Sean + Lela | Oahu

I had the chance to tag along with Sean for a work trip to Hawaii last month —  and really, it's only because I have the BEST friends in all the land.  My girls, Erin and Jenniline, each took two of my boys for the whole week so we could go.  I don't even know how to begin to pay them back for that kind of awesomeness.  Ideas?

Sean worked for the first few days, but I spent every last waking moment exploring and soaking in every Oahu experience I could.  We stayed at the Hale Koa in Waikiki and from the moment we arrived I knew I was in love.  Sean has been many times for work, but this was my first time, so naturally I'm already begging him to do everything in his power to get orders there.  It's SO my kind of place.  The warm water, the food, the green mountains.  Heaven. 

~ A huge tree on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor ~

 ~ Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor ~

~ USS Utah, Pearl Harbor ~

 We spent lots of our trip visiting and exploring with the Ganze's.  We love them!!!  Especially this little peanut, Nixon.  He's the sweetest!

~ Dinner at Duke's in Waikiki ~

(Get the macadamia crusted fresh fish)

~ The coolest ceiling in Waikiki ~

 ~ Dinner at Haleiwa Joe's ~ 

 ~Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay ~

 ~ Sunrise snorkeling in Lanikai Beach ~ 

 ~ Drive up to the North Shore ~

 ~ Polynesian Cultural Center ~  

~ Laie Temple ~ 

 ~ Dole Plantation ~ 

~ Some instagram pics ~

The Beck Villa

We spent Saturday up in Temecula visiting our sweet friends Jason and Christina Beck and their four beautiful kiddos.  The Becks lived here in San Diego over three years ago, before taking their twilight Navy tour to Rota, Spain.  They are back and here for good now and you guys, these guys are the coolest.  I am so in love with this wonderful family and I'm thrilled we will finally get to see them now that they are close by.  They sure found a stunner of a dream home.  I guess they loved Spain so much that they decided they belong in a Spanish Villa — complete with a Vineyard.  A VINEYARD!  So very dreamy.

 Christina made us a spread of Spanish tapas including chorizo chips, manchego cheese and the yummiest prosciutto bread.  My kinda gal I tell ya.  It was all delish!  She also made us virgin Sangria.  I didn't even know there was such a thing — annnnnd, now I'm obsessed. 

 She let me wander around taking pictures of the Villa.  I didn't get enough pictures to do it justice, but you can tell it's the place dreams are made of.  So beautiful and serene. 

  We had the best food all DAY! Flatbread pizzas, Christina's homemade Albondigas soup, and lots of other good stuff.  She even got me a cake for my birthday — I'm ready for you to adopt me now Mama!

 Kids. Were. In. Heaven. We all were. Now we just need to count down the days until we can visit again!

Thank you for the amazing day guys!  Love my girls!