A Rip Roarin' Trip to the Allerton Botanical Gardens

This was our second trip to Hawaii with a bun in the oven...which means no zip-lining, horseback riding, rafting, diving, etc.  I am not complaining...it just sort of limits the type of activities you can do.  So, while Kevin was out scuba diving (he ended up doing 9 dives - who's the greatest wife EVER?), I went on a bus tour and nature hike through the Allerton Botanical Gardens.  

Now THIS is high adventure!  Accompanied by the geriatrics and cautious people on the island,  we toured some amazing property and looked at lots of plants and things.  It was kind of like scuba diving on land, but a lot less cool!

Supposedly, a scene from Pirates 4 was filmed on that bank...

A palm tree worth over $15K

Now this was actually REALLY cool, not just sarcastic cool.  These are the exact trees used in filming Jurassic Park.  They were used in the scene where Dr. Grant discovers the nest of hatched dinosaur eggs.    

So cool!  The tour was actually fun in the end and everyone was really nice.  The grounds were beautiful and I would recommend it just to see the Banyan "Jurassic Park" Trees!

Drum Roll Please!

Colin's going to be a big brother!

I am about 18 weeks and we just found out that we're having...

a GIRL!!!

Grady...party of 4?  We will have children?  As in, more than one?  PLURAL?  CRAZY!!  I mean, I've known for a while, but knowing the gender makes it more than a baby...this is our daughter and Colin's little sister.  

I'm a little sister, but I was blessed with TWO awesome older brothers.  Maybe I needed extra watching over! 

So, you may wonder if we had any feelings one way or the other.  I was on the fence about it, to be honest.  Another boy would be so simple because we have all the boy stuff already AND it is going to be the same season when baby 2  is born.  BUT, I thought that it would be so much fun to have a little girl, too.  A boy could play with Colin, but so can his sister.  

Kevin, on the other hand, was convinced she was a she from the very beginning.  It was so cute, actually, when he told me.  We were in the middle of saying prayer before bed and after we said "amen," Kevin exclaims "It's a girl!!"  He said he felt strongly during the prayer that our little bean was a girl and he's been sticking to it ever since.  

In case you were keeping track, Kevin is now two for two!  After I announced to my family the gender (which we just found out about this morning), my brother Steve sent a text back that says to never doubt Kevin.  I don't think I can, now!  And yes, Kevin was a little smug about it!!

So there you have it!  Expect to see a possibly redheaded little Grady girl around Thanksgiving time!

We couldn't be more excited!    

Just Us in Hawaii

Kevin and I both have amazing parents!  Both have offered to take Colin so we can take a trip without him and so we took my parents up on their offer and went to Hawaii for an amazing week!

Using frequent flier miles and hotel points that Kevin has accrued from all his trips abroad, we were able to make our trip mostly affordable!  Hawaii is never cheap!

We've been to Maui a couple of times and decided to try a new island.  

All I have to say is that Kauai is GORGEOUS!!  

We broke up our stay between the Sheraton in Poipu Beach and the Marriott Kauai at Kalapaki Beach.

Here are a few shots of the Sheraton:

Like I said, GORGEOUS!

Beach Day

One of the best things about going home is getting to see my cousin Val!  We had two play dates with the kids and even braved the beach with our pale selves and children!  

Colin was a little nervous about the whole wave/water/sand thing, but once he got a bucket in his hand, he started to have fun!

Two cute cousins!

Nana and her Cheeto loving boy!

Val and Ben (Clarissa stayed with home with grandma)

Eating sand or Cheetos...not sure which!

Swimming at the Sharps

My sister-in-law's parents have the most amazing back yard and are so generous to let us swim whenever we are in town!

ShaveD Ice

Have you ever noticed that all shaved ice places say "Shave Ice"...shouldn't it be shaved ice?  As in, the ice has been shaved?  Maybe I'm wrong, but it drives me nuts.  

Anyway, there is a Hawaiian style shaved ice place near my parent's house and it has become a tradition to go there when Cody is in town...it is a special thing between Papa and Cody and now the rest of us :)

Mark and Shana

Colin was seriously wired the entire time. At this point, he hadn't even had any sugar yet!

Cody and "Big Baby"

This is serious business!

Here comes his first bite...watch his reaction!  Priceless!

Off to Nana's House!

In the midst of hanging out with the Gradys, Kevin got called off to Moscow for two weeks, so I changed my existing flight to head to California in time for Memorial Day.  We pretty much goofed around with the family the entire time!  I love coming home!

Playing with Uncle Marky

The "Pantless Wonder" and his buddy Indy

Cheesy grin with Aunt Shana

Papa bought the boys a "pirate ship" to play on in the backyard.  Cody kept calling Colin his "mate"...so cute!

After spending 3 weeks at Nana's, Colin rightfully earned the nickname "Uh-Oh" from Papa.  We counted and he says it upwards of 50 times a day!

Our master griller, Uncle Steve cooking up some awesome BBQ

What a spread!

Shana and Cody

Colin LOVED pushing this toy vacuum around...unfortunately it made the most annoying sound when turned on and Colin insisted that it was constantly turned on!