With Love, Lu

And she was so happy!

Look at those moves

Happy Monday!

♥

I don’t even know how to start writing about the amazing days we spent in Hawaii. Four months ago, when we booked our vacation, I knew these would be pretty happy days since Maya would be old enough to enjoy the beauty and everything she has been hearing about Hawaii for a while now. I don’t know why, but she has always talked about Hawaii, maybe because some of her classmates from school go every year and she was just curious to go and see for herself what it was all about. Well, since Matt and I missed Hawaii so much, we decided to go this year and we spent a glorious 17 days between the islands of Kauai and Maui.

Being so long there gave us a chance to not rush anything, to really enjoy every moment and each other, to have every meal together every day, to ride our jeep singing along to Bob Marley and all the amazing Hawaiian songs and to make stops and explore almost every beach, river and little restaurant on the island.

I remember being emotional, sitting down in the ocean with Matt and Maya, watching the sunset on our first day and while I was there, I prayed and thanked God for that amazing opportunity to be there, with my loved ones, enjoying that beautiful moment.  Earlier that same day we swam with sea turtles and colorful, beautiful fish and since then every day was pretty much the same; tropical breakfast, windy jeep rides, hunt for beaches, snorkel, yummy fresh island meals, down waterslides, sunsets by the ocean, get back to the hotel at night exhausted but with happy hearts.

Maya. This little girl had the best time. She was a great companion. She enjoyed every moment with us. I loved watching her running around the river, so excited when she went snorkeling for the first time and swam with fish, the happiness to grab a new fruit smoothie, making sand castles so peaceful on the sand.  While we were driving around the island I would look at the back seat and found her enjoying the wind on her hair, in fact she would ask me to let her hair down every time we would step in the jeep. Loved seeing her hair blowing.

We spent seven days in Kauai and the last day we were there we drove by an animal shelter, the Kauai Humane Society.  Matt and I looked to each other and we decided to go in. We had no plans, just to look at the little Hawaiian pets and maybe play with them a little. Of course I went straight to the cat room and as soon as I opened the door, there they were, in the second cage looking at me. Miki and Momo, 3 month old little siblings. “Can I play with them?” That was it. We adopted them that day, last day we were there. We ran to the hotel, called the airline,  booked their tickets, made arrangements to board them for 11 more days while we would be in Maui and the next day we stopped by on our way to the airport to say goodbye and see you soon to the new additions to our family. Oh, we were so happy!

Anyway, Kauai is my favorite island of Hawaii. Now, it is even more special. It’s a beautiful place, with amazing deserted beaches, you get the feeling you are on an island there, your servers in restaurants are local Hawaiians, the music you listen to on radio stations is Hawaiian and when you drive around, you don’t run into Home Depot, Lowes, Whole Foods, huge car dealerships, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, etc… I promise my next post (about the Maui part of our trip) I won’t be grouchy about all the over-development around that makes me feel like I’m not in the middle of nowhere in the ocean but rather in a beach city on the mainland

I miss those days already. The smell of sunscreen, sandy toes, sandy sheets, salty hair… I am blessed to have great partners to travel around and enjoy my life with.

I hope you enjoy the photos!

Kauai, The Garden Island

Water slide makes you happy

Sailing the stunning Na Pali Coast… breathtaking

We gave them new names. Hawaiian names of course.

The boy is now Hoku, Hawaiian for star

The girl is now Nui, Hawaiian for Big, plenty

 ♥

Lola, I will never forget the day I went to that shelter to see two other cats and you wouldn’t let me go. You would stick both little paws out of the cage and were meowing so loud I just couldn’t help but notice you and wanted to play with you. Fell in love and took you home that same afternoon.

I will miss your warmth every night. You were my sleeping buddy for 7 years.

Thank you so much for never leaving my side when I was sick. You were always there for me.

How can you be gone? How? We were just playing this morning. I just gave you a bath and you were smelling so good, like baby soap.

“Meow Meow” was the way you meow. This just put a smile on my red, puffy face.

Those 10 months that we were in Europe, countless times I cried missing you. I knew you were just fine with grandpa but you were my baby and I missed you terribly.

I don’t remember the last time I cried like I did today. I don’t remember feeling that sad for so long.

The same door I closed this afternoon I opened 3 hours later to find you dead. DEAD! How can you be gone Lola? Lola!

I know you had a great life. You brought so much happiness to our little home, to our little family. Mommy, daddy and Maya will always love you.

I know you probably are already hissing to other cats in heaven, but I also know that you will be loved there too. Maybe one day we will be together again.

I am so sorry I wasn’t there for you this afternoon.

Goodbye baby girl, our little furry friend.

This house is sad and empty without you.

Thank you for being part of my life.

Mommy

We had a dinner party to go in Palm Springs last Saturday and of course, we made sure to make it a fun mini vacation also. Matt and I were still on antibiotics, between bronchitis, tonsillitis, chest pain, we made the best of it and had a blast in the 107 degree weather.

Sun screen, pool, piña coladas, food, repeat.

Loving summer!

♥

I love the 4th of July celebration and this year was extra special for us.

We began our day early and by 6:30 am we were all outside the door. It was a big morning for daddy.

He ran his first 10k and we were all so proud of him.

Maya and I were cheering for him out loud and I loved seeing Maya’s excitement to see other kids running with their parents.

She had so many questions about it and when I told her they actually have a 1k just for kids she immediately wanted to do it. It was too late for this year but I promised next year I would sign her up.

She made sure I understood she doesn’t want to run the race that she has to go with parents, she wants to run all by herself and she would like us there but just for cheering.

I love that!

We had a great 4th of July. Just an overall relaxing day with our friends that ended with a great fireworks show.

Here are some images from our day…

At 6:30 am, ready to go!

And the race starts

First round. One more to go!

A kiss for Maya

“I see daddy coming”

“Go daddy go. Go daddy go!”

And he crossed the finish line. 

She was the first woman to cross the finish line.

Congratulations baby. I’m so proud of you!

Maya and I made these festive strawberries. They were so good! 

We spent the rest of our day at our friend’s house. The weather was perfect!

The water filled balloons. The war was about to start. The kids had a blast!

Little Elaina, so adorable

Caught Maya getting hit

Fun times!

♥