Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Our Hawaii Trip - Sorry its long

We went to Hawaii a couple weeks ago and it was so amazing. We left on the 13th and got in around 3:30. MY aunt Debbie and grandma were already there so they picked us up from the airport then we went to out hotel to unload our bags and headed out on the town. We went over to the world market were we shopped and ate dinner. We headed back to the hotel to go to bed. The next morning we had to get up early so we could get ready to go to the temple. Rob and I were going to get sealed today. We got ready and headed to the temple we had to drive to the other side of the island and we went a different way so we were like an hour late. This temple isn't busy so it was ok. The sealing was so special. I am so thankful that we were able to do that in Hawaii with all the people that I love. It meant so much to me to see my family there. We were sad that Robs dad and my aunt Jaime were not able to be there with us. After the sealing we took picture on the temple ground. I got a really pretty dress I found one for such a good deal that I decided to get it. The pictures turned out really good for it raining a little when we got out but it cleared up when just me and Rob took them.







After we were done with pictures we changed and went to lunch in this little restaurant that was in 51st dates. The food there was so good and our server was was really funny.

After we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. This place is so fun if you haven't been and you are going to Hawaii you should go. They have shows of all the different dancing and you go around to different parts where you learn about Tahiti, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tonga, and a couple other country's. At some of them they had tattoos of what there tribes did. We just keep getting more and more.


We also ate Poi and learned how to throw spears and how to make fish things out of leafs.

We went to go get dinner and came back for the show that night. The show was so good. They did dancing and rituals and really neat stuff with fire. It was really fun.



Saturday We packed up, checked out and headed to our ship. We waited in the long line and were finally on the ship. After we unpacked we had to go to the safety drill. We were just laughing the whole time they had to tell us to be quiet. It was a lot of fun.

All day we just hanged out unpacked and went to dinner. The ship left around 8 and we were off.
Sunday we were in Maui. That morning I went running and Rob took pictures. It is so peaceful to run in the morning on a ship when the sun is coming up. When we docked we got off and rented our van and headed to the beach. We went snorkeling in this cove the waves were not that good but we saw some cool fish. We rinsed off and changed and headed to our luau. The food was ok but the show was good. We got these drinks in a coconut that was shaped like a monkey. It was right on the ocean and we got to watch the sunset.


Monday we went on a bike ride down the volcano. This road is the only road in the world that goes from sea level and up to 10000ft. They took us to about 7500ft.

We went down at our own pace it took about 2 and a half hours. There were a couple hard spots but it was fun. We stopped for some lunch on the way. But we made it. Then we headed to a beach to get some sand and watch wind surfers and kite boarders. Rissa wanted to learn how to so bad it looked like a lot of fun. Then we headed back to the ship.
Tuesday we were in Hilo on the big island. We went and saw the volcano national park we saw the crater and then went to the lava tubes. They are these tunnels that the lava made and now we can walk through them.


There was this other part were you can choose to go down this other tunnel that has an end but it has no light. It was creepy but fun just Rob, Rissa, Debbie and myself went. It had been raining off and on all day so it was kind of cold for Hawaii. We left after that and went to this little place that does blown glass. They weren't doing any but we got to look at there showroom. I got chopstick holders mine is pink and Robs is green. We like them.
Down the road to the macadamia nut factory a tree had fallen down blocking the road and hitting a power line, we had to frive around the trunk. When we got to the factory they were sending workers home and the power was out so we couldnt see how they crush the nuts but we got to go to the shop and buy stuff and sample some things.

Then we went to this rainforest zoo that I found that was free. This was so cool there wasn't anyone there and they had some different animals. The tiger was so pretty he kept walking around watching us.

We headed back to the ship and got ready for dinner. That night everyone went to the Italian restaurant but Rob and I went for sushi. It was so good and no one was there yet so it was nice and quiet. It was all you can eat so we keep ordering roll after roll. We only didnt like one roll. We were so full at the end but we got desert Rob got a fruit plate and I get this ice cream dish, it was 2 little balls of ice cream in this sweet dough with chocolate shavings it was different but good. Our sushi chef was really funny too. We had a good night with just us.

That night we sailed past the lava hitting the ocean we got some pictures but you could mostly see red and smoke but it was really neat to see that.
The next day we were in Kona the other side of the big Island. We got the car and headed to this special green sand beach. We had to drive 40 min on the highway then 3 miles down a really bumpy dirt road that took another 30 min. Then we hit the part where we had to stop and start walking because we didnt have a jeep. We walked another 3 miles. It was long and muggy but it was cloudy so that was good. When we finally got there we stayed for a bit and started back up. We got green sand and black sand on the same beach.

They say that the whole beach will be all black sand. We were so tired when we finally got to the car. On the way back to the ship we stopped at a coffee plantation were we got to see the trees they grow on. We had to hurry to get on the tender in time so we went straight to the dock. We saw the Kona temple on the way this was such a small temple but it was pretty. We dropped the car off and got in line. It was taking forever and there was a little bay that people were swimming laps in so Rissa and I went swimming for a bit. The water felt so soft and cool. We went out a bit and could see the bottom that was about 15 ft. We saw the line going faster so we hurried and got out. We made it back on the ship.

