Hawaii Part 2

Here are a lot more pictures from our Hawaii trip. Sorry it is a really long post but we took over 200 pictures. On Friday before we flew to the island of Kaua'i we went to get some Hawaiian shave ice at the popular Matsumoto's. It was good but I wish I didn't add the Azuki beans to it. I didn't care for the taste. We did go to 2 other shave ice places over the weekend. One place that was right next to our hotel in Kaua'i that was heavenly. We got a pina colada with ice cream at the bottom and then they drizzle sweetened condensed milk over the top. I Loved It. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.We visited the outside of the Laie Temple. The temple is going through a major renovation and has been closed all this year and won't open until around next July. So we just walked around the temple grounds and then inside the visitors center.

Posing on the beach one last time at the Turtle Bay resort before heading to the airport.

On Friday afternoon we took the very little inter island airplane to the island of Kaua'i to spend the weekend. These 2 pictures are of the atrium (?) in front of the hotel lobby. It was amazing how all the hotels are totally open there,they don't have doors to the lobbys.

Saturday morning we went on a raft tour of the Na Pali Coast. It was beautiful but the raft was adventurous and really bumpy. The water was really rough coming back. I was sore by the time we got back. This is where we got off the raft and checked out an old village on the side of the mountain, ate lunch (provided by the tour) and snorkeled. The water was clear and pretty. We saw some great fish
Some of the mountains along the coast.

Some pictures of us on the raft.

The highlight of the trip was we came across 2 dolphin pods during our raft tour. There were dozens of them swimming all around us. We have some cool video but I am still blog illiterate and have a hard time downloading videos on here.

If you look really closely in the middle of the water in this picture there is a little baby dolphin that kept jumping out of the water and doing flips it was so cool and cute.
Some sea turtles that we saw during the raft tour.

We drove up the Waimea Canyon. It was pretty but parts of it looked a lot like the Arizona canyons so we didn't go all the way to the top. We were bored with it. But here are a couple snapshots.

We also rented a boogie board and some snorkel equipment that we took to some beaches. Preston attempted the whole boogie board thing but it didn't workout too well for him. The waves got huge after he gave up and got out of the water. Go figure huh.

On Monday before we flew back to the island of Oahu we did the Wiki Wiki (quick) zipline. There were 3 zips, 25o ft, 800 ft and 750 ft. It was fun. They have a cool little set up there.

Preston walking across the bridge that was really scary to me. We were always clipped in to something with our harness so we were safe, but this bridge had gaps between the wood planks and I was worried I would slip and injure myself.



This is me on the first zip.
After we landed in Oahu Hollie and Bret picked us up from the airport and we all headed to Pearl Harbor. It was sobering to see the video and the memorial of all the names of the people that died that day. I found a marine that shared my maiden name.


After Pearl Harbor we grabbed some lunch and then went to do the Diamond Head hike. It was a bit of a challenge to be honest, I really thought I was in better shape then my body demonstrated during the hike. We went up around 200+stairs along with a ramp and alot of switchbacks. The hike itself was ugly I thought, but the view from the top was pretty.

Letting the sand go through my toes one more time before heading to dinner and then we caught the red eye flight that night. I don't think I will ever do the red eye again if I can avoid it. We didn't get much sleep at all and there were some real wackos on the flight.

So there it is our Hawaiian adventure. I LOVED being in Hawaii and I LOVED being with Preston for that long. I felt like we were newlyweds all over again. It was an Awesome vacation. Thanks for taking the time to read this incredibly long post.

HAWAII Part 1

Well we finally went to Hawaii earlier this month. We left the morning of the 14th and came home the morning of the 20th. We had an amazing time although it went by entirely too fast. I would love to go again soon but really I am not sure how soon we will make it back.

Of the 100+ pictures we took this is both of our favorite. Preston looks REALLY handsome I must say.This picture may look like we are posing in front of an artificial backdrop but this is out in front of our hotel at sunset. It was all so beautifully breathtaking.

This was the view from our hotel room. I am posing with a turtle they left on our bed.

The first afternoon we went down to the beach and there was a big sea turtle in the water. Preston went out there and some guy let him borrow some of his snorkeling equipment.

