Scenery to DIE for....really

Queens Bath

Probably one of the most beautiful and amazing places that I have seen. I have to say that these pictures are NOT FROM ME but from a friend who just happened to be in Kauai the same time we were and I asked for his permission to copy these (I didn't take my camera down to Queens bath when we were there so I didn't have any pictures of this place) plus he has an amazing high tech camera (professional) that takes way better pictures so here ya go!!

In calm seas which we didn't have since it is winter you can swim in this hole and just be right next to the ocean. You can imagine in rough and high seas that the waves would come crashing right down on you. Mind you this is lava rock...need I say more?

This place is truly amazing, and when we were there some locals boys were putting on quite the dare devil act. I will try and explain, but I am sure I won't be able to do it justice. Now on the left hand side of the picture it is a good ways down to the water and they (boys) would jump off head first straight into the water, and then swim across to where the larger waterfall is coming off the rock and stand on a ledge that is there. Now on the right you see a couple of different levels, well they would stand with boogie boards on the top level (right side of pic) and wait for a huge wave to come barrelling in and it would come to the top of the shelf and they would jump out and ride the wave down all the levels. Usually they would disappear we thinking they are dying and then the force of the water would shoot them to the top. Truly amazing, we sat and watched for probably 30-45 minutes. I think the boys like all the "tourists" watching them. I just wish I had taken my camera to record video-oh well I will always remember it.

More of queens bath, just beautiful!

I already posted this from MY camera but when I saw Matt's (guys who's pictures these are) I had to have a copy, I love lighthouses and the way the clouds are in this is just beautiful.

Jon and I didn't go on the helicopter ride well because to be honest 1-it costs way to much for me & 2-I always get sick in little helicopters/planes, so there again couldn't justify paying for it when I know I get sick!

This is a view from the helicopter that both my parents and Matt and his wife went on, and again I just loved this picture. We went along this coast in a boat, but from the air is just breathtaking. This is the Na Pali Coast

Thank you Matt for the amazing pictures!!

Another Hawaiian Adventure....

Well as many of you know we got another chance to go to the beautiful island of Hawaii. This last summer we lived on Oahu while Jon was finishing up the temple in Laie. In November we got to go back just the 2 of us for the dedication of the temple for a few days, then we were invited by my parents to go to Kauai the end of February, so we took it

(without kids I might add)

So here is the start of our latest adventure, side note, I have never been to Kauai!!

On Sunday we went to church and then drove around and saw some sights. This is called Wailua Falls, you don't have to hike just drive right up to it. It was beautiful and amazingly enough it is a 173 foot drop to the bottom. We stayed at the top!!

Here is a better view from the top....

We also went to another waterfall (this island has tons of waterfalls) that we could drive to so this one is called Opaeka'a Falls. It was so dirty and you can tell if you look close at the falls, it had been raining a ton-raining like I have NEVER seen it rain before!!

Mom & Dad

Jon and I-see I am in some pictures :-)

We went out on a zodiak raft to go whale watching-AWESOME-highly recommend it, anyway as we were heading out a huge pod of dolphins came over to the boat and starting swimming by us. We saw about 60-70 dolphins, it was soooo cool. I have never been that close to a dolphin in its natural habitat. I got to go to the front of the boat with my dad and lean over the edge, it was quite the experience

more dolphins....

This one was right out in front of the boat, can you tell that I just LOVE dolphins?!?

The captain actually had a guy on the boat with us that took pictures, so as much as I would like to claim these pictures as mine, I cannot. Ever time I would try and take a picture it would make me sick to my stomach as the waves got bigger and bigger, so we bought their disc of pictures which was the way to go. So in the front and working our way back in my dad, Jon, ME and my mom!!

One of the many waterfalls on the Na Pali Coast that you can only see from boat or helicopter.

The Na Pali Coast line, it was absolutely beautiful!!!

the guy standing up front with the camera is our Captain-Capt. Chris of Na Pali Riders. Here is a better view of the kind of boat that we were on. You could get up close and personal with the dolphins and whales, as you will see in later pictures.

Here is a momma whale and her baby that were practically swimming right next to the boat.

We would spot the puff from the whales blow hole and then head in that direction and then just stop the boat and wait for the action and boy did we see the action on this one. What HUGE and beautiful creatures they are.

Same whale jumping, just so you know that is the fin and the head out of the water (when I first saw this one it looked like it was jumping with it's mouth open, not the case)

the splash as they come down-huge!!

Captain Chris-great boat captain, and he loves what he does for a living, he still after soooo many years of taking people out still is fascinated by these creatures.

That lump in my jacket is my camera-that is how I would try and keep it dry when I wasn't trying (key word there) to use it

A female laying on her back with both pectoral fins out of the water, we were told that the female will lay on her back and slap the water with her fins to attract the males to her. The whales come to Hawaii for one purpose and one purpose only-to mate!! Not a bad place...

