Hawaii, again...

Sorry about all the separate posts but, I have no clue how to post a bunch of

smaller pictures in one post. I am still a blog novice.

Kaua'i

Kaua'i

I miss you beautiful Hawaiian sands and ocean!!!

Laura and I with our twin rash guards!

Um, should someone tell her

that's not how you wear the lei?

My first time surfing in Maui. It was awesome!

I wish I could do it more often. I think I could get addicted.

The only bad part was that it was really crowded.

(notice Don in the background)

Kaua'i
Don getting ready to jump off a cliff on Kaua'i.

We hiked down to these pools of water and as I am walking towards the top of this cliff, I hear a loud splat and Don is missing. I freaked out for a second and then saw him come up. I had no clue he was going to jump and I guess the splat was his shoes hitting the water. So, he goes up to do it again. This time I had the camera ready.

We all rented jeeps or convertibles on Kaua'i. It was super fun!
View from the Naapali coast hike
We ended our hike with this beach. We watched the waves crash into each other. But they didn't crash like they normally do, they were perpendicular to each other. I have never seen waves crashing like that but I guess that is normal in the winter. You can't really tell from the picture but, the large wave in this picture is breaking sideways. It was really cool to see. I guess our friends actually played and swam at this beach during the summer. It's amazing how different it is in the winter. The water is so much more intense and scary.
More views from the hike.

Formal night on the ship.

Thanks to my friend Tamra for lending me her dress, you rock!!!

More Hawaii Pictures

Hanalei Bay

Here's Don surfing on Hanalei Bay. He went back alone the next day and the tide was so high, he had to go down further. Only professionals were surfing there at that time. We were lucky to have had the awesome day before to play.

Scenic Kauai. It's so awesome!

More Hawaii Pictures

Queensbath

I guess in the summer people swim in this but this was February. One stupid guy jumped in a little further to the left. I guess he survived. We didn't stick around to find out.

Fantasy Island waterfalls

More falls

Naapali coastline - view from the ship

Don and I.

My hair did not like the Hawaiian humidity. Ugh!

Sunset on Oahu

I am not sure where we stopped to rest but, we watched a great sunset. I tried to take a great sunset picture and these were the best I could get. They don't nearly capture how beautiful it was. It was so relaxing and just peaceful. It's not often that I get a moment to stop and really take in the sunset. This was my moment of heaven on earth. Okay enough of the cheesy stuff!

Last Day in Hawaii

We were definitely in some serious mourning this day. I just didn't want to leave. Hawaii is so beautiful. These were taken in Oahu on the last day. We spent the day waiting for our 11:30 pm flight. Just rested and watched the sunset. Our other friends were on another flight so we were alone at this point. We had to do the usual vacation pictures. You take me and I'll take you. We then raced to Waikiki to get some Lava Flows before racing back to the airport. We got to the restaurant and just went to the bar. Don told the hostess that we just wanted to get some Lava Lava's. She looked at him very strangely and said "do you mean Lava Flows? Lava Lava is a dress!" Don was a little embarrassed but the Lava Flows were worth the rush!

Me

This is Don with a cool break in the background

Hawaii Rocks!!!

Here are a few pictures from our Hawaii cruise. I have so much to say and so little space. It was a blast. It was not, however, relaxing in any way. The third to the last day we actually laid on the beach and caught some rays and much needed rest but, all the rest of the days were go, go, go. (However Don was not with me that day. He spent the day Snorkeling Molokini and surfing in Lahaina while I snorkeled at Black Rock and went on a whale watching tour. We flew to Oahu and stayed for three days doing the Oahu thang. Then caught the ship on Sunday and set sail to Kauai. We spent Monday and Tuesday there. We did the Napaoli coast hike, Queensbath, and Hanalei Bay surfing for Don and boogie boardin for me. I must say that Hanalei Bay was by far the best boogie boarding ever! It is now my favorite beach for boogie boarding. California isn't nearly as good (both Nor Cal and So Cal). Sorry to all the Californians. We had to rush back to the ship every day to set sail for the next port. On Wednesday we spent the day in Hilo then Thursday we spent the day in Kona. On Friday and Saturday we spent time in Maui and then disembarked Sunday back in Oahu. I will post more pictures as I get them downloaded and give you more details on the activities. This is just a taste of the excitement yet to come.

Don and I onboard the ship right before leaving Oahu


Don getting sprayed at Queensbath on Kauai

Don and a coconut. Don is on the right.
(Hanalei Bay)

A great picture with perfect lighting of Don and I at Queensbath

Who says "de-thawed"?

Okay, why do some people say de-thawed? I have even caught myself saying it. Why do we do that? I like to think of myself as a normal person with only slightly flawed English grammar but, once in a while some little thing creeps in and makes me look like a "we was-er". Ugh! Since I am a simpleton with little thoughts left in my tiny brain, I will leave it at that. Those of you that are smarter than myself or at least able to carry on a conversation, please respond with your thoughts. I expect to hear great things from Spew, Derrek, Tamra, Suzanne, Dani, Billy, Summer, Marc, Alicia and anyone else that desires to address this important issue.

Finally, I have posted the long awaited birthday pictures.

Thinking of our wishes!!!

Gregariously blowing out the candles!!!

Just being for reals

Cruise 2006

In February of 2006 Don and I took cruise to Mexico with friends from the ward. We had a lot of fun. This picture is about the only decent picture depicting that we were actually on the vacation together! Either someone's eyes are closed or someone looks fat in their dress (we won't mention any names) or one person was still in their formal and one person had changed into regular clothes. I think we were the big joke of the cruise. Were we really there together? Prove it. Here you go. Don and I at Lover's beach. At least I think that's me!

This February we are taking another cruise with a lot of the same people minus the two that decided to give birth while we are gone! We are going to Hawaii. I am so excited. I will post some pictures after the cruise and hopefully, there will be one of us together although I am pretty sure Don will be in the ocean 24/7. Oh well, more pina coladas for me!

Duh!!!

I am so stupid. I didn't download the pictures from the party. I will try to get them on the blog asap. I know you are all anxiously waiting to see them.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LARISSA AND SUMMER!!!

It is once again the time to celebrate my birth and the birth of my sister eight years younger than me (who decided to be born the day after me and steal my thunder!) Just kidding. I love you Summer. Fortunately for my family, they only have to get together once and they kill "two birds with one stone" or at least "two sisters with one cake." Except this year, Suzanne brought one costco cheesecake and one chocolate cake. So, there is plenty left over and if anyone would like a piece, come on over. Here are the pictures from our candle blowing ceremony. At first everyone was there waiting for us to blow out the candles but, it took so long for us to think up our wishes that half the people left making the birthday song "weak-bones." At least we enjoyed ourselves. Let's hope those wishes come true!!! 364 days is a long time to wait for another chance!!!

Let it snow!!!

Our first real snow fall came right before Christmas. The kids had a blast playing in the snow. I don't know how much we got but, when the second storm came, it was freezing. More than I can stand. Right now, it has been 18 degrees everyday. Too cold. The kids are so cute with their frozen faces. I just want to make them come in and throw blankets around them all.