Hawaii 2013

Yikes! It has been so long since I last updated my blog! I feel so bad that I have not written down so many things about the kids! I am now making it a goal to fill in some of the missing posts.
Chris and I just recently got back from a trip to Maui, Hawaii. Chris qualified for the trip through his work's President's Club. We had a blast and loved everyone we went with. Here are a few pictures.

 

The Team

 (Left)-Awards Dinner. Chris received the Pinnacle Award, which is a pretty big deal! He has worked so hard and is an amazing man. But most of all we feel we have been truly blessed by our Heavenly Father, who is always watching out for us.

 

 Left- Amy and me         Right- Alana and me

This was the welcome dinner. Amy and I did NOT plan this at all! When she came down the circle of people parted and we all just died laughing! I couldn't get over it all night(although I did go back up to change)

 Not a good day to be in the water???
Side note: There had been 2 shark attacks IN Maui in the past week and a half. There was also another that occured while we were there and a tourist lost her arm!That was 2 mintues from where we stayed for the last few days. AND another where a shark just got a board a woman had swam away from. I was terrified to get in the water...for good reason.

On Sunday we went to the LDS church in Hawaii, it was such a good meeting!

 We asked our husbands to keep the top up before church so our hair would stay nice. But after church, we got wind blown!

 Getting ready to zipline!

 Derek, Amy, Brittni, Chris

 Sunset while we were out to dinner and shopping in Lahaina

 We stayed at the Westin in Ka'anapali and it was gorgeous!

 This was the Bike ride down Haleakala. It started out nice and then got super rainy and we were literally riding through the clouds. Rain was just running out of my eyes and all down my face, making it a little more scary since we couldn't see super well We were soaked! We stopped at a little cafe to eat. It was actually really neat and we had a lot of fun!

While we were at breakfast it cleared up enough to see a little farther.










 We also did the famous Road to Hana and had so much fun! It was the most beautiful drive by far that I have ever taken.

 Chings Pond. Some of the guys jumped off of this spot through the narrow opening down to the small area below that was actually deep enough. SO glad Chris didn't. I was begging him not to!

 Spot that waterfall?

                         
                                            Black Sand Beach

 One of the things I liked best was our Kayak/ Snorkel activity. The water was crystal clear and so blue. We got to see some awesome wildlife and the waters were calm. I also didn't have a panic attack about getting attacked by a shark so that was a plus. (Just another side note:Clara kept telling our parents that she didn't want us to get in the water so we didn't get a shark bite. It was Shark Week on the Discovery Channel and we had watched a show or two and it had her worried! The first thing she asked me when I told her what we did that day was "Did you get a shark bite"? Silly girl!)

 I did panic for a second when I saw this turtle had only one arm. I am sure it was a shark.

This picture was funny because I said to do a funny face and they did cute kissy faces. Mine was not quite as cute but it gave us a good laugh!

 Chris making us all laugh as he basked in the waterfall.

                                              Andy, Chris, Derek, and Deboro

                                            Pick up basketball game in the pool.

Okay so this is a little out of order and jumping but I just need to get it on here!
Back to the Road to Hana:

This was the Wiamoku Falls Trail. It takes you on a beautiful trail and an amazing Bamboo Forest. It was SO amazing!

 I tried not to die on this trip.

                                                     The Banyan Tree. It was gigantic!

                                                         Alana, Katie, Brittni

 

 The Bamboo forest

 At the top of the trail is Wiamoku Falls. So majestic and beautiful!

 Seven Sacred Pools

 We rode our bikes around to the beach and shopping in Kihei where we stayed for the days we extended. I can't think of a better place or better people to be with! I can't think of when we have laughed so hard or had so much fun! We also love our family and the kids had a blast while staying with them! We sure missed our kids and were glad to be home but grateful to have had such a great time!