aloha

you know it's going to be a good trip when you're sitting in the airport and a lady gives you a rubber airplane to put on your pen, to make me work better just while she sees you pouring over relief society papers.

welcome to hapuna beach. my first stop in hawaii, after the condo. i loved this place so much. it was beautiful.

brigham completely ate it, with his mouth open, and continued to run around and play, all with his mouth hanging wide open while we tried to grab first grab the cameras and then a clean towel.

my first hawaiian sunset. i was so excited. it was exactly like the calendars and postcards.

sunday, after church we went on a drive and this is what we found. i don't think there is a single part of that entire island that is dull or unpretty or boring or dull.

this and the following three pictures are from the Akaka Falls State Park. it was a jungle. i loved the colors and the wetness and how things keep growing and growing all on top of each other.
after the waterfalls we went to the volcano state park, which are the following four pictures.

this frightful picture was on a jeep at the private beach. i showed it to the kids and they were a little disturbed. haha then i showed the picture to heather and mike later that night and heather put it well, it was probably a father's day gift gone wrong.

snorkeling

this is what i did a lot of. or played with any of the six kids. but this little six month old was a joy to hang out with while basking on the beach.

ahoy from rachie. she was out on the paddle board. unfortunately i didn't get to go out, but i did go out with rach and gibson and spencer and we all tried to stand up together....unsuccessful, but a way fun traditional barney/bailey water game.

our friend the jelly fish. we got to hapuna beach and they had jelly fish there. they warning was removed just about the time we wanted to dip in. but this little one was left behind.

check out the boogie boarders. and most importantly, rachel's face. so funny.

kataroon joined us (missed you erica!) and we spent and afternoon in kona. we went to a farmers market, picked up some souvenirs and watched the sunset. another beautiful sunset.

to reach a goal rachel had, we stopped off and got some hawaiian shaved ice and found native wildlife. this one looks like he had a run-in with a 3rd grade little boy

this is a wall that was built in 1550, at the place of refuge, that used no mortar and was really expansive and amazing.

i love these trees behind them. they shoot out their branches or roots, or whichever they are, and they create a kind of web with them, into the ground. i had never seen anything like them before. so brilliant.

the bailey's were in hawaii for halloween, so heather brought the costumes (that she made!) so we could trick-or-treat. we answered the door about 8 different times and every time i tried to make them do something new for a piece of candy. but how clever is heather? i love it.

my face is the same in every boogie boarding photo. pure joy and excitement. i did love it. obviously. i couldn't help but show it.

A quick shout-out to the Bailey's. They are wonderful and amazing and it was so kind and thoughtful of them to include the Barney's on their vacation. It was such a treat to go with them and they truly are a gem-of-a-family. Thank you!