Moorea

Our journey began on Tuesday July 21, 2015.  We embarked on a 24 hour journey (with four children under 8) to Moorea.  This consisted of driving to the airport, flying to LAX, trekking to international terminal, flying another 8 hours to Tahiti, navigating a foreign airport (that speaks French) to find our ride to the B & B for the night, spending the night in Tahiti, eating our first Tahitian meal, driving to the ferry, meeting Mom and Tim and FINALLY taking the ferry to MOOREA!  

Just arriving at the Sacramento Airport

On our way to LAX

Getting comfy on our way to Tahiti

Map of the trip

In Papeete, Tahiti.  Girls so excited to go to the ferry to see G'pa and G'ma and get to our final destination!

View of Tahiti from the ferry

Tahiti

View of Moorea from the ferry

Moorea

My mom and Tim have befriended an amazing family, who brought us all traditional Tahitian food the first two nights (for the 17 of us!) and played ukuleles and sang for us.  Momma Monette made the girls Tahitian head dresses, called Hei.  They were so beautiful and the girls adored them!!  They came back the night before we left and gave us all hand made gifts!  Milton Jr. even saw us off from the ferry.  We feel so lucky to have made such special friendships!

Milton and Milton Jr. playing and singing

Milton Jr. giving the girls some pointers

Milton letting them give it a try.

Handmade necklaces

Views from Club Bali Hai:

The pool was right on the beach.  The girls had the best time go back and forth between the two!

Sunset view from our room!

Girls trying their hand at Tahitian dancing

All the girls having a little fun;)

Our entire group!

Fog in the mountains

Val befriended the local hen and her chicks

Lorann just relaxing

We went running nearly everyday.  What amazing views:

The dads and their eldest daughters kayaking!

Chasin, Val, Doug and I took an ATV tour together.

This is the filming sight of Mutiny on the Bounty.  

My favorite picture!!

Pineapple fields (their major export crop)

View from Belvedere Lookout

Even better view from Magic Mountain

(Again from Magic Mountain)

The girls named Lorann their Princess.  This was her royal bed;)

Motu Picnic.

We swam with the rays and sharks, had a picnic on an uninhabited island and snorkeled along the reef--pretty AMAZING to say the least!

Family photo

Scott Family photo

We saved paddle boarding for the last day.  Everyone gave it a try, including G'ma, G'pa and Miss Diane.

Logann flying solo

She was a natural

We left Moorea at 2pm to head to the ferry, arrived at the airport at 4pm and waited for our flight at midnight...

The girls were pooped, but serious troopers.  24 hours of travel would knock anyone out!!

This truly was a trip of a lifetime!  What a gift to be able to spend nine entire days with family and friends.  We made memories that will be with us forever.  Words cannot express how grateful we are for this special gift from G'pa Tim and G'ma Trude.  We love you so much!