DC

While we were in Virginia for the fourth, we ventured into DC so Kian could get a look at our nations capital! Coach Lidia accompanied us for the ride too and from but left us while we were there because she is just TOO COOL. 

It was a hot and muggy July day and Kian went through the day without a nap, which was freaking us out as we were certain he was going to break down and start screaming at any moment but he is amazing and only had one semi crying fit. (thank you Kian!!) Then he slept the entire way back!  While we were there we visited the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of American History and the Washington Monument.  I'm sure we'll eventually see it all as we have many people in the DC area to visit with!

^Failed family photo take1!^

^Anddd we still failed...!

and we're back!

We drove to Virginia over the weekend to celebrate my mom's wedding and let Kian meet all his relatives from my side of the family.  We left Nashville on Thursday night and drove until around midnight.  Kian did AMAZING, I think there was about five minutes of fussing when we first left and then he just chilled the rest of the drive.  When we stopped in Roanoke we transferred him from his car seat to his crib and he opened his eyes, glared at us for waking him, and went back to sleep.  The next day we only had three hours left and it was no problem.  We arrived at the hotel, napped and waited for the rest of the family to arrive.  Then it was time to meet his great grandparents! 

Kian is so lucky to have so much family!  He has aunts and uncles and great uncles and great great aunts, grandparents and cousins, and because he is the first grand baby / great grand baby on my side of the family he is the star of the show!

We attended several events, all of which lined up with Kian's bedtime so it was a little bit of a struggle for him but overall he did great meeting so many people.  The worst moment he had was at the wedding when my uncle was saying a prayer and you could hear Kian screaming upstairs. It made my heart hurt.  But his daddy had a handle on the situation and once he fell asleep he was fine.

The morning after the wedding we left as soon as Kian was fed.  We did not have high hopes for this part of our trip as it was during the daytime and we had a feeling Kian would not enjoy being stuck in his car seat all day.  We were right and wrong.  The first six hours went really really well.  The last three hours were a little more difficult.  I sat in the back for a while so he could have some stimulation and play a little bit.  But after two hours, I was getting car sick and Kian was reaching his breaking point.  I could not sit in the back and have him stare at me while he cried.  It's hard enough just listening to him cry but to have him stare right at me, heartbreaking.  So we made a quick stop to feed and change hoping that would help him feel better  and we were off for the final and most difficult hour of our drive.

^not a happy camper^

Basically Kian screamed the whole last hour of the drive and who can blame him? He had been in his car seat since 7am and wanted out.  As soon as we got home we stripped him and let him lay down and spread out and he immediately calmed down.   He is back to our happy baby now and there will be no more big road trips for a while. 

sunrise selfies

* all amazing photos taken by Jason Derck

Sometimes, when you sit on top of a mountain you have to take selfies.  Thank you Derck for taking these selfies so we could remember this time forever.

Cracker Barrel

Ahh Cracker Barrel. Its like true love between us. Cracker Barrel has all the things I love; board games, rockers on a porch, breakfast all day, and my beloved biscuits and gravy.  I could eat biscuits and gravy all day everyday for at least a week.  The people of the south don't realize how lucky they are to have constant access to biscuits and gravy.  We in Hawaii are deprived of the magic taste of biscuits smothered in gravy. I miss it already.

I can't wait until we have a place to put rockers and enjoy lemonade on a hot day.

Embracing the Lifestyle

While we were in Nashville we stayed with Brenden's parents who live in a retirement community.  We  fully embraced the lifestyle.  Relaxing all the time, after dinner walks, waving 'hi' to everyone, it was wonderful.  We wished we could of stayed there much longer but alas, we had to leave.

While we were there we only went into downtown Nashville once. Brenden's parents took us to lunch and then to coffee at the most hipster places ever.  Our group stood out like a sore thumb as we were surrounded by people in their 20's talking about their upcoming gigs, and other hipster type things that I don't understand.  But apparently hipsters like good food because both places we went were delicious. The Pharmacy is a burger joint that we all really enjoyed and Frothy Monkey is apparently the number one rated coffee place in Nashville. Brenden loved the coffee there, and boy is it strong, he was very chatty after that.