Hawaii AAO Trip

      The first week of May, we got to go to Oahu for a "business trip!" Ryan had an Orthodontic conference, and I wasn't about to let him go to Hawaii without me, so I went too. JR stayed with my parents and had a great time. We were gone for 7 days/6nights, so it was a pretty long time to be away from Justin, but he did fine. There were a few little melt downs throughout the week (for both of us!), but overall, he was a happy camper, and we owe it all to my family being absolutely amazing with him. Uncle Luke watched him every morning while my Mom was at work. He definitely was super Uncle. I would get pictures sent to my phone of them at the park, climbing trees, out to lunch, playing Ukelele, swimming, jumping on the trampoline, visiting farm animals...I was afraid Justin was going to be bored with me when we got back after all the adventures he went on with Uncle Luke. My Mom and Dad were of course amazing with him too, but that's kind of what you get with Grandparents, right?! Anyway- knowing that Justin was having a great time definitely made it easier for me to just relax and enjoy the time away in paradise.

      We went a couple of days before the conference, so we rented a car and had time to explore the north shore and have some much needed time with just me and Ryan having fun. Even on the days of the conference, Ryan was usually done by 1:00 or 2:00, so we had the afternoons to spend time together as well. I spent my mornings waking up whenever I felt like it, getting breakfast, and hanging out at the beach or the pool. Two of the guys that Ryan went to dental school with that also went on to do Ortho at other programs brought their wives, who I got to know when Ry and I were dating, so the 3 of us got to hang out a little bit also, which was really fun.

At the PCC Night Show

Matsumoto's Shaved Ice..YUM!

1 of 3 turtles that were just hanging out on the beach up on the north shore

The "food court" of trucks up on the north shore. At first we were really pleased, until I found....

THIS BUG!!!

Rainbow that was actually a double rainbow but didn't turn out in the picture- at Waimea Bay

Waimea Bay

Lani Kai Beach

Waikiki Beach in back of our hotel

My 32 week preggo silhouette

Watching the sunset at Sunset Beach on the north shore.

Haunama Bay

Snorkeling at Haunama Bay

Duke's Hula Pie...one of the most amazing desserts EVER!

Hawaii LDS Temple

DELICIOUS sushi our last night there.

Basically where I lived...in the infiniti pool. Seriously, heaven. I'm the one with the hat on...I was religious about keeping that thing on so my freckles and melasma from pregnancy wouldn't get out of control from the sun.

We really liked out hotel, the Westin, Moana Surfrider. It was really classy and right in the main area of Waikiki, so it was convenient to go get something to eat or do some people watching or shopping.

view of the eastern shore of the island from Makapu'u Point

Some of the things we did (most of which are pictured above):

• Waimea Bay
• Polynesian Cultural Center Night Show
• watched the sunset at Sunset Beach on the northshore
• ate some of the local fare from a food truck
• drove by the temple
• Matsumoto's Shaved Ice- I thought it was the best until we tried....
• Waiola's Shaved Ice- somehow it was actually creamy!
• Haunama Bay- great snorkeling and we got to swim with a turtle!
• Duke's for some delicious Hula Pie
• Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail- AMAZING views
• Lani Kai Beach on the east side of the island