Fun in the Sun!

Matt and I just returned from a relaxing, fun-filled trip to Maui with the Dyer family. We stayed 11 days in beautiful Kaanapali, which was an ideal place for both the kids and the adults. We spent our days bobbing in the waves, snorkeling, boogie boarding, and soaking up the sun by the pool. We went to bed early and woke up to the pleasant Maui mornings with a good cup of Kona coffee. The trip couldn't have been better...I can't wait until we can go back!

Matt picking out an oyster with a pearl in it...he apparently wanted to do this when he was really young and he finally got the chance!

Sunset in Lahaina

Matt and I in front of Cheeseburger in Paradise


self-timered pic...I recall doing this a lot on our honeymoon

Our new shades

The Banyon Tree in Lahaina

Family BBQ

The Spinner dolphins that swam with our snorkel boat

Going down the slide on the boat

Snorkel Cruise

Ellie's beach buns

Our dinnertime entertainment

I love when Matt glares at the camera

Rainiers Game and Firework EXTRAVAGANZA!

This year, the whole Dyer crew headed out to Tacoma for the Independence Day Rainiers game and firework show. The game was pretty good (or so I was told...I spent most of my time talking to Amy or one of the kids), but the Rainiers ended up losing. After the game everyone is invited down to the infield to watch the fireworks. We brought our blankets and crowded in with hundreds of other people! The show was so pretty and everyone had a great time...especially Evan, Emma, and Ellie who got to stay up HOURS past their bedtimes!

Emma, Ellie, and I waiting for fireworks

Uncle Matt and Ellie

As usual, please ignore the look on Matt's face
Emma

Jerry and Ellie

The Mashell River with Dad!

My parents live on an amazing piece of property in Eatonville...it's always fun to go and visit. The Mashell River runs below my parents property and there are a lot of areas to explore. My Dad has been telling me about the river for the past year and I finally got a chance to go down with him. It's a bit of a scramble to get down the river, but once you make it down there are some phenomenal sights including 3 sets of falls (one of which you can actually go behind), lots of good "swimming holes," and an old railroad trestle. The weather was beautiful and the surroundings were picturesque...I can't wait to go back!

In front of the upper falls

My Dad at the top of the middle falls

Behind the middle falls
The whole time I was thinking, "what will happen to me if there is an earthquake?"

Swimming in the ICE COLD glacier water...straight from Mt. Rainier!

The Railroad Trestle we had to cross over...if I wasn't such a chicken, I would have pulled out my camera and taken a picture of the 6 inch gaps between the boards...straight down to the river!