Thursday we were in Kauai we did our only excursion through the ship. We went kayaking up a river. Our tour guide was so funny he just liked to have fun. We started up and he told us about some history about tribes way back when. We kept splashing each other along the way. When we got to our destiny we got out and hiked up a path that was so full and green. Along the way there way a rope swing that we got to go off into this little pool in the river. Only Rissa, another guy, Rob and myself went off. Me and Rissa kept trying flips and stuff. The water was so nice. We kept hiking up the trail then we hit these little water falls. We took some pictures and a couple of us in the group went up to the higher ones. Then we hiked back and took a boat back to where we left. This was our favorite thing we did. The guide made it worth it. Oh and we got to swing off the swing that Indiana Jones did in the lost arch. The rest of the day we looked at shops and walked on the beach. We got to pick an clam for a pearl and I got two purple ones. Lucky, I know. The next day we went to this time share thing that we got 100 dollars and looked at some shops then went back to the boat because it left early that day. It was raining when the boat left so me and Rissa went hot tubbing. Rob went to take some pictures. We stayed in the hot tub for like 2 hours is was fun in the rain watching the ship leave the dock. Later that day we were supposed to see the part of the island where they filmed Jurrasic Park with the huge waterfall but it was raining so it was covered in fog so that was sad we didnt get to see.

The next morning we were back Oahu we got off the ship, got the car and checked into the hotel again. And headed to the flea market. We got alot of stuff there but it was raining the whole time. We got wet. But it was warm. Then we got some food and went back to the hotel to chill. That night we went out to eat at that world market they had a really good mexican place in it. Then we shopped and ate this really good yogurt that had tons of fruit on it. it was yummy. Then we went back to the hotel and went to bed. About 12:30 the fire alarm started going off. We were on the 23rd floor. Around 12:45 we decided we needed to take some things we needed if we couldn't get back to our roon down the stairs when we were about to leave they came on and said everything is ok so the elevators were working again. We went outside to get away from the noise. It didnt stop until 2:00. We were not very happy but its funny now. Sunday was our last day. We had to take grandma and Debbie to the airport around noon. Then we went to pearl harbor stayed there for a couple hours.

Then we headed to the pinapple farm. This place was so big it had a huge shop and food in the back. Outside you could tour the property, they had this garden with all the different kinds of pinapple, that was cool there are some weird looking ones.

We still had a couple hours until we needed to be at the airport so we went to dinner at Red Robin. Then we dropped off the car and headed to the airport. The flight was ok we slept almost the whole time. The sunrise was so pretty. We had a really good time but were glad to be home 2 weeks is a long time to be away and we missed our puppys. Im so happy I am sealed to Rob for all eternity.



Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Mom's B-day Party

So this last weekend I had a party for my Mom's birthday. All my moms side came except the people that live in Arizona. We had dinner, pie and cake. It was really nice to get the family together. My house was a little small but next year the grass will be grown in and we can do it in the backyard. After dinner we played bingo then mom opened presents. I hope you had a good time mom. I want you to know that I appreciate everything you do. I love ya.










Thursday, October 23, 2008

UEA Weekend



This last weekend we went to Moab so Brian and I could run the other half marathon. My mom was going to run it with me but she hurt her leg and couldn't run. We drove down there Saturday morning and got in around 3 or 4. We had to go to this hotel and check in to get our bag and bib. Then we went to check in to our camp ground, my mom went and checked in and we stayed outside and walked Twix. We saw these signs saying no dogs allowed on grass areas. Then we find out that no dogs are allowed which they failed to mention when we made the reservation. They would not let us stay and luckily they gave us a full refund. So we looked for other camp grounds and none of them allow dogs so we had to go find a site up the canyon, after driving 20 min up we finally found a spot that was not taken. It was right off the highway but we were closer to where we had to be for the run. So I guess you could say we saved money and time.


We set up our tents then went into town and ate dinner at the Moab Brewery. They had yummy food and really good home made root beer that is on the top of Robs list now. Then we walked around the shops and headed back so we could get some sleep. We had to wake up early so Rob could drop off me and Bryan to the bus at 7:00 AM. We got on the bus and it took a half hour to get up to the start. It was so cold but they had fire pits and drinks and free shots. Not alcohol shots the cliff GU shots (they are not the best but they do the job). They had like 20 port a potties and there was a line the whole time up until the start at 8:30. The run was so nice we ran along the green river the first couple mile and the view was so beautiful. I finished in 2.40.39 I am proud of that because I didn't train as much as I should have. After the race we stayed for a bit to see if we would win anything which we didn't, then headed to the campsite and packed up.
We took the long way home so we could stop in Beaver and pick up our new puppy. He is black and a chihuahua like twix. He is only 9 weeks old and really small. Twix doesn't like him much but he is getting a lot better with him. His name is Oreo.


Oreo is a lot of fun. When he is awake he runs alot, bounces, tries to chase Twix and plays with the cat too. He is funny with the cat he tries to give her kisses and will tease her. He will always cuddle.

Dinner for the boys

We went to Benihana for dinner for Rob, Brian and Randy's birthdays. Most of the boys in my life all have birthdays in September: Rob 1st, my dad 3rd, Randy 11Th and Brian is later in the month I forgot what day sorry. Dinner was fun we had to wait a bit but the food was good. Our cook was ok I like going to Tepanyaki better, they put on a better performance. They sang and gave them ice cream with a candle in it. After we went to my house for some yummy ice cream cake that was way better. Hope you guys had a good night.