The Sisters

I booked a ticket back in June for Ava to come to visit Gavin and I in October and my parents ended up booking one for Callie as well. Gavin and I were super excited for their visit! We picked them up and brought them to our house for pizza! It was so much fun showing them our cute little place.

The girls were pretty tired from traveling they ended up sleeping in the next morning. And when I mean sleeping in it was like 7:30 am... I went on a run, got ready for the day, ate breakfast and they were still snoozing. But that morning it was pouring rain and I was getting nervous that it was going to be rainy their whole stay. We decided to swim anyway even though it was overcast. But when we walked out of the house we were surprised that the only dark cloud was the one right above my house. Good thing we walked outside! 

We had a wonderful time snorkeling at Lawai beach. I told them all my fish facts as we swam around. Callie looked like a little mermaid as she dove down under. We saw pretty much all the fish you can see here in Hawaii. My favorite was the baby, Moorish Idols. I hadn't ever seen baby ones before. The cool thing about snorkeling is that you always see something new. After we had Acai and shaved ice and splashed the rest of the day at Allerton's. Callie and I got in the water at this beach and we had to walk so far out to get to the waves to play in. We were getting washed around it was so fun. 

When Gavin came home that night we watched our hour-long wedding video with Ava and that was special. We also started watching Cruel Summer a mystery murder-type show that only has 9 episodes. We love a good thriller! 

The next day we drove up to Waimea Canyon and we were blessed with the best weather. The past several times I have been up there with people visiting the island and it's been cloudy or rainy and there is never a view. But today the clouds cleared away and we were able to go on 2 of my favorite hikes. Kapela ridge and the Canyon Ridge trail. Callie and Ava were troopers. We walked 18,000 steps that morning. I'm glad my sisters like hiking because it's my favorite thing to do. We had our Chacos on as we walked along the mountains enjoying the gorgeous view. 

Ava made her fantastic pumpkin bars that night. I sure did miss her baking. 

The next day we decided to head to Hoopii falls for a hike and waterfall jump. Callie said this was one of her favorite days. There is a little cliff jump you can do here that lands you into the fresh water falls. Callie didn't even hesitate and did it twice! We had to cheer Ava on for a long time to get her to jump. But she did it! 

We picked up some Musibi's before heading to the airport to pick up the twins. They sure are the life of the party. Once they got in the car it was non-stop laughs and giggles all the way home. 

For the ward party that night we decided to dress up as the girls on the Bachelor. We all had a rose in our hand, bright red lipstick, and dresses on. We were in line to get our food when Gavin walked in the door. We all started yelling Gavin over and over and that's when a member caught on to our costume. She said "look it's the bachelor" and everyone else started clapping and cheering. It was epic. Everyone loved our costumes. The Edwards from the ward came over and chatted with us for a long time. The wife just couldn't believe Callie was 14 years old. 

I am glad we went to the ward party because I feel like I got to know everyone a little bit better. 

The twins brought their paddle boards from Oahu so we used them to paddle up Wailua to get to Secret Falls the next morning. The river is probably one of my favorite things to do on Kauai. And on Saturday there aren't any tours, so the river and waterfall is a lot less busy. We had the waterfall to ourselves so it was so much fun to splash around with the girls. Gavin is such a good sport while putting up with all the girls.

After we headed up to the North Shore so Ava Callie could see it's beauty. Gavin and I usually don't go to North Shore that much just because it's so far but it is a beautiful place. We all jumped off the pier and swam around Hanalei before napping on the beach. 

The next day was Sunday and after church, before we dropped Sarah and Anna off at the airport we decided to hit up Wailua falls. This waterfall is so amazing and one of our favorites to swim in. We decided to swim all the way to the waterfall, walk behind it, and jump off the other side. And this waterfall is a swim let me say that. I am glad Gavin was there to help pull Callie along. 

We walked behind the waterfall and Chee hooed while the water from the waterfall pelted our faces. It felt so good being in the freshwater. Callie was the bravest and just jumped first right off the falls, into the water. After we all went to see the rainbow eucalyptus trees in Kapaa which is also a very beautiful quiet place. 

The rest of the week's adventures consisted of watching Love is Blind, more beaches, and relaxing. I loved having my sisters at my house. I started my new job the following week at the Sheraton and it was so fun to come home to them on my couch. I loved hanging with them after work. Gavin brought Callie and Ava Pina Coladas while they enjoyed the sun and sand. 

Ava and Callie were here for Halloween! We made hot dog mummies and macaroni and cheese! Ava and I always have to have Doritos on Halloween. They just taste like our childhood. For dinner we lit every candle in the house and ate our food in the dark while listening to spooky music. Our landlords daughter LOVES Halloween and I mean love. One day Gavin and I walked outside and saw huge black spiders all over the roof, RIP signs in the grass, cob webs on every inch on the house, and Halloween lights. We lived in the fun Halloween house and only Halloween house in the whole neighborhood. One teacher at the elementary school saw me getting in my car one day as she was driving by. She saw me the next day and asked if I had decorated the house... haha I was glad that Ava was over to see all the décor. That night for Halloween the son was wearing a black cape and walking back and fourth across the yard. While he was doing that the wife was queuing the music and lights. I hardly saw any trick or treaters come and I'm not sure the kids were a fan of the scary house. Gavin and I bought a bag at Costco and we hardly handed anything out at the trunk or treat or trick or treaters. 

The next morning I got up early to go to work and every single Halloween decoration was gone. And she was putting up Christmas lights and blasting Christmas music. I was glad that the decor wasn't going to linger until December. 

