Day 3: Road Trip along the coast

PUNALU'U BAKE SHOP

Of course, the first stop has to be about food.

And when I say food, I mean, doughnuts.

AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS,

EVERY YEAR,

WITHOUT FAIL,

AT OUR POTTY STOP..

YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD LEARN!!

BLACK SAND BEACH & CRUSH

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

Black sand..

Crush came up on shore to greet us.

Seriously, soo freakin' cute!

I think turtles are right up there with ducks as the cutest animals, ever!

VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK

People were hiking at the bottom of this crater.

We didn't, but I really wanted to!

There was steam coming up from cracks in the surface of the crater.

Crazy cool!

Couldn't get closer than this to the steam sulphur cloud.

Really interesting information at the Jagger museum.

Another AMAZING Hawaiian sunset

Day 2: Makalawena Beach

Seriously.. can I please go back?

My first view of the beach. I am not kidding.

Taking a dip in the fresh water pools.

I do not like the briar patch!

The trail thru the lava that leads to the beach.

I embrace the sand. I even made a sand pillow, thus the sand on my cheeks.

One word: MAGNIFICENT!

In my research of the island, I came upon several suggestions that this is the best beach on Hawaii. It is a bit of an effort to get to.. first you must travel a VERY rough road over old lava flow/rock and then you have to hike to the beach, probably about a 30-40 minute walk over the same lava rock. No trees on the hike, so kinda feels like you are in an oven. But then, you reach the beach and it is very impressive and peaceful. Beautiful white sand, gorgeous colors of blue ocean water. There are even trees for shade when you want it. We went for an adventurous hike (of course) thru briars and fresh water ponds. Scraped my leg up good, but I always feel better about my effort if there is blood or a bruise evident on my body somewhere. We had packed our lunch, which got wet in our cooler.. but we ate it anyways because we felt such joy and peace on this beach. Makalawena must mean "heaven" in Hawaiian.

We stayed here most of the day.. can you see why? Sorry for the yucky pictures. I was using my new waterproof camera, not my nice Canon. Sort of annoying to have a camera that you don't dare take to the beach.

After the beach, we went back to our resort and ate at the cafe by our pool. It was yummy. Went to bed fairly early.. ready for day #3 in paradise!

Day 1: Kona Hawaii

Day One: Had to get unpacked and go grocery shopping for the week, so we didn't get much beaching done. We went to the resort pool which was nice and had a fun dinner at a local joint which served the best mud pie I have ever had. My father-in-law had a magnificent dinner called moco loco. It consists of several scoops of rice, topped with a hamburger patty (or any other slab of meat, even spam!). Then over the meat, they put a big ole gob of brown gravy. The cherry on top is several fried eggs, soft, so the yolks run out into the gravy. Wow!! The locals swear by it! I did feel adventurous so I tried a bite. Not quite sure I could do a whole plate of it, but I can see why the locals like it.

In 24 hours...

I will be here...

Kona!!!

doing this..

Sleeping on the beach

Snorkeling

Body surfing with dolphins

or maybe this..

More napping

Reading

Watching the lava flow

I really hope I don't look like this...

Don't hate me!!

Kona, Hawaii here we come!!

He's got Looks AND Skills

Luke's Big Day

Jake and Luke

2 studs on the prowl..

Where did the last 5 years go? How is it possible that my little Lukifer is going to Kindergarten? As UNREADY as I was for this day, Luke was just the opposite-SO excited! We have been counting down the days for quite some time now. He thought he was so stylin' in his new Kindergarten clothes. That little boy just wants to be a grown-up. And I feel like he is growin' up too fast. I could eat his little face ALL DAY LONG! But now, his mornings are taken my Mrs. Freestone. That hussy better appreciate my little angel! I am excited because he is so excited, but sad that the process of tearing my children from my bosom has started.

Owie... it really hurts the heart.

Shut the front door.

He might be the cutest thing on this planet.

Yes, I took pictures at.. 1)my house 2)the bus stop and 3)the school. I was not the only crazy mom who followed the school bus to the school to 1)make sure they made it safely to school 2)take some more pictures. How can I not with a face like that??

Another Hike- Lake Solitude, Big Cottonwood Canyon

He thinks he is Hercules with his log for a walking stick.

Sadie using the forest's restroom.

Yes, I do think that is a tick. Freakin' freak.

Sadie is a bridge.

This is the men's forest restroom.

Crazy little critters didn't like doritos, just cashews.

I look like a Wednesday's child. Maybe I am. Shut up.

I know... we do a lot of hiking. But, I love it and I make my kids go with me. This particular day, (July 25th) Todd and Maddie were both working, so that is why no pictures of them. I think I about wore my kids out with all of the hikes we have been doing, but it's good for them, no? I kept singing "Pioneer Children" to them as we made our way up the trail towards the lake. Seriously, I don't know how those pioneer ladies did it. No sanitizer, no doritos, no toilet paper or tampons. No diet coke for those frayed pioneer nerves, no walking boot for inflammed achilles tendons, no sunscreen or bugspray. No Canon camera to capture the memory, no soft bed to come home to, no cell phones for emergency use. I can't even imagine the struggle that it was for these mommas and kids. I could not have made it. I would have sat down in the middle of the trail and said, "Hey you! Brother Brigham! Yeah, you! This is the place!" But alas, my spirit was saved for the time when we walk for entertainment. I mean, can you imagine trying to explain hiking to a pioneer. "Yeah, when we have free time, we go walk in the forest. I know, it is so cool!" I wonder what the pioneers think of us as they look down on us from their perches. I am afraid to know. Do they think we are totally lame with our crazy schedules and diets and soft beds and TV and fast food? If they do, I don't blame them. We are lame. Me especially with my wee little walking boot. Seriously, am I for real? Yes, I'm afraid I am.