AE Vacation Lens | Kauai
Tags:The kids and I spent the week right after Christmas with my parents in Kauai.
This was my fifth visit. Once as a child, once in college, and twice with Chris. My grandparents originally purchased a timeshare many years ago in the town of Kapaa and our family has traveled there on and off for many, many years. This was my first time being there with both my parents.
I've loved it every time for so many different reasons.
This time I loved it because we did a whole lot of just being at the pool or the beach. There wasn't a lot of traveling around or sight-seeing (which I've done before and enjoyed as well) - it was more just being together and letting the kids (and adults) enjoy each other and the water.
The photos I'm sharing today were taken by me, my Mom and my Dad.
I'm an ocean girl.
Give me the sea and I'll give you a really deep breath.
Give me the sea and I'll give you a calm heart.
And oh those sunrises.
At my parents house on the Oregon coast we get the insane pleasure of seeing sunsets. Love that Kauai to me is so much about the sunrise (and the roosters who tell you it's time to wake up).
I also love having my parents there to capture me capturing those two.
And the laughter.
And the fresh-squeezed juices my Dad lovingly prepared.
And the water. Pool or ocean. Love that my kids love it too.
We visited a local Catholic church and lit candles and said prayers for our loved ones.
And we relaxed. Always love my Dad's daily cocktail hour concoctions.
She is amazing. Fun, silly, wide-eyed, lovely.
And she learned to swim just like her brother did on vacation when he was four.
Simon, as I already knew, shares my love of the water.
This trip for him was all about boogie boarding. Dad and I each spent time out with him, showing him some pointers and just generally being around while he worked through the basics.
I think he liked it.
He did not, however, like losing two of his masks. He's definitely a fan of his masks but made a ton of progress on this trip in not having to have his eyes/nose covered with a mask the whole time.
Nice capture Dad.
Love being there.
Thanks Grandma Marie and Grandpa Neil for setting the precedent. Thanks Mom and Dad for continuing the tradition.
And now, love being home.

























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67 comments
Hard to believe our girls will be 4 next month. I found your blog just before getting pregnant, and my M was born the day after A. :) Your words and photos are always inspirational - glad you all had such a fab time.
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Wow! This made my day as I sit here in Salt Lake buried in our annual inversion. You all look so happy and just full of the joy that being together brings. As always thanks for sharing!
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How awesome! I took photos of my daughters in that same swing. Your photos make me want to visit Hawaii again! It is such a peaceful enjoyable place. Thanks for sharing and making me remember our vacation again!
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Moments captured just beautifully Ali...loved seeing your holidays pics:)
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Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures. I have a Project Life question. Since you said you are working on it, as a designer, have you already received a kit? With the new catalog, have you changed your plans for a starter kit?
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Nope - I have not received a kit yet. I'll be using Seafoam. Love the new ones but I don't believe they are available until May (I could be wrong about that).
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Great pictures!I had the pleasure of working in Honolulu for three months recently. Loved it!!
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I love the picture your dad caught of Simon on the boogie board, pictures like that stop my heart when I look through our own albums at home. Thanks also for the pictures of a warm sunny place in the middle of winter, but mostly thanks for sharing your
story with the rest of us and helping inspire creativity.
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Love this Ali...love you!! xoxo
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as always...THANK YOU for sharing tidbits of your life!!! you are so very inspiring in all that you do!!!
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Wonderful photos and lots of stories to tell I bet. Thanks for sharing Kauai. Hawaii is on my list!
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Love Hawaii! That first breath of air you take when you step off the plane you just know you are in the tropics. You can almost feel your dry skin soaking up moisture. The sunrises and sunsets are just so peaceful, just something special if you are lucky enough to witness one or the other by the ocean. Thanks for taking me back there with your photos, a mini vacation without leaving my house!
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I find...pick an ocean any ocean...sooths my jumbled brain. For us girls who grew up on the coast of Oregon...we recognize oceanic perfection. Having been to Hawaii (including Kauai), I agree, sharing it with family makes it pretty dog-on perfect! Thank you for sharing these fun photos!!! Now, to find the fun papers, etc. to scrap the story!!!
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What a fabulous way to spend family time!
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Looks like a wonderful trip for all of you. I love Hawaii. Some of my family used to live on Maui so we have been there many times and it is so peaceful to me.
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Glad you caught some sunshine; we have been freezing here (by our standards) and having tons of rain the past week. Love that boogie board shot by your dad! aloha
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wow just gorgeous!!
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Pictures are such a treasure! As I work on my adult children's albums, it is so apparent that photos help them remember so many wonderful times in their lives. Wish digital had been an option as mine grew up.
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OMG WHAT!!! I can't believe you were here!!!! I live in Lihue and my parents live in Anahola which the next town north of Kapaa. I'm so sad that I didn't get an Ali Edwards sighting :) It's a dream of mine to one day meet you, you are so inspiring, just to be in your presence...lol (really I'm not a stalker) sorry I was starting to sound a little stalker-ish. Happy to hear that you had a great time surrounded by love from your family on our beautiful laid-back island. Take care!
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We went to the Dominican Republic with my parents, kids, etc last summer. These photos remind me so much of those relaxed days. Beautiful! So glad you had such a good time.
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What a beautiful family!
Lovely pictures.
Wishing you all a Wonderful New Year!
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