Easter 2012

 Dying Easter eggs...since we had been gone all Spring Break to Hawaii and these three kids had barking coughs, we spent Easter Sunday at home.  We watched some Conference, dyed Easter eggs and had a egg hunt. 

 Mariah in her dress from Hawaii...she wasn't sick so she and Patrick went to church.  We had a egg hunt before going to church. 

Mikayla and Tristan surveying their Easter treats.

Hogle Zoo X 2

We went to the zoo twice in a week. Patrick and I took the younger kids to visit our friends the Bates. We knew them from the time we lived in Virginia. And then the next trip was a kindergarten field trip with Tristan.

And then it was time to go home...

 On our last day before we flew home that night we just went swimming at our resort and packed.  Tristan found some kids to play rings with.  He would throw them in the water and then the little kids would retrieve them out of the kiddy pool.  It was so cute. 

 Patrick enjoying the hot tub

Mikayla swimming and coughing...poor kid was such a good sport being sick.

And then it was time to go home on our red eye flight...we are eating dinner at the airport prior to getting on our flight.  The kids did not like the fact that we had to sleep on the plane.  It was a long night of travel to Las Vegas.  Luckily we got to stop in St George to stay with Pat's sister for a night to get a full nights sleep before driving home on the next day.  On our way home we stopped at Cove Fort.  It was so nice to see some friends of my parents on their mission there, the Atwoods.  I forgot to take pictures, opps we were a little tired!
 Yeah we made it to Las Vegas!!

The North Coast ~ Kauai Hawaii Day 7

 Our first stop on the North Coast was at a Dry sea cave. 

 Inside the cave, Tristan took the pic...not bad for a 6 yr old. 

 After the cave we went to Ke'e Beach, the farthest part of the Island you can drive to before the Na Pali coast starts.  The kids snorkeled and played on the beach. 

 Mikayla and Dillan both snorkled for only a few minutes and then sat on the beach since they were both sick...they got these horrible coughs and didn't feel to good.

 Kayla playing on the roots of a tree on the beach after her Tylenol kicked in she felt a lot better. 



Tristan just played and played on the beach and would try and convince us to give him rides on the buggy board.  He only wanted to go in the water on the buggy board since he was scared of the "sharks" in the water.  Patrick finally convinced him to put on a snorkel mask while he was on the board to see the fish below. 

 Patrick snorkeling...after the beach fun we went on a hike that starts on Ke'e Beach.  It is a 11 mile hike you can take along the Na Pali coast if you want to hike that far.  We went about a 1/2 mile and we turned back since the trail looked like this....

 Mariah along the hike....

 Overlook of Ke'e Beach on hike....

 After our hike we were getting ready to go and you guessed it more chickens to chase and catch!

My new dress I got in Hawaii...

Kayaking the Wailua River ~ Kauai Hawaii Day 6

We rented kayaks and went up the Wailua River.  We split up boys in one kayak and the girls in the other.

Wailua River is a long, slowly meadering river that starts at the Wai'ale'ale Crater and is fed by several tributaries on the way to the ocean. This is the only navigable river in all of Hawaii. Several forks in the river lead to waterfalls and can be easily explored by kayak.  We hiked into the Secret Falls...it was quite a slippery hike over lots of roots and logs in the jungle. 

We finally made it and the kids loved playing in the water.  The Secret Falls below.

We found a rope swing and all tried it but me and Tristan.  Tristan wanted to but he can't swim yet so I wouldn't let him. 

On our way out from the Falls we got lost and found others kayaks...luckily just over the hill were our kayaks.  After leaving the Secret Falls we kayaked to the Fern Grotto...the Fern Grotto is a geological wonder of Kauai covered in ferns which grow upside down from the roof of the grotto and was formed millions of years ago.

The Gates at Fern Grotto...there were so many amazing tropical plants here. 

A banana tree...reminded me of the banana tree in our yard when we lived in Turkey. 

Melissa at Fern Grotto!

After our kayaking we got out and let the kids feed the chickens and peacocks....Mariah was determined to catch one.  And she did!  Crazy kid.