I've got Hawaii on the brain and heart

I don't know if anyone has watched the news, but Hawaii has Tsunami warnings right now from the quake that hit Chile (please keep all of the people of Chile in your prayers right now - wow, can't even imagine!).  They are a little close to my heart right now since 2 weeks ago were were spending our last day there.  I remember walking around a corner of the path on our last day.  We were surrounded by water on 3 sides and while you are standing there in awe, you can't help but think that if something happened, there would be nothing you could do.  You can't drive "inland" because on such a small island, inland isn't very far.  So, to even think that there are warnings of this happening just makes me sad.  Please pray for the people in these areas where there are risks of this happening.  I can't imagine any of the beautiful land being harmed or any of the people living there being in danger!

The beautiful island of Kauai - we were on the East coast of Kapaa.  Also, just a note.  Most of the flights out of this island don't go out until evening.  The warnings are for around 11am their time (around 4 EST).

Just some pictures of the cool sites we saw....

Spouting horn - this was more like it!  The picture I got of it didn't do it justice!

the canyon - great angle here!

and the falls Randy tried to kill himself on.  :) 

Praying for a settle in this crazy weather.

Havin' some fun

Yay!  Mimi came for a visit last Friday.  I think she was missing her babies!  And they sure missed her!  Kaid was SO surprised when mommy came to pick her up at preschool and MIMI was there!  How exciting!

Bubble fun

This picture is SO FUNNY!  I snapped that at the perfect time!

I wish this wasn't so blurry - what a great picture it would have been!

Later that night after Mimi had left, Kaid got in trouble for pushing Kason and had to take a time-out.  Kaid usually takes her in her room on her bed, so Kason isn't used to seeing her in "his spot" (yep, he's been sitting there quite a bit lately... little stinker).  So, he went over and took a time out with her.  It was even funnier when he had his head turned into the door also.  He is such a ham.

Sweet time before bed.  LOVE this picture!

PS - Spring we miss you!

Jumping for joy!

One day last week when we just couldn't take being trapped in the house anymore we headed to a jump house.  It's brand new so we had never been there before.  The kids had a ball, got some great energy out, and had some fun with friends!  There were 6 big jumpers they could play on.

Kason was being a chicken and didn't want to go up the ladder, but after a while decided he would be his normal dare devil self, until he got hungry then he was stuck on momma. (take note the car in his hand... yep, he found the one and only car lying around and it was HIS)

Kaid LOVED it.  She was full speed the entire time we were there!

Kaid trying to help Kason in the big one.  Poor guy wanted to go up the rock wall so bad, but it was too steep and just couldn't do it!

Kaid and her bud Brandon.

Little man Ayden.  It's so great getting together with them.  Kaid and Brandon play WONDERFUL together and Kason and the twins have a fun time too.

Heading down the slide again.  Even Dylan was getting into it!

Hi Kaid!

Trying so hard!

This was the biggest rock wall.  The big kids could do it, no problem... but check out Ayden.  He was so determined!  Poor guy didn't make it any further!

What a great way to get out of the house and burn some energy - the kids NEEDED it. 

Please Spring, come quickly!

NOT Snow much fun

I'm so greatful that we got out of this place when we did!  I'm so tired of this snow and we were gone in paradise for a week.  Before the past couple days of snow the count was 25.8 inches of snow.  Yep, a winter like this makes us want to move far far away! 

Our fence is a 3 foot fence (ours is the natural colored one far to the right.)  and only about a foot of it was showing.  Yuck

So, since I was not about to take the kids out in this (I would have LOST them) I brought the snow to them.  Kaid liked the first few bites, then decided she would like it better after it melted.  LOL  I totally agree.

Kason wasn't sure what to do with it, so just sat there with a confused look on his face.

Randy attempting to dig us out.  It was a mess! 

Our neighbors mailbox

So, for those of you in "warm" areas... yes, you may not be having the best weather right now, but just be glad you aren't digging, driving, walking in all of this. 

Last week we started having a big warm up and melted alot of it.  But, I don't know which would be worse, getting more snow now when the old hasn't melted, or if it had melted then a day later we got more. 

Think warm thoughts.  I know I am.

