Hawaii 2012 - Kona Coast

For one blissful week, we were in 80 degree + weather, with nothing to do but work on our sun burns/tans.  it.was.lovely.

April 20-27 were the dates on the calendar for over one year.  As it got closer, it didn't get more real for me.  There was too much else going on - Tyler working on the shutdown, tax season, kids, school, church activities, sports...  The list goes on and on.  And then, it was Thursday, and time to bring them over to the Scheib's for the weekend, finish packing, double checking the list left behind with their schedule and....   Then WE WERE OFF!  The moment I pulled up to Tyson and Breanne's was surreal.  This was it.  I was going to Hawaii and leaving Tyler and the kids behind.  I resolved that "this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it" regardless of the circumstance.  

It was SO GOOD to get off that plane and see my parents (including Aloha Dad in his Hawaii shirt) standing there!  It was a shock though.  We left grey stormy weather, and we arrived in sunny, no sweatshirt-needed weather.  It took us all a good 3 days to finally ditch our sweatshirts in our condo rooms when we left.  After a Costco and Safeway run, we pit-stopped at the condo and then went out to dinner... Humpy's! 

See how tan Mom is?  How pale I am?  Yeah, I take after my Dad! 

This was the trail we *TRIED* to take to Makalawena beach.  We made it 20 feet off the main road before deciding that our uber cool Chevy Traverse was not going to make it.  The landscape of the Big Island is not lush - it's more lava!

Our pool.  Yes, OUR pool.  No one else used it but us.

First beach - Hapuna!  Picturesque and even a swimming turtle. 

The Boogie Boarding QUEEN!

Bikini Bre, as she was known on our trip. 

The view of the Kona coastline where we shopped and walked and dined each evening. 

Tyson with his LOBSTER dinner.  They brought him veggies and rice, which he never even touched.  It was all about the lobster for him!

After dinner every night, we ordered 1 dessert with 7 forks.  Ryan was helping Tyson get his fair share. 

Pretty fish I saw while snorkeling (yes, you can snorkel when you are 7 months pregnant, it just looks a little awkward, I'm sure!)

Ryan, being funny. 

The kids, waiting for Dad and the Traverse to pick us up to head to the beach for the day.

Yeesh.  I am cropping this next picture before putting it in my scrapbook.  Doesn't everyone else look cute??? 

Run, Ryan, run!!!!

Outside of our rooms, ready to hit the beach - AGAIN!

Two-step - the ancient burial grounds of the Hawaiian chiefs (or something like that.)

This was part of a 45 minute hike in to Makalawena beach, the beach that we couldn't drive to.  It was LONG, but worth it.

Party of the trail was closed because of this fallen tree, but the park rangers told us it was fine to go "at our own risk."

Totally worth the hike!  It's a good thing too.

The last hill, before reaching the beach....

Just a few of the fun times we had - thanks to everyone who helped out on the homefront!!!