Scottsdale Meet Up

So yeah- it has been a bit heavy in the time away from home department lately. It will calm down in May. But until then, let the craziness continue.

I met up with my best girls (minus Erin- bummer) for our 11th annual "Girls Trip". This time we decided to try out Scottsdale, Arizona for some good times. We could have fun anywhere!!

This was the appetizer at a restaurant called True Food. Healthiest app I've ever eaten!

Scottsdale has my kind of stores!

In an attempt to counter- balance all the junk we ate (cookies for breakfast), we got active too. We took a yoga class, went for a run, and hiked Camelback Mountain (not all on the same day).

After my girls left on Sunday I was able to hook up with some of my favorite friends from days of old (AKA college)! Soooo much fun!

Hawaii Part 7 - Dolphins!!!

I guess we saved the best for last. We were taking a gamble on this activity because there was no guarantee it would go according to advertised. But oh man - we won the lottery!!

Against all belief and odds, the 3 oldest girls and I woke up at 530 AM so we could drive down to the harbor in Kona to meet Captain Tino on his zodiac, the Liliko'i. We were setting out into the blue hawaiian waters in search of wild and free pods of spinner dolphins. But we were told seeing these dolphins is never guaranteed. Because the girls had done 2 months of chores at home in order to earn this activity, they were too hopeful not to go. (Daddy stayed home with Sutton because he is not a gambler. Mike and Chris didn't come because they we flying off to Oahu that morning.)

Within minutes of leaving the harbor we saw our first pod!!!

We watched, thrilled beyond belief, as the dolphins circled our small boat so close we could touch them. Our captain promised we would see more. And we did! Lots and lots!

Talk about doing something you've only dreamed about..... We eventually got out of the boat and snorkeled with the dolphins. All of us- with out any hesitation from the girls. It was incredible. I am still at a loss for descriptive words.

After swimming with our new friends to our hearts content, the captain steered the Liliko'i towards a reef where giant Manta Rays like to play cards. (not really, but what else do they do all day?) When Vito thought he saw a large black shadow moving through the water, he told us to jump in. I was the only taker. And that shadow turned out to be a 6 foot wide Manta Ray. I yelled for the girls to get in. Camden jumped in quickly, Quincee hung onto the boats ladder, and Taitum was too cold (or chicken) to get in. Too bad because this manta ray had friends and soon we were swimming with 4 ginormous rays.

On our return trip to the harbor we watched for whales, but didn't see any. We didn't really care. We did learn about the black jumping Hawaiian crab and how Capt Vito likes to scare unsuspecting passengers (um, me) with them. Hilarious ending to an unbelievable adventure!

This is when Ian gets extra props- when we got back to the house Ian had single handedly packed up all of our stuff and moved us out of the house. Our late check out plan didn't work becuse of a last minute rental and we had to be out. We spent our last afternoon on the beach, returned to the pool, ate ice cream directly from the containers, took showers, watched our last sunset on the beach, grabbed Subway for dinner on our way to the airport, got on the plane, and tried to get a some sleep on the red-eye back to reality.

Mahalo Hawaii for a trip we will never forget!

Hawaii Part 6 - Just Sit

After all the time we spent in the car and in the rain, all we wanted to do was defrost on the beach. So we did. But to make things a little more interesting we rented a paddle board for the day. And we bonded with it.

And grandma bonded with the fish.

And Sutton bonded with some new friends.

And after many hours on the beach, even though we didn't want to leave, we pulled our selves away to go to a luau at the Mauna Kea. A completely beautiful night; we had a great time.

And this may go down as my favorite picture of the whole trip!

Hawaii Part 4 - On the Road Again

The problem with traveling someplace new is the urge to go and see all that place has to offer. The fear is you may never return again so you better see it now. That fear was part of the motivation to do a road trip aroud the island. And who doesn't want to see an active volcanoe?

Heading clockwise around the island, our first stop was Akaka Falls. We were not prepared for all the rain on the rainy side of the island. Weird.

The falls were raging because of the rain. We appreciated the show Akaka put on for us.

After that drive we were ready for lunch so we set up our picnic on a black sand beach near Hilo called Honoli'i Beach. There were tons of surfers in the water and the beach definitely had a "locals only" feel to it. We hoped we wouldn't get a beat down. The rain was nice and took a break so we could eat and enjoy the surfing entertainment. The we ran to our car while it poured.

In Hilo we detoured to check out the Rainbow Falls. Only the brave ones got out to see the falls in the deluge. Again- raging waters. No rainbows.

Continuing around the clock, our next stop was the 2500 acre Mauna Loa macadamia nut farm and factory. Macadamia nuts are my favorite nuts!! Have been ever since my parents brought some home from Hawaii when I was a little girl.

The factory was actually closed for a week, but the store was open. So we sampled and stocked up. And learned interesting facts- like macadamia nuts are the hardest nuts to crack. It takes 300 pounds of pressure to do it. So worth it!