Male diving, when we would see this you know that they are going deep and take quite awhile to come back to the surface-this is how the males "show off" for the females

Mom & Dad at Pu'u o Kila Lookout-or as most people know it as "Hawaii's Grand Canyon"

One of the many beautiful hawaiian sunsets, this one happens to be at Spouting Horn, which I kept referring to it as Sprouting Horn-hehee

Still at Spouting Horn and there was this amazing hole in the lava rock and the waves would come under the lava rock and fill up this hole and then it gets sucked right back out, not exactly a place that you would swim in, but awesome to watch!

Spouting horn and a blowhole that it the wave was right would shoot water clear up into the air. Must say this is quite a beautiful shot, must of just got lucky

We went and bought Jon a boogie board, because frankly it was cheaper to buy one and have it in the car all the time, than to rent one. I am not sure if he caught this wave just right or if it curled on top of him, but the picture is cool.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE lighthouses and yet I have never been to one up close, well now I can say that I have. This is the Ninini Lighthouse and we drove right up to the front door. This was also a great place to sit and watch the whales-which we did for a little while but then it started to rain really good so we left!

Another boating adventure completely different from our last adventure. This boat had an awesome bathroom on board and we could eat and drink (diet coke for me) all we wanted and we had a BBQ lunch on board. So here is me and then my mom & dad sitting just on the other side

Me standing at the bottom of the stairs to go up to the steering wheel-amazing views from up here!

We also had the opportunity to actually use the sails, which again I have NEVER done. This trip has been a lot of firsts for me.

Thanks mom and dad for a great vacation and adventure we loved it!!!

Our new addition....

Meet the newest member of our family.....Indy

our 6 week old yellow lab

and he has already been loved beyond measure!!

Jake and Bailee quite excited about a puppy. Bailee has been asking for one for quite some time, but I just wasn't sure about another dog. But I am a softy when it comes to puppies and lets be honest babies and since I can't have anymore of the last I guess we will settle for a puppy!

Kenadee can't get enough of just petting him

INDY

already as much a part of the family of Buster (our 11 year old yellow lab)

We love you Indy and are glad you are a part of our family!!

My BUG is 10!!!!

Well my little girl is not so little anymore-she is officially 10 years old today. Where oh where have the years gone??? And am I really that old to have a ten year old?!? Sometimes I think-ya and other times I think-I am not old enough to be the adult, but we don't tell her that part. Well my goal is instead of trying to catch up from everything that I have missed, I am just going to try and post when an event happens (and with my new computer it is sooooo much better, and easier) but anyway on to the CELEBRATIONS!!!

Bailee decided that for her friend party that she wanted to go to BUILD A BEAR WORKSHOP which we have never been to so I said alright. So because school was out Monday we decided that would be a great time to go. She got to invite only 6 friends plus her sister. Which in my opinion was the perfect number of girls. So here we are getting ready to stuff our animals, I gave them a price limit and then the girls could choose where they wanted to spend their money!

Bailee chose a bunny, we ranged from bears to bunnies & dogs.

Showing off her stuffed bunny!!

Running low on stuffing so we got to fill the machine!! That was pretty cool :-)

Getting ready to catch our hearts and give them some love. Got to kiss the heart and put them inside our animals!!

Each choosing a plaid heart, solid red heart or a heart that said "I love you"

Once it's stuffed and heart inside then you seal up the back and get to "wash and fluff" before picking out an outfit

Bailee picked out an outfit, a little wig and a cell phone for her bunny

Left to right: Mindy, Kaitlyn, Emma, Jocelyn, Hailey, Kenadee & Bailee

our group & what a great group of girls!!

Bailee's finished bunny in her cute little outfit!

Then after Build a Bear we headed back to our house to open presents, I am only posting one of the presents but she got some great stuff!

Singing and getting ready to chow down on cupcake and cake!!

The girls all had a cupcake and Bailee got the cake in the middle, then after she had a few bites she let the other girls help her devour the cake

Before:

After!

Morning of her BIRTHDAY-today!! That's why her hair isn't done, rule have clothes on ready for school before breakfast. Bailee had her whole day's menu picked out: breakfast-french toast, lunch: Subway (today at school was the birthday table, so I joined her for lunch) & dinner: hamburgers with cheesecake for dessert.

I made her wait to open presents until after dinner when her dad was home. So here she is before:

Halfway thru-capris and two shirts

A remote control helicopter, she has been asking for a puppy for her birthday so this is what she got instead. She has wanted one since Curtis got one for his birthday while we were in Hawaii-so she at least got something that she wanted!

Singing and blowing out candles before getting to enjoy the not so great looking-falling apart cheesecake. I have serious problems with making cheesecake, it just doesn't work for me, but it still tasted great!! So that is the birthday celebrations-Happy Birthday Bailee bug we love you very much and are so happy that you are a part of our family!!! LOVE YA