Hawaii Part 2

   On the second day we used a groupon we had bought for an all day tour to the Volcano National Park and different sites around the island. We were supposed to meet our tour guide under a big Banyan tree named Babe Ruth. We never did find that darn tree. Turns out it was in a grove of trees all named after the famous tree that planted them. Neat but hard to drive and read the tiny plaques at the same time.  Honestly we thought it was a bit boring after seeing the lava flow the night before. We traveled around in a tour bus with a bunch of other people. Constant stops all day long with "ok 20 minutes here then come back to the bus."

Standing on an active volcano. Yikes!

Hot Steam vents from the volcano

The day after that we spent half the day at a farmer's market. That was a lot more fun. So much exotic foods we hadn't tasted before and so many local vendors selling their handmade goods. 

That afternoon we went to the botanical gardens to use another online deal we bought and rode Segways. that was a riot. And the plants and waterfalls we saw there, so exotic! We visited Akaka Falls on our way back to our house. So glad we did!

Big Island for the Big 40!

Just got back from Hawaii! My high school friend, her sister and I went to Hawaii to celebrate our turning 40 this year. We had so much fun and I took a million pictures. I'll probably make a couple posts about it so I don't load down one post with all those pictures.
   We stayed at the Bali House near Hilo on the Big Island. totally off the grid, 7 out of  10 houses there run off of generators or solar and use rainwater for their water. Hilo is the rainiest city in the US and it is lush jungle and rain forest. Oddly enough, Kona on the other side of the island is desert and never gets any rain. The big Volcano in the middle of the island blocks the clouds from making it to the other side of the island.
  On the first day, we walked the beaches across from our cottage and at night we hired a guide to walk to the active lava flow where it hits the ocean. we walked for 2 or 3 miles across lava flow that had occurred just in the last year. Was not an easy walk. it was very jagged and full of cracks, but the view was totally worth it. We watched the lava flow for over an hour well into the night and then hiked back the 2 or 3 miles in the dark. It was even harder hiking all that in the dark! We were in a group of about 8 people and we walked single file putting our feet right where the person in front of us took a  step. What an adventure and what an amazing site to watch. It's the only place in the world to see active lava reaching the ocean.

This is lava that we walked and walked and walked across. this part was pretty tame, but the setting sun made it blinding to walk on.

our first view of the lava

just a little scary. At one point we walked on some pretty warm ground near the lava flow.

just beautiful at night!

Happy Birthday Amy!

Happy Gotcha day

"You may not have my eyes,

or my smile,

but from that very first moment 

you had my heart."

A year ago today,  Jack became ours. 

 Happy family day Jack!

Jack's Birthday!

Oh how I remember last year wanting to be there for his birthday. We traveled to get him a month after his his birthday. What a joy to celebrate his birthday with him this year. He's been watching everyone else celebrate their birthdays this year and kept asking if he would get one too.
  As always Jack was full of smiles, he decorated his own cake and relished opening his gifts. All his sisters drew pictures and made crafts for him. Happy Birthday sweet Jack, you are a blessing to our family!