Hwaiian Adventures Continued

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So Dan and I tried paddle boarding one day-you stand on a surf board and use a paddle to get around. It is actually a pretty popular sport in Hawaii and a really good work out-the next day-we were sore in places we didn't know could be sore:) Eventually, when you get good enough, you can actually ride the waves-keeping yourself in the wave by paddling in front of it. We both were able to get the hang of standing up and paddling around-it just took time and practice to catch on. Daniel was able to ride the waves a handful of times before the wind picked up and we had to go in. I almost was able to...did a lot of face plants:)

On our trip along the road to Hana-we both had to take dramamin cause the road was so windy! there is like 720 hair pin turns on the 3 hour road-we met a family who we saw often through out the trip. Along the roads there were place you could stop and get out-usually hike and see stuff. The family came along with us on many of the stops including the one you see above-where daniel is getting pounded by the waterfall-one of the little boys was swimming with him:) They wre quite funny and enjoyable to be around-especially the two boys. I opted to take the pictures at this waterfall after feeling the water-man it was cold! The mom of the other family got in and her face looked like she might go into shock...that was when i knew i had made the right decision. Daniel was a trooper though:)

On one of the hikes we walked through a field of pinnaple plants and Daniel posed for a picture-he didn't that pinapples just grow right out of the center of the plant-could you tell by his face!

The Adventures We Had

HUGE Pine Tree on our 7 Mile Hike
Dan Boogy Boarding-we had to get him a rash guard to protect his chest cause he did this for hours and hours at a time! His poor nipples scabbed over!:)
Huge Banyan Tree on Our 7 Mile Hike the branches grow roots that grow down wards until they finally plant themselves into the ground-one tree can have many trunks
IAO Valley State Park-was were the Hawaiian people held many of their battles. The point you see in the background was used to spot warriors coming to attack. King Kamahama finally won the battles and united all the islands ruling over all of them.

Oh the adventures we had:) Snorkeling, swimming with sea turtles and in waterfalls, boogy boarding (Dan's favorite thing to do at the beach), wade pool watching, hiking, paddle boarding, caving, driving the road to Hana, exploring lush rain forests, and eating a lot of good food!

We really hit the ground running-there was so much we wanted to see and do-at night we would literally crash because we were so exhausted-but it was a good, happy, fun exhausted:) If we were going to spend the money to be there-we were gonna get our money's worth-and man it was worth every penny!

Tavin's favorite story-that he tells everyone we see when they ask how Hawaii was: On our snorkeling cruise-the water got a little choppy towards the end-choppy water and putting your face in that water for long periods of time-just didn't sit well with me. I didn't want to go back on board-even though i started to feel a little queasy- cause the sea turtles were just too fascinating to me!

Every time i would turn to go back to the boat-someone would shout that there was a turtle coming up for air. When I finally made it to the boat-I wasn't doing so good-as indiscreetly as I possibly could-I "fed" the fish my BBQ chicken sandwich that i had for lunch -over the side of the boat-after the boy who was swimming by passed of course:) After that, I was feeling just fine-and we went on our way-enjoying the rest of the cruise.

Tavin's version: Mommy got sick on the boat cause the water was going wow woooow wow-and then she threw up on the fishes!" Close enough i guess.

Hiking with Dan was probably my favorite-we just took our time and had fun messing around-taking pictures and talking. One day we got a late start on one of the hikes and the shuttle driver that drove us out to the trail head stated that this was his last round so if we wanted to do the trail-we would have to walk the seven miles back-well guess what-we did:) And it was a blast!

Oh and I got these cool flip flops that are made out of yoga mat material-sooo soft and cushy to walk on. Did you know that in order to harvest the sugar cane fields-they burn them and the sugar drops to the ground? Then the machines go and pick it up to bring it to the factories....just a cool fact we learned from one of the locals:)

Maui And Back Again

The past couple nights I have fallen asleep while replaying my newly formed memories of our week long trip to Hawaii....I feel the warmth, the cool breeze, the soft sand between my toes, and hear the rolling waves as they crash on the shore. I see clearly the beautiful cascading waterfalls, the effortless movement of the sea turtle as it glides in the clear blue water, the vibrant flowers of all sorts and shapes, the lush green surreal bamboo forests that surrounded us, the picturesque sunsets; and tasted the fresh fruits and delicious mouth watering food.

