We went to Kauai

We're back now... I was totally depressed the first day about it too.  Every time I get back from a long awaited trip, I'm depressed afterwards.  I guess I look forward to it so much, and then its just...over.  Oh well, we did have the best time ever!  We loved every minute of being there... even when I broke down in hives.

Our first day there, we went straight to the hotel, where my mother-in-law and father-in-law gave us leis and a huge beach bug full of lotions, candy, clothes, sunscreen, and other goodies.  Nice start if you ask me!  We went down to the lobby and found this huge garden area, with huge ponds of koi.

(Tay and I are way up there, can you see us?)

Then we basically ran to the pool.  After 7 hours on a plane, you would too.  The pool was beautiful and amazing.  We ordered Pina Coladas (virgin of course), swam and laid in the sun (with jimmy buffet playing in my head, duh).  

Each night we went to dinner with everyone, which was always entertaining.  Taylor's family is very much like mine... Loud and Fun.  I think that just happens with so many people!  This is the only picture I have from a dinner.... this was easily the weirdest place we ate...but a local favorite!

On Friday we went Jeeping... of which I have no picture of.  But I do have pictures of the great things we saw while in the jeep.  Honestly, Kauai is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.  It takes your breath away, literally.  We drove all the way up the coast until the road just ends (the coastline is cliffs on half of the island, so there is no road all the way around Kauai).  We found the huge dry cave, which completely freaked me out and snorkeled at a bay which I cannot even begin to remember how to say, let alone spell.  It was so fun! 

Oh yea, afterwards, we went to lunch at Tropical Taco.  I was being adventurous and tried the fish and if you know me, that's big because I don't like fish.  But in Kauai, I love fish.  It was so good. I wish I took a picture of that.

Saturday was the ATV waterfall excursion in the mountains.  It was so much fun.  I was an idiot and wore a white shirt, but we loved it.  We drove down to a river and found out Indiana Jones, himself, was chased down the same mountainside and used the rope (which is still there) to jump into the river to the plane waiting for him.  This got us very excited, so we of course had to reenact it, by jumping off the rope into the river.  (FYI, me and tays kids may not be the most athletic...we basically were the laughing stock of the group when we did our reenactment. But tell me something I didn't already know).  We ventured on and saw tons of pretty spots and lots of waterfalls.  

 (white shirt before)

(white shirt after)

Sunday = leisure day.  We swam in the ocean, or for me, rolled in the ocean.  I had a bit of an episode in which the entire beach saw me get toppled by 3 huge waves and rolled all over the beach.  Everyone said it was the best part of the trip... glad I could provide such awesome entertainment.  Everyone played sand volleyball, slept in the cabana, ate too much chocolate covered macadamia nuts and Taylor even surprised me with an hour massage at the spa, an early birthday present.  It was the best, thanks Tay. 

Monday we jumped on a huge yacht and went up the Napali Coastline.  Ok seriously people that place is ridiculous.  It is unlike anything you have ever seen.  Unbelievable views.  We found a huge school of spinner dolphins, a monk seal, and followed 5 humpback whales around for good hour.  We jumped in and snorkeled and found a huge sea turtle too.  

Then we flew to AZ... and I suffered the worst case of jet lag, followed by the itchiest skin in the world, followed by a doctors appointment for the itchiest skin in the world.  But we're back to normal now.  We loved Kauai.  I don't see ever going to a different island in Hawaii.  It's the best one.