We all went to walk the labyrinth one sunny morning, after Jolie and Liesl couldn't find it the night before. The kids raced right through it, while most of the adults walked more slowly, actually enjoying the maze of orchids, ti leaves, and other tropical plants. So lovely.
Sully wanted to get at every wind chime and Grandpa was nice to lift him up to each one, there are LOTS.
We took everyone to see the new fissures in Leilani Estates. It's crazy to see, even after all this time. The road ends where the lava crossed it, covering houses, and yards, and roads and everything in its path. So wild.
Then we headed down to Makenzie State Park, explored on the cliffs and climbed through the old lava tubes, pretty neat!
I caught these two chatting and watching the waves, so cute.
In between all the adventures we had out of the house, lots happened here too. Here are some of those pictures. Forts. There were SO many first built by these kiddies.
Solace dragged Grandpa everywhere he could take him. Grandpa was nice to go lots of the places.
Snuggles. Swishy was especially bark with all the visitors, and how loud it was. He prefers a quiet house, so he liked it when he would get some extra snuggles.
Alexandra made a delicious spaghetti and meatball dinner for everyone. Thank you, it was so good!
We had a spa night for the girls. The boys got to stay up and play video games or watch movies. Alexandra and Jolie brought masks and we painted our nails and did makeup up even.
There was LOTS of game playing. We have so many fun games, the kids love to play.
Grandpa bought presents for all the kids and every single one was a hit. Good job Grandpa, and thank you!
We told Liesl about our fancy towel hats when we were little and she asked for one from Grandpa too.
We baked and decorated cookies together in a little master class. It was really fun. Everyone got into it.
Early one morning, we made the drive to the other side of the island, so Paul and I could go to the temple. Liesl came with the two of us, and Jolie, my dad, and all the kids came over a little later. Watching the sunrise while driving above the clouds is spectacular.
When we were done at the temple, Liesl came to get us (she had been playing on the beach), and right then is when the others arrived on that side and we all met up at the beach.
The kids hunted in the tide pools for creatures to show everyone. They found a couple sea cucumbers and loved showing them off.
Bradley didn't go in the water this time, but he did hold on to Paul in the surf. So cute.
I loved watching all the cousin love. Everyone loved spending this time together.
We ate lunch and played at that first beach for a few hours, then we headed down to Captain Cook to go to 2 Step. Paul and Liesl took my dad out snorkeling and it was so much fun to watch him out there. He's more of a city boy than an ocean boy, but he did great out there with Paul. Liesl was the film crew and got some great shots of him. Jolie and I stayed with all the kids on the rocks.
Sully is, by far, our fairest child, but compared to Bradley, he looks tan! Ha ha ha.
Paul took Matix, Hawken, Lullaby and Alexandra out to snorkel in the deep. Jolie took Bradley out, although they didn't go far, and they didn't wear snorkels. When Jolie tried to get him to come back in, he held her leg and she couldn't swim, stinker. He's a water boy, for sure.
Paul took Jolie and Alexandra out to snorkel and they got to see lots of fish and corals.
When we were done at that beach, Paul, Liesl, Dad and all the kids headed back to our side of the island. Jolie and I drove back to Kona for ice cream first, then a light dinner. We had plans that NIGHT to go out in search of the giant manta rays that feed in the dark.
After getting suited up, we both got scared. The manta rays are HUGE, up to 18 feet wingspan, although the ones we saw were more like 12-15 feet wide! Yikes!
We geared up and floated on this little raft with lights underneath. The light attracts phytoplankton, which is what the manta rays eat, so they swim upside down and filter feed the tiny organisms from the underside of the raft we were holding. It was amazing and terrifying at the same time. We screamed and cried and laughed and had a great time. I'm super happy we went.
We got home to our side of the island pretty late at night. We had a great time, thanks to Dad, Paul and Liesl for getting all the kids fed and to bed.
