Part II of Our Vacation to Kona, Hawaii

Here are some pictures around the fabulous pools they had at our hotel. There were waterfalls, water slides, and a great sand-bottomed pool. It was hard with all the swimming to keep Jacob "the human eating machine" filled up. He nearly ate an entire pizza himself, one day.

Part of the beautiful saltwater lagoon that

surrounds the hotel. Complete with reefs,

fish and turtles.

There were cute little boats to take you

from one end to the other.

PARADISE OR WHAT!!!

I have to tell you the funny story about the signs. The first two about the Donkey Crossings are just funny in themselves. We are so used to Deer Crossings that who would have thought you could have Donkey Crossings? Are they wild? Jacob saw some grazing by the side of the road and thought that they were deer.

Then there is the next sign! Everywhere we went close to the ocean we saw that we were in the Tsunami Evacuation Zone and it was designated by a sign with a wave on it. We came to a little outlet mall and I saw this red sign and thought it was where we were all supposed to meet. Looks like a wave and a volcano to me! Well, my kids (not so kindly) informed their stupid mother that it was the sign for Quicksilver Clothing. Duhhhhhhh!

One day we woke up early and drove up north of Kona to a place we heard about to snorkel. It's called 2-Steps locally, but I forgot the Hawaiian name. You stepped down these two lava ledges into the most beautiful crystal clear water, lined with beds of coral stacked high up from the ocean floor, tons of fish of all different colors, and great big sea turtles. We didn't see any dolphins, I think we weren't quite early enough. What an incredible underwater world! We had a great morning!!





After the whole morning of snorkeling, we were all hungry and so we drove into Kona for a shrimp feast at Bubba Gump Shrimp.

This is the oldest church on the island of Hawaii,
with its oldest portion being built way back in 1820.
It also happens to be where my Dad and his wife Susan
were married 28 years ago!

One afternoon Jacob and I walked down the trail from our hotel along the beach to look at the tide pools. It was so pretty. He made a great find of a completely intact sea shell. Quite a treasure to find one not battered and broken against the lava.

We hoped that was our yacht in the distance waiting for us!









What a beautiful place to visit! It was so peaceful and relaxing! It never rained even one day while we were there. How blessed we were to have that special time together in such a special place. We hated to see out 9 glorious days come to an end!

This Much Winter Already???

We got hit by a huge storm just the day after we got home from our vacation in Hawaii. What a freezing shock to the system! Plus we are the tannest we have been all summer and have to put on 5 layers of clothes to keep warm!

The kids were off 3 days from school, which is really unusual for this early in the fall. However, yesterday was a beautiful day and we were able to get everything shoveled and cleared. Jacob had a blast sledding and playing in the snow with friends. Now it's supposed to be clear and nice all next week.

An Unbelievable Book You Must Read!!

While on vacation, in the midst of American opulence, I just finished an incredible book titled, Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. I cannot keep thinking about it, talking about it and wondering ... now that I've read it ... what I'm going to do about it! I am so blessed to be a woman where I am today, but today after finishing this book, my heart goes out to the courageous young girls and women who live and struggle in other places of the world. Read this book ... it will change your viewpoint on a whole lot of things!

First Few Days in Paradise

We are staying in the most beautiful hotel -- The Hilton Waikoloa Village in Kona, Hawaii. It is almost obscene ... it is so extravagant ... but we were able to use Kraig's reward points and we are truly blessed to be here. Don't think we could have ever paid for something this GRAND!

The view from our room!

The bay by our hotel -- it feeds the "lagoon" that is built in and around the whole 62-acre place. Jacob and I went snorkeling in there last yesterday afternoon but the visibility wasn't good and we got scared. Darn him for making me watch "Shark Week" with him!

We even have our own tram to take us around the hotel!!

A special message for Jessica and Nate -- bleached out coral on the lava rock -- a great contrast wouldn't you say?

Dad and Kelsey living the good life!

Did I tell you about our own Dolphins? They are so fun to watch but secretly at night I want to help them escape their pool!

This is the lagoon that goes around the hotel -- there are even boats in the canals that take you to various parts of the hotel.

Renting our snorkel equipment at "Snorkel Bob's"

The only way to go!!

He's ready to go!!! Jacob is part fish -- we think! He was first to spot all 4 green sea turtles we saw that day!

Beautiful Anaeho'omalu Bay Beach, just a few minutes walk from the hotel.

A Dragon Fruit -- strange looking thing -- we're going to buy one and try it!

ALOHA!!!

GOOD-BYE COLD AND CRISPY!




HELLO WARM AND BREEZY!!

Nine glorious days in Kona, Hawaii with my husband, Kelsey and Jacob! We are all really looking forward to it.

See ya ...........