Island Fever

Isn't it terrible? I've been home only one day now, and I'm dying to go back to Hawaii! It was seriously, hands down, the best vacation we've been on! I'm in vacation mode, and Bryanna is too. She was fighting to get into her swimsuit this morning, and I almost let her wear it for hawaii's sake!

The trip helped me slow down and finally pick up a book. I love to read, but with the rush of the holidays and parties, I found it really difficult to just sit back and read. Well, there was no problem doing that on this trip! Mark read the first THREE books of the Twilight series while "chillaxin" on the beach! Honestly, it was so funny, because he NEVER reads, with the exception of church literature and the scriptures. My dad also picked up Twilight and is on the third book now...isn't it crazy what a vacation does to your attitude?

We are all planning the next trip, whether it be Hawaii or a cruise...I'm in!! Now only if it weren't so darn cold here!

Well, our last day has finally come. I keep telling everyone that the worst part about this trip, is ending it! The ocean was amazingly warm, the sky and sunsets have been breathtaking, and the company...super fun! We are already planning on coming back, soon!

We went to sacrament meeting yesterday and some who stood and bore their testimony were visitors from either canada or the mainland. It was packed and neat to see church run the same all over the world.

I hate to put on my warm clothes for the trip home...it just doesn't feel right, putting on long sleeves, socks on my feet and a jacket wrapped around my waist while in paradise!

I will miss this place, and have been so grateful to have traveled here! What a fabulous and most memorable trip this has been!

Maui swap meet

We headed over to the Maui Swap Meet this morning, and it was full of unique and 'exotic' fruit and vegis! You think you've seen it all...especially having served a mission in Japan, but no...there is some crazy stuff that grows in the tropics! the raw suger cane was pretty neat, along with all the other rough looking stuff!





Mom and dad working the booths! :)

Jamie eating raw coconut...her favorite!

all the cousins finding a toy!

There were some beautiful flower arrangements...wished I could take them home with me every other week to put on my kitchen island.

Tennis time

There is a pro shop and lots of tennis courts here at our resort, which makes even more fun in Maui! We ran into one of our friends from vegas who plays in the leagues back home and we all took a lesson together, it was fun...but humid! The hot tub was right by the courts, so we took a dip after some playing!

Beach Days

We have spent every day on the beach, and it has been a highlight of this trip. I love the beaches here even more than California's beaches. The sand is finer, the waves are small where we are, which is perfect for Bryanna, she gets in with Mark, me or her cousins and we sway with the tide, its is HEAVEN! We spend a few hours in the ocean at a time because the temperature and tide is just right.




Mark digging in the sand with Bryanna

The sky was a mixture of volcano ash and cloud coverage...is was amazing!








The Tuitama family came to the islands with us. They have been a long time family friend, and they are so FUN! Shawna and Foi actually met at BYU HI, so they love coming back time and again. This is the first time they came with their kids though, it just happened to work out that way!

Jamie and Tyler, have become great friends on this trip!

We have been loving it so much here, I have a feeling this might turn into a tradition! It has been an amazing vacation. We still have a few more days left to enjoy all the beauty here! Mark went golfing yesterday and it was ocean views 270 degrees!

Shopping at Whaler's Village

With the view as breathtaking as anything, shopping by volcanoes on one side and the ocean on the other...made for a great time! We had fun trying on and getting some new swim suits and some authentic hand made skirts. Bryanna was my little side kick through it all and she even got some fun new suits as well!

MAUI baby!

We ate at Tomatoes, a fine Italian resturaunt. It was really fun and delicious! Our hotel is right on the beach and we have a spectaucular view of the ocean from our room.

I admit, I like Maui better than Oahu. Oahu is a little more run down and you can see the poverty loud and clear there. Maui was made for tourism!! But the difference in the economy on the islands is very visible.

Waikiki & Aloha Stadium

We spent one evening in Waikiki with friends, the Palacios, who live in my parent's ward. it was lots of fun, and the water was REALLY warm!

The next day we shopped at the Aloha Stadium, which is ALWAYS fun, I love the great deals they have their! It would rain, I mean POUR for a few minutes, and then sprinkle. The rain was SO moody! but it was still fun to have it rain on us b/c it never rains in vegas and it was still warm!

We flew over to Maui that evening, where we are now and will be the rest of the trip.

Laei Temple

We had a convertible while in Oahu, it was fun driving with the top down, but it rained TONS that day, so it didn't last long. That night, there was a power outage throughout the entire island! Right as we sat down to eat dinner at Dukes, the lights went out. So we got free dinner...salad bar! The power came on early the next morning, we had to drive home with no traffic lights, and it was surprisingly orderly!

We went and did initiatories at the Laei Temple. It's closing for 18 months for renovations, everyone was sad that it was closing. It is the fifth oldest temple, and it desparately needs updating, especially a new roof b/c there are so many leaks in it and it doesn't help that it rains every day there.