An actual update: Easter Weekend

So I think I promised about a month and a half ago to be updating the blog regularly and well, quite frankly, I haven't been. In my defense, we are STILL looking for a new place to live and have not had the internet since February. In order get online, we must go to the public library (yes, they still exist), spend money to sit in a coffee shop, or unsuccessfully try to pirate our neighbor's connection, which is 99.8% of the time unsuccessful or too weak of a connection to make it worth it. SO. My apologies. However, today I have a long prep period so I am treating you to some recent news in our lives.

For neither of us working traditional full-time jobs right now we sure are BUSY. Last weekend we headed down south to our beloved Oregon, and spent time with both sides of our family. Friday we went hiking with Joe's parents and took advantage of the nice weather. We completed our 6 mile trek with burgers, french fries, and a tasty dessert (dutch apple pie A LA MODE for me- my fav). I honestly don't know what I love more about rigorous outdoor exercise- the beauty of my surroundings, or the luxury of eating WHATEVER I want afterwards without feeling one iota of guilt. It's a win-win situation. Friday evening Luke and Jessie (complete with bun in the oven) and their two doggies Kenai and Jeb showed up. We ate a delicious dinner and I dominated a game of Progressive Rummy, much to Joe's chagrin :)

Saturday morning brought a trip to Stewart Park Public Golf Course for me and the boys (Joe, Dan, and Luke). It was only my second time golfing, but I had a blast. I didn't win this time, but I still beat Joe (which is all that really matters). My game needs quite a bit of work, but I was pleasantly surprised with my ability to drive a ball further than my pro-football playing husband. Saturday afternoon we headed over to Trisha and GO's house for a pre-Easter dinner and egg-dying festivities. (See pics below). It was a lot of fun, although we left early to go support Jessie coaching track at the Roseburg Twilight Invitational.

Sunday morning we went to a nice church service, then headed up north to Portland. Here we stopped at OM Chinese restaurant for my Grandma's 90th bday party. She is 4'9", weighs about 90 lbs., and is still trucking along- those Chinese woman are quite resilient! Coincidentally, it was also my mom's 60th bday. We saw a lot of Chinese family and friends, which is always nice. 11 courses later, we declared ourselves officially stuffed and continued our trek back home to Seattle. To top off the trip, we got stuck in traffic around Tacoma on Sunday night for about 45 minutes. Weird, traffic jams never happen around there.

Joe being a bad influence on our nephew by spraying Uncle Lukie

Weird... where on earth did Tre ever learn such behavior?

Apparently this is a really fun game...

That's my husband, hiding from the beast he created behind his mother (very chivalrous, I know)

Soooo happy

Revenge is a- well, you know

Dan working on his golf game... must be nice to have enough land to have a driving range in your backyard!

Sinah before her afternoon nap and not too happy about it

A little bit happier here

And finally a smile :) I love this pic- look at my cute niece!

Kenai, Jessie's oldest

Two peas in a pod, but slightly more destructive

Yes, they ARE this crazy but it is a lot of fun

My Grandma's 90th bday cake

My mom and bro with the guest of honor

My Grandma couldn't blow out the candle (there was only 1!!), so my brother gave her a little bit of help :)

My Grandma with her favorite two grandchildren (the fact that we are the only two has nothing to do with it)

Kauai in Review: Exploring

You know those vacations where you just want to "get away" from the rainy northwest, head to a tropical location, sip on a tasty beverage, and lounge on the beach all day? Yeah... well, I have never taken one of "those" vacations. When you are married to a man who claims "if I'd been alive 500 years ago, I would've been an explorer" you can pretty much rule lounging vacations on the beach OUT. Although I truly enjoy reading on the beach for a day or two, I also love exploring with The Great Jonas Newton. Here is a glimpse into some of our "adventures" on the great Island of Kauai...

PUBLIC PARK/GOLF COURSE (Southwest Shore)
Here is a park with an amazing view that we stumbled upon while looking for a place to eat our Hawaiian plate lunch. Doesn't it look like the perfect spot for a wedding? I can see it now... the ceremony under the big tree, looking out over the south shore... Ok that's it- my next friend who gets engaged MUST have a destination wedding...


LITHIFIED CLIFFS (South Shore)
Joe and I read about these cliffs in our guidebook, Kauai: Revealed. He was OBSESSED with this book, although in his defense it never led us astray. We found cheap local restaurants and fun little places to check out that were not busy or touristy at all. We loved these cliffs so much we came back here a couple of times, just to hang out and watch the sunset.

Here is part of the cliffs next to the mighty Pacific Ocean

We unexpectedly spotted a couple of whales (look close!)

Little old Joe on a big old cliff

This is so Titanic-esque

Even the clouds in Kauai are beautiful

Me with the hub in our new favorite spot

The view to the north (a COMPLETELY isolated beach lies just about a mile north of here... of course we went off and looked for that one too, pretty awesome)


QUEEN ANNE'S BATH (North Shore, near Princeville)
Again, we read about this area in our guidebook. However, we hung out here for at least an hour and only saw two other people the whole time. I don't know if it was the weather or the warning signs of death that kept people away, but it was awesome to have almost to ourselves. Cool cliffs, clear tidepools with fun ocean creatures, huge crashing waves, and my first taste of fresh coconut milk made this a fun little spot.

This warning sign is kinda creepy... have this many people REALLY died at Queen Anne's Bath?

The water here is SO clear!

Joe carefully peeking over the edge

Well hello Mr. Crabber

As the sign warns, the waves here can be brutal.

I love the ripples in the water here... so soothing

The water in the baths was such a clear, beautiful blue... and set against a pretty nice background.

Joe vs. a coconut he spied as we were looking for Queen Anne's Bath

Using the key to our rental car as a wedge (notice the stick in his hand as his hammer)

Jonas, "I provide for my woman"... (thanks sweetie)

And the winner is...

Jonas!

Ahhh... victory tastes so sweet (especially when it is fresh coconut milk)

Mmmmm... snacky snack time for me!

Kauai in Review: A sunrise in Kapa'a

Palm tree and pink- so pretty :)

View walking out from our hotel to the beach.

I thought the clouds on the horizon were pretty cool looking.

Peeking out from under a tree.





The clouds to the north were HUGE

My favorite :)

The sun peeking through the clouds






I am not a morning person. Growing up I never had a bedtime- literally never, not even when I was like, 5- and no one in my nuclear family ever goes to bed before midnight. Sometimes I am forced to wake up in the wee hours of the morning (stupid teaching...), but it is not natural for me to wake up when it is still dark outside. All of this being said, I would willing get up before dawn EVERY DAY if all sunrises were as beautiful as our 3rd morning in Kauai was. Since my words cannot do it justice, here are some pics of a most beautiful sunrise in paradise :)