Truly our vacation was wonderful and everything that I hoped it would be. Each day i awoke excited for the new adventures I would get to experience with my sweet Daniel. It was a time to relax and enjoy reconnecting with each other, a time to rejuvenate and have fun doing whatever we pleased whenever we want to do it- the Hawaiian way of life-mellow, low key, and carefree. Many people asked if we were honey mooning-and I just had to smile to myself-after 5 years of marriage-we are able to re-spark that glow of newly weds-we must not be doing too bad:)

I did have one emotion that I didn't expect to experience a deep sense of longing for my 2 babies that we left safely in the hands of Daniel's mom 2 airplane rides, and a time difference of 4 hours away. It took about a day and a half for me to start missing their presence-I needed my sweet smiles, and monster hugs, my mushy kisses and bed time stories. Many times during the trip something would remind us of them and one of us would make a reference to something that Katie and Tavin do or did.

By the end of the week-I could have cried, I missed them so much. I looked forward to getting on the plane to come home just so I could be with them again. With out my kids, there is a hollowness inside me-they fill me up-and there is no place on earth that I could go-no matter how beautiful it was-if it meant not being with my Tavin and Katie. That is why I am happy that they are mine forever.

When we returned-Katie and Tavin met us at the airport. Even before we got off the escalator-Katie had spotted us and was pointing and shrieking as she ran in our direction. She wanted us to hold her for the rest of the day, and that was OK with me:) The next couple of days, she wouldn't let us out of her site. Where we went, she went. And each morning that she woke up and saw that we were there, she had a big smile on her face. It broke my heart as I realized that to her-we had mysteriously disappeared and she didn't know where we had gone or even for how long. Tavin-we could explain things to and talk to on the phone with him able to comprehend that we would be back soon. To Katie-everything was unsure and unknown and I hug her extra tight for that.

Tavin on the other hand welcomed us back and wanted to see all the pictures and ride on the plane-he wanted to tell us all that happened and sit on our lap to read books and play games. The next day at church-he stood up and sang a song with the primary kids to Dan for father's Day-and jumped up and down the hole time from all the excitement. He exclaimed: "I have a dad!" How good it is to be missed and to be needed. How lucky we are to have them as our own.

Hiking R Mountain

Dan and I took the YW Mia Maids that I am in charge of on a hike up Rexburg's R mountain-kind of the "BYU" mountain of this area. You have to either hike it early spring or fall because of rattle snakes. Ended up being really fun and a good way to start the summer. Only saw one snake (just a guarder snake though) wasn't poisonous.

The more I spend time with these girls, the more I love them and want the best for them-hope in some way that I can influence them for the better-help them make good choices and figure out what's truly important in this crazy world. Although I am probably guessing they think I am a little nerdy and quirky:) But who isn't right!

Weather Perfect for Kite Flying

Tavin taking a self portrait while waiting for mom and dad
to get the kite set up

This flower kite was my favorite!

Our Pirate Kite and 2 really excited kids!

There was a "Kite Flying Day" about 20 minutes from where we live and so we loaded up our pirate kite and hit the road for a Saturday afternoon activity. Idaho weather might not be good for much other than kite flying.

Lots of pretty awesome kites! Tavin and Katie each took a turn helping Dan fly our kite and we enjoyed some free hot dogs too:)

I think kite flying is something that will become a favorite family pass time-Dan and I both find it fun (Is that a nerdy hobby? Oh well if it is:) We saw ones that have 2 strings attached to the kite-allowing you to control the speed and direction of it-might just have to try one of those out next year! ( I smell a family tradition in the making) It was a fun day.