Our last day #7

We had to check out of our condo at 10am the last day, but the earliest flight we could get out was at 11:20pm!  So, we had a long day to burn with no place to go!

We rented bikes and went for the 7 mile path.  I can't even describe the beauty!  It was amazing to walk around a curve and be surrounded by water EVERYWHERE!  Just amazing.  We made a few stops along the trail to enjoy the view.

At the area that the trail ended there was a path to a large area that of course overlooked the ocean.

Kaid had a pocket full of flowers after our stop.

Randy enjoying the beautiful view.

There was an older couple that came shortly after us and offered to take our picture.  The said they were admireing our family from afar because they also had a girl and a boy who were now grown.  They loved watching the kids play.

Our rides for the day.  We were not sure how or when Kason was going to get his nap, and were really hoping he would sleep in the carrier - which luckily he did for about an hour and a half!  It was a lifesaver later on in the night at the airport!

After the bike ride we went back to the condo. They had a room there for people to use who had late flights - which since planes usually only fly out at night there were many!  We got cleaned up then went for an early dinner then to get icecream again.  Yummm..  There was a little waterfall area at the strip that we went and enjoyed.

The last couple of hours we spent back at the condo walking around and watching TV in the room.  I had saved some of our left over bread so we could go feed the fish outside the room.

There were TONS of them and some were HUGE!  They could have nibbled Kason's toes off!  They had a blast!

Mommy and sis took a walk through the condo's garden.

We had an amazing time and feel so blessed that we were able to take a trip like this!  Whereas we all had fun, the next trip we plan to Hawaii will not include the kids!  :)  We would love to do the things like hiking and helicopter trips and boat trips that we wern't able to do with them.  They did really good the entire time, but as every parent who has traveled with kids knows... it's very trying at times!  I think Randy and I needed a vacation after we got home!  Thanks for following this much, if you are still reading!  :)  I know it's alot!  Mohalo and Aloha!

Most amazing sites day #6

All ready to go start our day!  Kason has the whole surf thing going on - surfer shirt, shorts and mohawk.  Get that boy a surf board!

Get this shirt off of me!

A road called the "Tree Tunnel"

Our first stop of the day was at Spouting Horn.  There is a small lava shelf that water from the waves is thrust through an opening.  Other than the noise of the water bursting out it also has a whale sound. 

I didn't get a picture of the most impressive one... some of the waves were so strong that it went so high and was so loud.  Very impressive!  See a video on the next post.

There was a Botanical Garden right across the street from the spouting horn so we walked around a little and got a few cute pictures.  This was my fav of the kids.  (yes, believe it or not, I am NOT posting every picture we took.  There are over 360 of them... I'm only picking my favorites.  I know, hard to believe!)

A cool look out of the land.

We then headed to a beach on the west shore of the island, Kekaha Beach Park.  It was about 17 miles of beach and just beautiful!  We started off just ploping Kason on his towel.  He did better this way and would actually sit and play without crying and whining!  Yay!

Hmmm... is he gonna get brave?  Notice one little foot is off the towel...

Oh yeah!  Two feet in the sand!

And he loves it.  Go figure... the day before we leave.  Day #6 he finally realizes it's not so bad after all!

But we couldn't get so lucky that he will like the ocean right?

He LOVES IT!

and look at this brave little man.  Wondering off by himself in that scary nasty sand.  Who woulda thought.

Kaid loved running from the waves

and jumping the waves

Who would have thought that my timid little Kaid and my dare devil Kason would be switching roles and she would be the one leading him.  Nice to see!

He thought the ocean was great stuff!

After the kids had had enough sand sun and water we headed to the canyon.  As you can see on the sign, the elevation was 3400 ft  wow.

Breath-taking.  (no, really... do you remember when I said I HATE heights... yes, literally breathtaking!)

Notice the couple down to the Right of the picture.  We met a couple from HC there on their honeymoon.  When we were walking up to the canyon we saw a mennonite couple and Randy said..."hmm... what are the chances of that!"  Then they asked Randy to take a picture on their phone and he asked where they were from.  The husband knew Randy's family and lives right down the road.  What a small world!

The road to get up and down are not for those who easily get carsick.  By far the windiest road's I've ever seen or been on!

All cleaned up and ready to go out to eat.

my goofy girl