Na pali Coast Rafting Trip (DOLPHINS, TURTLES & SEA SICKNESS!)

Cute dolphin family!

Cave that helicoptor flew threw for James Bond movie. Can't remember which one.

Baby Dolphin!

Mama & Baby!

So, on Brett's Bday, we went on a 17 mile Napali Coast Rafting trip. (Used Na Pali Riders who I would recommend if you were to do this tour. Their photographer, Bill took these pics. Unfortunately we forgot our camera that day so we bought his pic CD.) It was AMAZING! It was on the same rafts the Navy uses and they cost like $300K. Why? I can't imagine, but they have two engines attached to them so it wasn't like river rafting, we were cruising over the waves at fast speeds! We saw lots of wild dolphins! It was so beautiful and breathtaking and magical! Our captain said, when it was time to move on, "Okay guys, slowly come out of your dolphin trance." Dolphin trance is a good way to describe it. These are all spinner dolphins. They are so playful and social creatures. They came to us and were showing off. They had babies 12 to 14 inches long! Cutest thing ever (besides my son of course!) We even saw dolphins mating....not something you see everyday!

I (Nicky) was fine when the boat was moving, but then they kept stopping to point things out to us and tell us stories and we'd rock up and down and it suddenly made me soooooo sea sick....and we went on a bit further and stopped more, and then I wanted to die and I just laid down in the raft wishing I could get dropped off somewhere- anywhere on land that didn't move. After a while we stopped to snorkel and they made me get into the water even though I felt too weak and sick to do so. Something about getting in the water pushed a "RESET" button in my head, and I got back on the boat and was fine the rest of the ride home. They also didn't make stops on the way back home either since they'd already pointed everything out. So, if you go on this, take motion sickness medication 1/2 hr before you leave! If you still get really sick, just have em let you jump in the ocean for a minute and you'll probably feel better.

Anyways, I have literally HUNDREDS of pictures so I kind of randomly selected some but got tired of it, so maybe I'll post more later....Uh, I take that back, I probably won't so enjoy these ones!

Kauai, Hawaii

We went to Kauai, HI for a week to celebrate Brett's 30th Birthday! It was so much fun! We left Weston with Randy & Jamie and I think he had a blast with his cousins! We're so greatful for them that they could watch him because the 12 hrs travel time was barely bearable to us!

In fact, I was throwing up on the overnight plane ride home, suffering motion sickness and lack of sleep. We got home and Brett got sick too, so maybe we also picked up a bug from the plane. It's good to be back with Weston again! He isn't mad at us like I thought he would be, he just doesn't want us to leave his sight.

Lots of pics below: mostly in most recent order

underground oven & the delicious feast it bore!

So, we went to LDS church at the Lihue ward the first day we were in Hawaii and they were SO nice and welcoming! They made yarn leis and gave them to us while singing that 'Aloha Way' song. They also invited us to their ward campout/dinner at Anini Beach which was the night before we were leaving so we went and had dinner and had a blast. They did a talent show and it was such a blast. We met some of the most wonderful people from all over the world. It was really such an awesome, memorable night. Hawaii's diversity is just so cool. There really is no majority- a true melting pot! Mahalo to our ohana away from home who showed us such kindness and love!

My 1st Beach Fire

Brett digging a hold until he reached water- we were really missing Weston.

Me holding the freaky octopus!

Freaky octopus one of the local guys from church caught. He said he made it ink already.

Bird Watching. There were literally hundreds of birds.

Lighthouse

He's so cute.

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY TO BRETT!

I love you for the adventures we've had and the journey to come!

You are the best husband and Father that Weston and I could ask for and

we love you with alllll of our hearts!

Thank You for working so hard for our family and making life such a joy!

You totally deserved this week in Paradise because just having you in my life is like Paradise.

ALOHA & MAHALO!
XOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOOOOXOXOXOXOXOXXXXXO

Chocolate Lava Cake made fromHawaiian grown Cocoa & Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Sooo Good!

