Naluai Family Vacation in Island Park, ID

This year's Naluai family reunion found us in Island Park, ID for the second time in a row. We had so many fond memories of our stay there two years ago that we went for a repeat. Absolutely no regrets! We had EVERYONE there this year with a couple of new additions which was SO much fun! Having these gorgeous babies everywhere (Leila, Kawika, Adam, Kona)...well me and the girls were in heaven! The first day there was spent at the cabin just enjoying each other's company, playing at the lake, playing games on the deck, hot-tubbing, and riding the 4-wheelers...

Second day Keawe got all of the fishing gear out and spent the morning with Peter passing off with the boys their fishing belt loop for scouts. They learned how to...well, do all the prep work for fishing. Then a few of us went down to the lake to put their practice to work. Alakai loved it! It was a little too slow for Kekoa (I hear ya kid!). I think David liked it? I got a better understanding of why Keawe doesn't take the boys with him often. It was a lesson in patience that even I failed. Between all the tangles, recasting, tangles, recasting, "when are we going to catch a fish?!, TANGLES!! No luck with catching anything until Kanani spotted teeny tiny fish in the water and Keawe scooped them out into a plastic bag. So much for the "I caught a fish THIS BIG" story...Back at the cabin, the girls worked on puzzles with grandma..now that's something they CAN do.



We had a fun birthday celebration almost every day due to all those August babies! The first to celebrate was Leila. What a little princess she was! The kids all got to decorate cupcakes together..yummy!



The third day we all (babies included) went on a wild rapid ride down a river on three 10 man rafts...hee hee, not really. There was nothing fast about it, but fun-yes! We only bottomed out a couple of times :) Amber and I were so proud of ourselves! We rowed the entire time..used muscles we never thought we had. At one time Mom and I looked over and there was Jonny lying down on the side of his raft rowing while Tiare fed him grapes. Funny! Got a little rained on, but overall it was a hit! We then went back to the cabin and celebrated Mom's birthday by eating pie and playing Disney Scene-it together.

Day four was spent in Yellowstone. Sadly the animals were on vacation as well. We saw 2 buffalo and a scattering of elk. whoopdedoo. We did see some beautiful waterfalls though! One of which we had to descend something like 348 very steep metal grated stairs to see. It was so gorgeous though! However, what goes down must come back up...wow. We got our exercise! Later that night, we went home and celebrated Emma's 3rd birthday. Yummy cupcakes and girly makeovers. So fun!

Saturday was spent at the cabin getting haircuts (thanks to awesome Kaylani) and beautifying ourselves for family pictures. Then organizing the chaos for a few minutes for a couple of photos. That is a task in and of itself! We got a few good ones in though. Once that was done (phew!) the kids prepared our 2nd annual theater for Malia's 7th birthday featuring "Aliens in the Attic". It was complete with a ribbon ceremony, adult and kids tickets, concessions stand, and introductions. The kids got so creative!



Malia then opened her presents and we did smores out back with a little last minute hot tub time. Did we have fun? Heck ya! Another successful vacation!