Catch up on Reno trip last Nov

Thing 1 raced with Papa while Thing 2 and I followed behind. I'll be honest I am such a chicken, it was hard to go really fast around the corners. I'd like to say it was because Thing 2 was in the car with me or that I just found out I was expecting, but those two factors didn't change anything.


Our visit to the windy beach.

At the pond behind the Children's Exploratorium. The girls loved it there, we could have easily spent all day there and not experienced everything there is to offer.


Last October and November we went to Reno for the weekend. While we were there we did a little go kart riding, which the girls LOVED!! We also went to San Francisco for a day with my mom. We went to the beach by seal rock and also to the Children's Museum something or other. It was so much fun for the kids.

Lyon Arboretum

B in front of the water fall. I was nervous to hike on the wet rocks, my balance off with the pregnancy for sure.

B and I went to Lyon arboretum one of the days on the island. I was so disappointed that I forgot to charge the camera, knowing that the battery was low after the PCC. Argh, it was rough. The arboretum was our favorite part, seriously it was the best of our ENTIRE trip. We took a hike up to their falls. We were hoping with all the rain that it would be really big, it wasn't. Still the hike up was stunning. I saw flowers that looked like they came from this made up world full of imagination but completely real. On the way down we saw a few wild cockatoos. One of them followed us and even tried to drop a nut on our heads. It was hilarious, no kidding. That bird really did watch us until we left. (I was a little nervous that it would actually swoop down on us, glad it didn't)

The Polynesian Culture Center

B and I getting ready to go into the luau and below is the removal of the delicious pig from the pit. mmm, it was tasty.

Some random replica of a house made all of bricks.
B being like a statue from Easter Islands.

In Samoa they call it the happiest island on earth, the reason why is because the MEN DO ALL THE COOKING and all the hard stuff. I have to agree I know I am super happy when B cooks so I see why it would be the happiest island. While the food was all interesting, I love my own food. It was good to hear B say that my cooking is some of his favorite...maybe he was just trying to get me to cook more often. hehehe.

In Samoa they demonstrated climbing a tree, opened up a coconut, it was awesome watching him open that thing up. Samoa was incredibly entertaining to watch. They were stinking hilarious!!

B participated in the New Zealand ceremony for welcoming visitors. He was such a good sport. I asked him to go and he went.
Me trying to stay on my feet while doing the hula.

B doing his manly hula dance. They were so hard to do and not fall over.
The canoe is from New Zealand, in the canoe you can whisper in one end and hear it in the other. The canoe is made from the same tree, is really long and it is pretty cool.

Visiting the PCC was the one thing I really wanted to do, besides getting some sun that is. We started on the canoe tour and then we went to visit the different villages. We had a blast attempting the hula dance and enjoying different foods from villages, the luau, followed by the main show Ha Breath of Life. It was a blast!

The LDS temple on Hawaii

So after the Byodo-In temple and before the PCC we went to see the temple and it's visitor's center. I loved being there. It has such a peaceful feeling to it. The white temple is just beautiful against the green background of HI. Lovely, just lovely.

Byodo-In temple

It was raining the day we went and the river was so fast!! There were several waterfalls in the mountains behind the temple. I just couldn't get a good picture due to the fog. It made me think of what Japan looks like.

Below is a gong that you are to ring before going into the temple to bring you good luck.

B and I went to see the Byodo-In temple on our way to the PCC. It is a replica of a Buddhist temple in Japan and it is located in the perfect spot for it. I know I keep saying how beautiful HI is but, really it is so beautiful.

North Shore

Seriously!!! Hawaii is incredibly beautiful! We went up to the North shore to check out the waves and the view. If we weren't so burned we would have gone swimming, but we still enjoyed the view.

Dole Plantation

Look at how little the pineapple is!!
B enjoying the audio tour for the garden.

Old school harvesting equipment for the pineapple.

B and I went to Hawaii for a week. It was heavenly!!! We flew in on Sat night and came home the next Sunday. The first Sunday we relaxed and enjoyed being in warm weather. Monday we went to Hanauma Bay and got a bit burned while snorkeling, but loved seeing all the fish and it is so beautiful. I didn't take the camera with us because I feared we'd lose it. SO the first day I had the camera with me was Tues. when we went to the Dole Plantation. We went through the maze and I was totally exhausted but we had fun getting "lost." I LOVED the fresh pineapple there as well. It was so good to find perfect fruit. I have been craving fruit for the last few months and it was great to finally get some that tasted the way I want it.

Jimmermania

B and I with his little sister Linds and our sister-in-law, Jana. Mike, B's brother is the one taking the picture.

B's sister got tickets to go to a BYU game. While it was literally the worst game of the year, we had a blast!!! It is always nice to spend time with B without any of our little cuties hanging around. Plus, it was super fun to see Jimmer in action. I should have taken a picture of the court but was too busy yelling at our team to get it together. Our neighbor happened to be at the game with two of his boys. Since we were losing horribly they left short of the game, I couldn't help but heckle them for being fair weather fans as they left early. You should have seen the looks on people's faces around me,not knowing we are friends. Still makes me chuckle. Don't worry I shouted out to tell his wife hi and I would see them in a few days, hopefully people figured out we know each other. If not then they still think I am the biggest jerk ever, to be honest that makes me laugh too.