Hawaii: Day 9 and Dan's Birthday

I have finally found the time to post pictures of our final day in Hawaii...which also happend to be Dan's 40th birthday! We didn't fly out until 6 pm...so we had plenty of time for some fun! First we jumped in our pool... And then we headed next door to the Fairmont Orchid for breakfast.

The birthday boy...

A view from the breakfast terrace...

After breakfast, we jumped in our car and headed North to some towns we hadn't gone to before. It was just beautiful!!

Later on, we had lunch at a restraunt we had been trying to find all week! We were told it had authentic Hawaiian food... It was fantastic!

Best friends... I sure love my man!

When we got back around 1:30 we decided we had enough time to pack AND catch a last few rays of sunshine. (With the weather here at home today...I sure am glad we did that!!!)

Here is a sign we had been passing all week. It's not often that you find a "donkey crossing" sign. I don't know why I thought this was so funny...

I love airports in tropical locations... the "outdoor" kind... it just makes you feel like your vacation can last a few moments longer!

Our Hawaiian Air ride from The Big Island to Oahu...

This one is at Oahu International... waiting for our 9pm flight home. We were already tired...and we bought Unisom thinking it would help us sleep on the flight home. (This was 1 am Utah time) We thought that because neither of us had ever used a sleeping pill that maybe it would work... we thought wrong. There isn't a pill that can help you sleep in the "regular" seats on an airplane. Unless you are under 10 years old and are small enough to curl up in your chair. We tried to upgrade to first class... but they only had one seat left! Blasted!!!!!

UTAH!!!!! This is at 7:30 am when we landed in Salt Lake. We are on the shuttle to Diamond Parking. (It felt like 3:30 am to us!!!!) Poor Dan! The only reason we did this is because he really didn't feel like he could miss 2 Sunday's in a row. (What a responsible Bishop!!!) 2 hours later...after the ride home... a little time with the girls... and a quick shower... he was at the church for meetings...

And this is what we came home to! Our beautiful girls had decorated and made cards and posters for Dan's birthday!

What an amazing trip... so many wonderful memories! We had a great anniversary... who wouldn't?! We sure missed our girls though! No more BIG vacations without them!!! Thanks mom and dad for taking such great care of my girls... and thank you girls for taking such great care of each other!!!! Life is good... and I hope my tan won't fade to quickly!

Hawaii: Day 8

We started the day off with a dip in the pool... As we headed out the door at about 9 am we found this bird in our courtyard...

Who says you can't eat ice cream for breakfast? You can on vacation in Hawaii! (Courtney this one is for you! )

Our next stop... a couples massage at the Mauna Lani Spa. It was the BEST massage I have ever had. Dan really enjoyed his as well...and the therapist was careful because of his sunburn... but I can't tell you how many times they told me to keep him out of the sun! It was really funny!

The outside of the spa... The entire place was gorgeous!!!

Then we had a little lunch. We finally found a place with Kaluha Pig! The food court at another resort! How funny is that?! If you are craving kaluha pig go to "Mo Betta Steak" in Salt Lake.

Now for a vocabulary lesson... I bet you think these are sunglasses?... Wrong! In Hawaii, these are called "sunny's"...

And I bet you thought these were flip-flops?... wrong again! These are called "slippas". We feel like locals now that we know the correct lingo!

After lunch we took a little break back at our house and then headed to a beach just around the corner. At first you take a path through lava rock...but this is where you end up. These are "ancient fresh water fishing ponds"... built by the Hawaiians to raise fish in... but you can't fish in them.

And here in the little cove on the beach... We were the ONLY ones there. How awesome is that? A beach in Hawaii all to our selves!

You can't tell, but Dan is snorkeling with a sea turtle...

Chillaxin in the SHADE... he wore a shirt and tons of sunscreen. It made a huge difference!

Guess what this is? I know you have heard of the "burning bush"...but have you ever heard of "driving bush"? There is a truck under this pile... and it is going 40 miles per hour!

Tonight we headed to a Manta Ray Night Snorkel & Dive Adventure... I couldn't get any great pictures so this is their ad in a local magazine...

This is the boat... sorry it is so dark... but I forgot to take one before we left the dock... and it was dark when we got back.

I wasn't sure if I would go out or not... even got a wet suit on and everything... but started feeling sea sick. The water was pretty rough tonight. Dan went out with the group and they had to hang on to a "floating platform" made of pvc and water noodles... Then a diver turned on bright lights under water shining up and on the platform shining down. The bright lights attract a ton of plankton and the manta rays come in to feed on them. You have to lay still on the surface and float... and don't touch them... if you freak out or touch them, the manta rays will take off. I am soooooooooo glad I didn't go out... just watching the group from the boat made me totally sea sick. When Dan came back in he told me he was really glad I didn't go out because the plankton floating would have made me puke. I wouldn't even hold hands with him until he took a shower!!! He said it was really cool to have the manta rays swim up that close to him. The wing span was 12-14 feet on the ones that came in tonight. Wow! What a great day... now time to sleep! Another wonderful day in paradise!

Hawaii: Day 7

Today we started out early and headed to the other side of the island. We really enjoyed this drive...it was so green and beautiful! Our first stop was the Waipio Valley... A shot of Dan at the overlook...

This valley is one of the only places that is virtually left untouched. You can't see it in the picture, but on that mountain hill in the distance there is a zigzag trail that warriors used to run up and down to increase their strength...

Just beautiful! What a view...

A shot of our adorable selves... we are getting pretty good at taking our own picture...

Next stop was the town of Honokaa and "Tex's" for a famous Malasada's. (Portuguese Donut)

They were really good...

This place was crazy busy... mostly locals...so you know it's good!

Before I forget... this is my anniversary gift from Dan. When he gave it to me...he told me "All I want is more of your time..." How sweet is that. How about "For TIME and all ETERNITY"...

Next stop... Akaka Falls. This was a fun little hike.

Why does Dan look like this?....

Because his legs look like this!... They match the hot pink in his shorts! Ouch!!! A little too much sun yesterday!

The falls... this is the largest waterfall in Hawaii....

Next stop... Hilo. This is a bridge and waterfall on our way into the city...

Why do I look like this?....

Because I am about to get into THIS!!!!!...

About to leave on a ride over Volcano National Park...

I am deathly afraid of heights... so this was a HUGE deal for me! A look at Hilo...

Rainbow Falls...

A look at the crater in the distance...

Getting closer...

Closer...

Right above it...

I was a little nervous at the moment. We were in the front seats with the pilot...

Lava bursting up in the crater...

A look at the coastline. Most of the current activity in the volcano is coming out underwater right into the ocean...

A look at the macadamia nut fields...

Dan had to get a shot of the scrap yard we flew over...

After we landed and were back safely on the ground...

On our way back "home" we stopped at Laupahoehoe...

This has been one of our favorite places. Absolutely beautiful!

When we got down to the beach we couldn't believe how violently the waves were hitting all of these black jagged rocks. It was amazing!

A shot of us with the rocks behind us...

Look at that power!

We thought we would be out late tonight, but we were able to stop and have a nice dinner and come home and watch a movie... what a great day! Only two days left and we are headed home to our girls! Hugs and Kisses!