Our friends Dustin & Brittany we met from Washington State.

They came to Brett's Birthday dinner with us. =)

Mac Nut Seared Chicken in yellow curry sauce- YUM!

Best Filet Mignon Ever!

Creepy tree & vine that looked like a snake.

Kayak Day hike. Lush, green & jungley.

We even did some barefoot hiking in the mud to get the full experience. Inspired by the local guides that we saw doing it. It actually felt really awesome on our feet!

The big rope swing we played on. Dustin jumping in.

Our Kayak we rented

Unreal beauty!

Brett & Nicky jumping off a small cliff into the swimming hole

Falls (We kayaked then hiked to falls, below pic & Fern Gratto.)

King/Queen's Bath on Falls Hike

Kokee State Park Hike

Napali Coast view from Swamp hike.

One of the two sunsets we caught. (I guess the mountains usually blocked the sunset?)

Heart Shaped Beach Glass Nicky found (Background is the view from our room!)

Palms & Moon @ Salt Pond Beach

Endangered Monk Seal

Summer So Far 2010

We've done some fun hikes this year!

Something about nature that just breathes new life into you.

I love Families Supporting Adoption Confrence! R (Brett's bro) & J's cute backyard wedding!

Below: Pic of Weston at the wedding BEFORE he jumped into the coi pond and got covered in green algea.

Weston went pee pee in the potty!!!! (Once and hasn't done it since =) But it's so cool he's getting interested in it!!

The pool- where we spend a lot of time! We all love to cool off and play in the water!

The Park

"Was it meant to be their family?"

Go to
www.therhouse.blogspot.com
July 30, 2010 post, Ask a Birthmom post #12 "Was it meant to be their family?"
Beautiful post, read it!

haircut

Before Haircut (Below) After haircut (Above) but it's already starting to grow back!

Date Night and the Tale of (A More Real) Love Story

So, last week on Sunday, Brett told me, "We are going on a date on Friday, it's going to be a surprise and I'm going to plan it!" Thursday night rolled around and he hadn't found a babysitter yet. Friday afternoon I found a sitter. He invited our friends Troy & Katie over for BBQ dinner (that he cooked)and the surprise was that we went dancing at "The MAC" which is sort of a dive of a place where one side has an older crowd and ballroom dancing, and the other side has DJ with younger music and swing/chacha/latin/etc. We hadn't been there for years and it ended up being so much fun! We had a great time! Thanks, Honey for the date night! I saw this video on a blog I follow and it cracked me up. Watch it 'til the end, it's pretty funny!

The summer that couldn't get better

We are busy hiking, swimming, BBQing, going to the park, playing, dancing, watching fireworks, cleaning (quite the task with a busy todler), going for walks, spending time with Brett (Now that Brett has a M- Fri position at work, and doesn't have school, we get to have family dinner every night for the first time in our entire 6.5 year marriage!) and tonight, we are going to the rodeo! Yeeha!
Ah.... I have to say, Life is good. The best it's ever been.....And that says a lot!
I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have Brett for my husband and Weston for my son! I love them so much and they mean everything to me.
Now if only I could go to Kauai, HI to spend a fun and relaxing week in paradise to celebrate my sweetheart's 30th Birthday, now that would be absolutely perfect. Wait a minute, that's what I'm doing next month... =) Honestly, could life get any better?
Well, we have some goals in mind for the future like getting a house and growing our family that will take who knows how long to achieve, and Brett is planning on starting courses this Fall to get his CFP and maybe even his Masters after that- so I know it won't always be such smooth sailing, but for now I'm just enjoying this wonderful time for all it's worth!
I'm not sure if anyone even looks at this blog anymore and I wouldn't blame them because lately it's been a lousy family update. I often abandon it and never know when I will be back....but i will, and I hope to post some pictures to match, including pictures of Weston's new big boy haircut!