Our Summer

Wow summer is going by to fast. Tyler turned 4! For his birthday party we had it at the swimming pool. That was a perfect place for a party. No major planning or cleaning required!

Mom, & Erin homemade bday cake!




























Tyler and Erin finished swim classes. For the last day Tyler played games and showed what he had learned.





Erin had her mini-swim meet. She came in 2nd for the freestyle and 1st in the back stroke. She was so excited. Next year she hopes to be able to get across the pool in 45secs so she can be on the swim team. If she isn't fast enough she can be on the tweener team and they can be in some of the actual meets.

Freestyle


Backstroke






Ryan is pretty much crawling now. He is very speedy on his tummy pushing on his elbows and feet. And while we were gone he figured out how to get up on his hands and knees and rock back and forth. He also is trying to pull himself up. I can't believe how much more he could do after just being gone for a week. I think he will be real crawling in the next week or two.


Dan and I went to Hawaii last week. It was so nice. We stayed in a nice condo right on the beach. It was in south west Maui so there weren't as many tourists around. It was nice to be in a quiet part of Maui. I don't think we really ever adjusted to the time change. We went to bed between 8pm and 9pm every night and then woke up by 6am the next morning. Waking up early was good though because we were able to spend time at our condo watching the ocean and relaxing and also could get off to our fun for the day early so there weren't as many tourists around.

Day 1 We did the drive to Hana. I didn't get sick like I did when I went with my family. We made a lot of stops so maybe that was why. We stopped for a swing and swim at a water fall, walked around the black sand beach, and found a red sand beach to swim at. We also found some really pretty waterfalls on our way all the way around Hana. After you pass Hana most turn around and go back. We decided to go all the way around on that road. Roads were smaller and very bumpy, not made for a small car! It took us around the southern side of Maui, it was weird to see how dry it was. I don't think we will do that drive all the way around again.


Day 2 we went the Maui Aquarium. That made it really neat when we went snorkeling and got to swim with the marine life we saw there.

Day 3 we went Blue Water River Rafting! That was so fun. That was so scary. I would actually call it White Water Rafting in the Blue Water. I can't believe that we actually made it through the whole day holding on at the front. Saturday was a pretty windy day and the water was choppy so that added to how fun/scary it was. I wish we could have taken pictures while we were going. Since it was so windy we didn't get to stop and snorkel at as many places as usual but the places we did get to were great. We got to snorkel in parts that pretty much only those that go Blue Water Rafting get to go. One place we went was an area where there were tons of sea turtles. We didn't have a water proof camera so we didn't get any pictures. Anyone going to Hawaii , you should do the Blue Water Rafting. Make sure you hold on tight! I would go again but I am not sure if I could do the very front again.

Day 4 We drove to the top, 10,023 feet, of Haleakala volcano on Maui. That drive I would say has more curves than the road to Hana. The road up there is a lot safer though. It was neat to be above the clouds and see Maui all around us. It was freezing up there! The thermometer said 68 degrees but with the wind chill I would say it was Mid to Low 50's. This is another thing I would do again but I will make sure to bring pants and a jacket next time.

Day 5 We went and did our souvenir shopping in Lahaina and then went to a luau. That was the first major touristy place that we had been. I think that is around where we stayed when I went with my family. A lot of it looked really familiar. I was really pretty but busy. We went to the Old Lahaina Luau. They did a really good job and the food was pretty good. It was neat to hear about Hawaii and its people from the beginning.

Day 6 We spent the day snorkeling at a bunch of different beaches. It seemed like that each beach we went to was even better than the one before. I wish we would have had a waterproof camera. We saw so many different kinds of fish, more sea turtles, a sting ray, an eel, and a sea cucumber. The clear blue water, and coral all around was so pretty. I must admit I was scared when the sea turtles would swim close to us and I really didn't like when we were in shallow parts around coral. I think I like snorkeling jumping from a boat better than walking in from the beach.

Day 7 Snorkeled in the morning, pack our things, and then headed home :(

Dan and I had a great time with just the two of us. We were happy to be home, and back with Erin, Tyler, and Ryan...but getting back to real life is hard.
Thank You Amelia, Richard, and Elanor for coming to watch Erin, Tyler, and Ryan. I can't believe that they were good eaters for you. So far dinners haven't been to bad. Not to much complaining about what they are eating and they are actually eating it all. (I know now that won't happen anymore since I said it). I am sorry that Ryan was fussy. We hope you had a good time and were able to do most of the things that you wanted to.

Our summer vacations are over. They all have been great. Next vacation is the beginning of October, the Outer Banks (OBX)!