Back in the car (when will this ever end?) we took off for Volcano National Park. The rain continued as the elevation rose and the temperature dropped. By the time we got to the visitor center it looked like it was sleeting. Ok- it wasn't that cold, but almost. It did not feel like the balmy place we had left 6 hours earlier.

At the visitor center we learned lots of cool stuff from the ranger while shivering and trying to keep our bare skin from frostbite. Ranger Dave told us there was no point of us trying to see the lava flow through the fog as it was flowing off of park land, you couldn't get very close, and it was unlikely you would see anything even if you took the hour drive to where the road ends (because it is covered by lava- cool). So we headed to the lava tube instead for an adventure.

The biggest part of this adventure was when I lost my flip flop in a mud puddle/pit and had to forage through the slim to find it. Yuck!

We set our sites on home and dreamt of dry land as we drove. Of course we had to stop to enjoy a beautiful sunset from our perch on the side of the highway. Stop to smell the roses, and watch sunsets. Good advice!

A 45 min wait for a table at a burger shack off the side of the road near Capt. Cook made for a bunch of weary travelers. But no- we weren't through yet! Camden devised a plan so she could go see Hunger Games. And since her parents wanted to see it too, and because her awesome grandparents agreed to take the girls home, her plan worked.

We left on a Monday and returned on Tuesday after our circle tour of the island! I'm tired.

Hawaii Part 3 - Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and Scenic

Each week when Sunday comes in the beautiful pacific islands, some people actually go to church. While that seems crazy enough, what is even wackier is when tourists,on said islands, take precious time from their tropical vacations to leave the beach and also go to church. Call us wacky!

We actually love going to church when we are on vacation. It is always fun hunting down the building and meeting times. We headed to church in Waimea, a literal cow town up in the mountains (above 3000 feet) of Hawaii. The drive up changed from barren lava fields to lush, green rolling hills as the misty rain settled on Waimea Valley.

The locals were very friendly and we loved being spiritually fed by the Aloha testimonies shared from the pulpit. After church we did as all good believers do; we went for a Sunday drive.

This is the part of the post where I insert pictures, but I guess my phone wasn't with me because I have none from our drive. I will post them from the camera later. On the mean time enjoy this photo from the day before:

Our drive took us from Waimea to the northern most point on the island - a small town called Hawi, but pronounced hah- vee. We were able to drive by working ranches, play moo cow, and interact with about 30 of Hawaii's version of Hells Angels, who decided to also make the lone turn out a nice spot to take a break, and a pee (oh yes they did).

The road past Hawi turns east and ends at the Pololu Lookout, where on a clear day you are rewarded with stunning views of the mountainous coast line. But because of the cloud cover our reward was a crowded parking lot, nice hippie backpackers, and dream of what might have been.

Our drive home went from thick, jungle greenery, to views that reminded us of Africa (not the Africa we have been to- because we haven't- but the one in movies). It was all so different and so beautiful.

Back at the house we loaded up on some delicious home made French toast and then headed out for a little more spiritual enlightenment. We went to the moon.

Ok- its not the moon, but this barren landscape is Hawaii! Takes some getting used to, but if you follow this road to the end you'll find the beautiful A' Bay.

We worshiped the sand and surf until the sun set and considered it a pretty perfect day. But Quincee wasn't satisfied and decided it would be a great night to get her souvenir.

Hawaii - Part 3 - The day we celebrate the birth of Ian - Hawaiian Style

Yep - it is official.
Ian is 40!!!

Chris and I were up early to hang streamers for the birthday boy. Not much time to celebrate astook had to take off for a day of kayaking on Kealakekua Bay.

We had about a 45 minute drive to the Kona Boys shop, where they loaded 3 kayaks to the tops of our cars. And where the girls loved on Billy the surf shop cat.

And that's pretty much it for photos of that adventure. Of course there are more, but not on my phone. Dang it! But we had a great time kayaking and snorkeling in Kealakekua - except the near death experience of Mike and Chris. Definitely could have done with out that!

Once on the water it is a mile and a half paddle over to the Capt. Cook Monument. The only way to get to the monument is to hike or paddle in. We were hoping to see some dolphins on our paddle in, but no luck. We beached the kayaks, had an awesome lunch (we packed), and did a lot of snorkeling. It was a beautiful reef with a big wall drop. Made me wish we were diving instead. All girls loved it, except Sutton - who wouldn't look in the water because she could see the all the fish moving. The near-death experience happened on the getting out of the water after snorkeling.

Chris had a hard time getting out of the water because it was a rocky, lava filled exit. No easy way out. And she got caught in the waves going in and out. Mike swam over to helpand got caught up in the same lava rock and coral washing machine. By the time they got out there was bruising, bleeding, and sea urchin barbs for souvenirs. So sad!!! But they were amazing and acted like it was no big deal. Of course they still had to paddle out a mile and a half, which they did with no problem. They were amazing!! Ian earned a couple of cuts on the coral trying to help. Memories that last!

All that black discoloration and Mike's ring finger are sea urchin barbs! Ouch!!!

When we finally made it back to the house most of us were pretty hammered, but some of us love a good sunset so we took off to see one. And it was totally worth it!