HAWAII..Happy birthday and 15th anniversay!

We celebrated us BIG this year. We are surrounded by incredible friends and family who have built strong marriages and it is so refreshing to have others mentor us along our journey. Along the way several have really told us how important it is to have a life outside our kids. "Don't build your marriage on the kids, because after they leave you will crumble." We took this to heart with booking this vacation. We booked it without including our kids, who thought this was incredibly cruel. We had lots of talks about how mommy and daddy need this trip to make us better parents and better partners. The kids eventually came around and we sure were glad! HA! I would be remiss to not include our "Hawaii story." When we looked into Hawaii we never dreamed we could go based on cost. It is SUPER expensive to go to Hawaii and it just wasn't in the budget. We were sad but decided we would look elsewhere. I got a call from a therapy company that same week to complete a short term, job (two weeks in a town about 2 hours away) usually I immediately turn down things like this. I did I turned it down and then called Walker to tell him about the offer--we usually laugh it off and say when they throw money at you there is a reason. This time Walker added the bonus and what they were going to pay me and would you believe it was exactly the cost of our Hawaii trip we had just looked into. Walker assured me he was still ok with me not taking the job but we both considered it a HUGE blessing from God that it literally fell in my lap after looking into Hawaii. Long story short I worked those two weeks and booked the Hawaii vacation!
I can't go on without thanking my dear momma for taking care of our babies. She did it so well and literally finished out the school year with the kids, attended piano recitals and awards ceremonies and even got our house ready for a showing while we were gone. She was SUPERWOMEN. Shelley and Steve rescued her the last couple of days and took the kids camping. The kids did amazing without us but sure were glad to see us when we got back.
So...here is our journey so I never forget it...
Day one, Thursday, we arrived ready to see the sights of the beautiful island. We were a bit tired but we fought the sleepiness and explored the beach nearest to us and enjoyed some yummy food.

Our jeep rental, totally Walker's request! 

Day 2, Friday,  we tackled KOKO head. It was brutal and seriously one tough workout for this workout junkie. I LOVED it! Walker tolerated it, but wouldn't say loved it! HA! He had me leave him about 500 steps in so I could catch the sunrise and him coming up the path. Look at that scenery and that man!! HA! 

Before the torture!!


 
 

Once he joined me we got a couple pictures together but unfortunately, the weather got foggy and rainy so the pictures were not near as clear.




We are DONE!!!


After climbing 1100 steps on railroad tracks up and down the island we decided it was time to eat!! It was so yummy, or was it just because we were famished from our vicious workout?

After breakfast, we went to a national park called Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.





We snorkeled and enjoyed the beauty of this beach for hours! We even saw a seal!

Day 3, Saturday, we headed to the north shore but on the way, we stopped at the Dole plantation. We rode a train through the fields where they grow all the fruit and such and then had a dole whip.

Day 4, Sunday, we completed the Lighthouse trail, saw Sandy's beach (home of HUGE waves), the Blowhole, found a scenic point where we captured amazing photos and relaxed on

one of the most beautiful beaches EVER. The Sand felt like carpet, it was AMAZING! 

Day 5, Monday we drove the entire island and stopped wherever our hearts desired! IT was breathtaking!! 

Monday night we got to attend a luau, thanks to Lauren!!! It was AMAZING! SO entertaining and such a fun experience! They greeted us with a beverage, made me a beautiful bracelet, and headband, put on a show explaining how to do the hula and climb and coconut tree. Then we were given amazing food and taken on a journey via dancing. Emerson would have loved it! They even had all the married couples dance, the highlight of my night was dancing with my one and only!

Day 6, Tuesday we kayaked to a couple of small islands and really enjoyed the beautiful water and beaches Hawaii has to offer. It was an amazing experience and a grueling one. Kayaking in the ocean is no small feat.

Day 7, Wednesday, We headed to Pearl Harbor. 

After Pearl Harbor and the swap meet (a huge sale of all things Hawaii), we headed to lunch and Diamond Head.  

Thursday we headed home but didn't actually arrive home until Friday. Saying goodbye to Hawaii was not fun, but we knew two smiling faces were waiting for us!!!