I am posing with my new shirt I bought before we left. Notice it says BE FREE FREE FREE. I thought it was appropriate. I was so stressfree and loved relaxing with Preston and no kids for 6 full days.

Preston watching the waves the first day. I had to take a picture of his relaxed state.
Sunrise on Thursday morning while sitting on the beach. There is a story to this. The first night we went to bed really early (8:30) we were exhausted from traveling all day and also it was 11:30 AZ time. The next morning one of our guys from the shop calls Preston's cell phone at 5:20 am Hawaii time. I guess he forgot about the time change. Being the romantic that I am (not really) I suggested we go watch the sunrise since we were already awake and we already had a good nights sleep. So we did and we were glad we did.

Another sunrise picture.
There were crabs EVERYWHERE that morning. Here is a picture of one of them. It was hilarious to watch Preston try to catch one to get a picture of him holding it. Those little boogers are FAST!

On the walk back to the hotel there was a full rainbow going over the hotel. It was pretty.

Later this morning we met up with my longtime friend Hollie and her Husband Bret. We went to the Hukilau Cafe for breakfast. It was in a house in the middle of a neighborhood. The service was great and so was the food. I ordered some macadamia nut buttermilk pancakes that were DELICIOUS. After breakfast we went back to the hotel and did some more snorkeling. After snorkeling we headed to the Polynesian Culture Center. That place was really amazing and fun.

I think we are in the Fiji village in this picture. We banged these sticks on the ground in different rhythms as part of the show. That is Hollie and Bret on the right.

We are learning a Hula at the Hawaiian village.

This Samoan guy was really funny. He is demonstrating how you can still make fire with sticks.

Random snapshot at the PCC. Don't we look relaxed and in vacation mode. The only drawback of the day was that it was very hot and humid.Posing after the night show. The night show was great and the performers were awesome. We couldn't take any flash photography but we got some really cool video of the different dances.

So that is the first 2 days in Hawaii in a cocoNUT shell. :-) Man am I punny.

Weekend in Utah and some randoms

This past weekend I flew to Utah with my Mom and Sister to meet my new little Nephew Warner Walter. He is a very sweet baby. Here he is taking his Sunday afternoon nap.


On Saturday we drove up to Provo Canyon to see the fall colors and I took a picture of this pretty waterfall.Later we went to a creek that is near my brother's house. This is Thomas (my brother's oldest)

Henry and Thomas throwing rocks in the creek.

Me and Baby Warner after church and his blessing. We had a really nice weekend. It was a quick trip but it was fun. I really enjoyed being able to hold Warner and play with Thomas and Henry without worrying about my own kids. It has been a long time since I have been able to just be an Aunt and not a Mom.

Natalie is now sitting in a booster seat. We have lost the strap to the highchair over the past 7 years and so she was always trying to climb out of it. So we decided to graduate her to a booster seat that has straps. It has been a lot easier and it makes her look more like the toddler she is.

Taylor started a gymnastics class today through the city. She enjoyed it, she has the same teacher she has had before, he is really good with the kids.

Our Weekend in Eagar

Last weekend we went to Eagar Arizona to visit with family. It was a weekend that we could since it was conference and we didn't have any church responsibilities. It was also Homecoming weekend for RV High. Here is Nathan with his 2 cousins Daniel and Ryan at the game. RV won 61-16 against Window Rock.
Taylor with her cousins Chanelle and Janelle at the game. I must say it is so nice in the dome not only is it inside so you don't have to freeze, but they have backs to the bleachers. SO NICE!!!

Preston's mom had made these Ghosts at a church craft activity and she lovingly bought a set for me and another Sister In Law that was up for the weekend. We painted these on Saturday, I think they are really cute. I now need to get candles to go on top to complete them.

Preston's parents have a huge backyard and this weekend they also put up a zipline. They have a ton of fun things for the kids to do outdoors. Here is one of Nathan's MANY turns on the zipline. He really needed to lift his feet.

Taylor wasn't quite sure of this at first as you can see by the picture below.

Now you can see that she is enjoying the ride. She also had A LOT of turns.