Going to Hilo

It took us about 1h1/2 to get to Hilo, give or take photo stops and a grocery shopping stop.

It was a beautiful drive. 

We went from beaches and lava-devastation-type scenery to
lush-green-england-like beauty to wet-tropical-with-lots-of-waterfalls jungle. 

Amazing!

 Greetings from Mr Horse!

By the time we got to hilo, it was dark and rainy-like it is every day there! 

We found ourselves a little restaurant 'Cafe Pesto', it had lots of people inside,

and it also passed the google map reviews.

And yummmmmy! 

We were not disapointed! 

Excellent food!

A Love Affair In Hawaii

As some very observant people might notice, Mike has my Rebel Canon wrapped around his neck.

Well, my poor Rebel was again very neglected during this trip. 

After a few days of being out in the world, it was set aside and left in the car or in our room.

I also brought a broken lens!!! :(  

It does not focus when in zoom mode! :(

Mike got a new phone from work and had it shipped to Hawaii.

It's the Samsung Galaxy s4.

You might remember I am wanting the best phone with an amazing camera...

Well, this is it! :)

Mike's phone, became my camera the whole entire trip!

Every time I used it, I would say:

"I'm so in love with this camera!"

As I post our adventures, you will see that it does some pretty cool stuff!

And the photos are better than any phone I ever had, and I've had quite a few, Mike would say!

But still, there is most likely going to be a better one by the time I can upgrade...

Arriving in Kona

We were delighted to see the blue of the ocean as we flew into Kona.
And the total desolation of where the lava came down the hill all the way to the ocean.

At the tiny-open-air Kona Airport we were greeted by beautiful flowering trees, 

they are everywhere in Hawaii and gorgeous!

After we got our rental car we drove up the coast and stopped at Kekaha Kai State Park to a beach.

The road was very rough! Our 1st experience with Lava rocks!

WE were seriously worried about our car tires!

 At the end, a beach.

Further up the coast we stop at another little beach where a Wedding was in process! 

Finally Big Island Hawaii

After what seemed like forever, we took our last flight to the Big Island.
On a tiny Airplane.

.

We are so Stinking Excited!

Flying Across Country & Lunch With Shirley

 On a new adventure with my Man!

We had planned to see Justine in Hawaii as she finished her 1st year in College.

Unfortunately, she decided to come home early and only do 2 semesters.

So after some excrutiating deliberation, we decided to go without the kids, 

versus having to go through the hassle of trying to rebook this prime location 

(which takes a year to get, and more money spent).

I felt a little guilty leaving the kids this time, 

but then I though about all the great adventures they will go on in their life, 

as they grow and become successful little people!

Not to mention the impossibility of paying for airfare for all of us!

And that Justine is there everyday when in college enjoying Paradise.

So she is home with Emric, Amelie and Chloe.

They also have some pretty awsome activities ths summer...

So here we are, Mike and I, so excited, flying towards Paradise!

Minneapolis airport where every one has free access to an Ipad, 

free Internet and whole food shops for lunch and snacks!

The most techno advanced and comfy airport I've ever been to!

LA where houses upon houses are seen as far as the eye can see...

Obviously this is NOT Rush hour traffic!

 It was a long trip.

We used a companion fare with Delta Mike had earned to get to Los Angelos, 

with a plane change in Minneapolis.
Then from LA to Honolulu we used half our Sky Miles!

While in LA we had the joy of having lunch with aunt Shirley at the airport during our 3 hour lay-over.

She brought us a huge bag of almonds and cranberries we have been snacking on constantly!

She is so sweet and adorable!

We love her to bits!

Enjoying our Quiet Neighborhood

Our traditional Sunday walk. 

We grab the dog, bikes, longboard, razer-scooter and go around our neighborhood.

This was Mother's day!

I love where we live!
I find it so relaxing and peacefull...
Well exept when you encounter some loud, abnoxious family taking a strole...
Yeah, you know who you are!

The Swim Team Breast Stoke Beast

 Swim Team started again at the end of April.

After school practices, Saturday morning meets.

Justine is actually working this year for the pools again.

 She has been assigned to help with our swim team!

Life has gotten a little more busy.

I don't mind, because I love swim team! 

I've been taking the kids to practices and meets for the past 15 years. 

(Minus one year, the year we moved to Texas.)

I love the benefits and what the kids get from it:

* Team spirit. 

* Keeps them busy during the summer vacation.

* Uses up energy.

Well, not so for our 10-year-old-super-energised-girl.

She can go from a 7 hour swim meet; 7:30am till 3pm, 

to playing for an hour at the pool; 5 to 6pm, 

to a ward picnic 6 to 7:30, 

( all In the texas heat)

to a rollerskating party 7:30 till 10pm!

That day just about killed Mike and I!

* Exercise.

* Endurance & hard work.

* Strength.

* Discipline.

* Learning from great coaches.

* Cheering team mates. 

* Seeing us cheer for them, in a loud way!

(not that they hear us when they are in the middle of a race)

*Self Improvement.

Always stretching one self to beat your own time.

* Healthy good old Competition.

* Family time.

This year Amelie surprised us all by being so close to the pool record in Breast stroke at 18.78 

Pool record in her age group 17.44 including the boys 9-10!

This year she beats them all!

It just happened out of the blue in the 1st meet!

So little, yet a B E A S T in breast stroke!

That girl is all muscle!

Emric is pretty good in Breast too.

Here, she is the fast one in lane 3.