We had a little birthday dinner with Callie at Lavas the night before her big 14th birthday. We got so much food. I can't believe how much we all ate. It was all so wonderful and yummy. We got 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 2 desserts. Wow we were full. But with the best food! We watched the sun set from our table as we dined. Chip the hotel general manager loves Gavin and was the one that paid for the food while we were there. Such a nice guy. Gavin's prim rib was seriously the since of his hand. It was huge. I guess when the chef found out it was for Gavin he said oh let me make his. And he seriously cut the thickest piece. We all shared some Poke flat break, coconut  shrimp, and hummus appetizer. For our meal Callie and Ava shared the burger and got fish and potatoes. All of it was so yummy. We must have been hungry because we ate every last bite. For dessert they brought Callie a chocolate cate and we ordered a carrot cake. Boy did we leave with full belly's and happy hearts. 

We celebrated Callies 14th birthday on her last day here. She spent her day riding the bike path in Kapaa, with Ava and eating a Spam Musibi. I was sad I couldn't be there, but she had such a blast the days leading up to her birthday that she was so tired on her special day. Kauai was her birthday trip! Gavin picked out a cute bag for her in Turkey so she had a little gift to open from us. 

She made yummy banana butter bars for her birthday treat and we went out to Brick Oven Pizza for dinner. 

We watched the sunset for the last time before driving them to the airport for their flight home. We had the best 10 days ever! I am excited that Ava will be living just on the other island so that I can bop over and say hi to her more often! 

A hui hou!

The Bros in Kauai

Graham texted me back in August with the idea of him and his friend wanting to come to Kauai over fall break. To be honest I was not expecting Graham to want to spend time outside on this beautiful island. I asked him what he wanted to do here while he was here and he said he wanted to see a Hawaiian waterfall and swim in the ocean. 

And I said come better come because I can make that happen! 

Gavin and I picked them up at 7 pm from the airport. I was not expecting Graham's friend to be so tall. He said he is a size 16 in shoes. WOW. We stocked up on groceries at Costco before returning to our little house on Peleleu Street. 

Graham was so sweet and thought our place was so lovely. He and his friend crashed on the blow-up mattress and pull-out couch during their stay.

You can't be around Graham without having to talk sports or watch sports. So on Saturday, he made his famous homemade salt and cinnamon pretzels and we watched the BYU football game. His friend Noah didn't seem like the sports kind of person. He was passed out on the couch the whole time while Graham and I cheered on BYU.  

Graham and I had a great time even though the cougars didn't win. 

I took the boys up to Waimea Canyon for a hike. Graham thought this was the most intense hike because of the cliff it was on so he turned around. Noah didn't make it very far either because he was wearing Walmart slippers. I however just hiked down a little bit. The view of Kalepa Ridge is my favorite and can't be beat. 

They pretty spent pretty much their time swimming at different beaches around the island. We swam at Hanalei Bay, Lydgate Park, Poipu beach, Sheraton beach, shipwreck, salt pond and we even went snorkeling at Lawai beach and Koloa Landing. I was so glad that the boys were able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful aina. 

In the evenings we played Mexican trains and card games. It's so fun being a host for so many people, especially family. 

Graham's friend was making Gavin and I laugh so hard. On the first day, Graham said the first thing he needed to do was buy sunscreen. We went to good old 7/11 to grab some. Graham's friend didn't want to buy any because it was too expensive. I had a spray sunscreen bottle in the car I told him he could use. On the first day, we went snorkeling and Graham put his sunscreen on very carefully making sure he didn't miss a spot. Noah on the other hand asked Graham to spray some on his back. Graham picked up the bottle and did a zigzag across his back in about 2 seconds and said done. 

Well, when we got out of the water an hour later Noah's back had a zig zag sunburn down his back. I was trying not to laugh but what do you expect? The rest of the week he was blistery and sore. Poor guy.. 

One night after playing some Frisbee golf we went out for dinner. Gavin and I had heard nothing but amazing things from a new place called Street Burger. We love burgers and wanted to give it a shot. We waited quite a while for our food which was shocking because it wasn't very busy and the only thing on the menu was burgers. Graham said they must be legit burgers if they were taking this long to make them. When they came out we thought they looked really yummy. The display was great my mouth was watering and I was so excited to bite into my burger. We all took a bite and were so disappointed. There wasn't any mayo or mustard, and the beef patty was so dry. On the side of our burger, we had a Wendy's size cup of red sauce that was their homemade specialty. When we dipped our burgers in we were so disappointed because it tasted like black licorice. I told the waiter the sauce tasted like black licorice and she said it was because they use glycyrrhizin. She didn't even have a bottle of ketchup we could use for our fry's or burgers. We had a good laugh in the car writing reviews on yelp. But we ended the night on a high with some homemade brownies and Mexican train! 

Graham and Gavin went golfing one morning at the Kukuiolono a golf course and since Graham is a minor it only cost him $13 for a round of golf and clubs. Who knew? They had so much fun golfing. I think Graham got his first par! 

I took Graham to see his Hawaiian waterfall. Waialua falls is probably the easiest tallest waterfall there is see in Kauai. All you have to do is drive and park and you get a great view. However, if you want to swim in it you have to jump the fence and walk 10 minutes down a hill. Noah wasn't wearing the right kind of shoes so he stayed up top. We made it to the falls and took a swim. Graham loved his Hawaiian Waterfall!  

I enjoyed watching Graham's head bob above the waves as they were in the ocean. The ocean just really does something to you. 

Cheers to the great week with Graham! I was glad he came because it was spring break for the DOE so I would have been by myself most days while Gavin was working.