Mele Kalikimaka...In Vancouver.

After an incredibly long flight, layovers and all...we made it back to Vancouver to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the Dearinger crew.  Bryan & Courtney were in town as well and we enjoyed a great couple of days together celebrating Christmas as a family.  After our traditional Christmas Eve party we opened our new Christmas PJs, put out the Cookies for Santa (kind of an issue as Taylor wanted to eat them) and read Taylor "The Night Before Christmas".  Then Santa's helpers started bring out the gifts and we all started to laugh as we realized the next morning was going to a loooong morning of opening gifts.  Taylor being the only grandchild makes for one very spoiled little girl!  Turns out Tay wasn't the only spoiled one as I ended up receiving everything on my wish list!  Thank you Santa and his helpers! :)
It was great having Courtney with us on Christmas morning and we all enjoyed a lazy day...that is until they made me go for a run.  Overall, it was a wonderful Christmas and we enjoyed a couple of great days together before Bry & Courtney flew off to Maui and we left for a few days at the Beach.

A Christmas To Remember...Mele Kalikimaka!

When Mom mentioned that she and Papa wanted to take all of us to Maui I couldn't even imagine having a more amazing experience together as a family.  A Christmas vacation spent in Maui...great idea.  Knowing how much work went into organizing our trip...down to making sure Taylor had a crib and a highchair...I am more than thankful for this year's Christmas present.  Mom and Papa thank you for giving us a gift we will always remember!  We love you!!!

Nelson's Do Hawaii 2009- Day 9...Last Day In Paradise

I can't believe how quickly this amazing vacation as gone by.  Did we seriously just spend 9 days in Maui?  What?  Last day...what to do?  We decided to take a hike to see the blow hole located North of Honalua Bay...freaking amazing!  After the great adventure we took one last swim on the beach and caught a few more rays in the sun before having to pack.  The anxiety of the red eye flight back to Portland with a layover at LAX had fully begun...yet we were able to fit in one more great dinner in Lahaina at Aloha Plate before heading off to the airport.  My favorite memory of this day?  Standing in a circle as a family in front of our Condo saying a prayer after enjoying such an amazing vacation together, thanking God for blessing us with such a memorable time in Maui. 

Nelson's Do Hawaii 2009- Day 8

Naipli Bay is one of our favorite beaches in Maui and we had a great day relaxing here.  Taylor especially loved being under the shade tree...which of course I made sure was not shading me in any way possible.  We took an amazing walk out to the point of the Bay and had a chance to see where Bryan & Courtney would be vacationing just a few days later...a special place for them as this is where Bryan proposed (more on that later).  After a great day on the beach we had a date night thanks to Mom and Dad babysitting!  We had dinner at Cheeseburger In Paradise and then met up with Joel, Ash and Julie to do some more shopping in Lahaina and enjoy some amazing Ice Cream which of course my Sister decided "Jesus made this Ice Cream" because it was so good...apparently Jesus is a great Chef..at least in my family's opinion!  Sister took some great family shots and my favorite..the pic of Tay and her best friend Emmy taking a little walk on the beach.  I think that Emmy came home with more of a tan that the rest of us! 

Nelson's Do Hawaii 2009- Day 7

Tan. Mai Tai. Swim. Play. Beach....ahhhh.