here they are now, looking lovely and ready to revel.

 

How scotty dogs relate to Hawaii I do not know, but Brock was taken.

The boys watch the koi and the swans.

Oh I am going to cry remembering. So sweet. Back story: so mom had her choice, way back in the day, between contact lenses (all the rage) and an engagement ring. She opted for lenses. Dad has never worn a wedding ring, just to keep mom on her toes. But, for this special event, Dad finally honored tradition and got the girl of his dreams her ring. And himself one too! Presentation table side.

 Alaska gold nugget of course!

Cutest pajamas ever (because she fell asleep only a bit after slipping into the gown).

 

The crew together for the table shot.

And as the sun sets on our last night in paradise, I take a moment to acknowledge my immense gratitude to have been in the presence of my parents inspired partnership for all these years. I know they have helped to shape the kind of love I have for Matt. To look at them after all this time with their hearts so full I feel a bit more at peace with growing older, knowing it is possible to have the remarkable journey between two people last a bit of a long time. Thank you all for a remarkable trip, and I don't just mean Kauai!