the falls...

getting ready to go...

kids were quite excited!

playing in the foliage!

shoulder ride!

those guys...

waimea valley...  in case you were wondering, three episodes of "lost" were filmed here...

getting ready to go in!

aren't they beautiful!

more pics...

my view...

time with the beeb...

it's a 3/4 mile walk up to the falls.  easy with botanical gardens on either side.  and, you can push the stroller the whole way!  it was SO MUCH FUN to swim in them!  (outside of my comfort zone... i like to see my feet...)

today was a good day.  i missed my hubby.  but a good day.  we got up and nora got a birthday present.   daddy really wanted her to have a surf board.  so i bought her one.  and we used it.  nora and byssa got a surf lesson from nora's swim teacher.  it was a BEAUTIFUL morning at the beach.

we came home, showered, etc, and then went out for nora's birthday.  nora got her ears pierced.  she was so brave!!!  i had prepped her several times.  how it would be a big poke in both ears and hurt.  and then we would have to clean it every day.  and that would hurt.  she just got the second shot of her life last week, so she had something to compare it to.  several times, we had that convo.  and she still wanted it.  she even told me that she might cry, but she wanted it done!

so, we went.  she picked out the earrings she wanted.  and she got it done.  she didn't make a peep.  just sat there.  i gave her a sucker after.  and hugged her.  and she burst into tears.  it was so heart breaking.  i asked her if she was sad that she got them.  nope... she LOVED having them.  and use was so brave through it all.  she didn't cry long, and now is LOVING them.  she was even so good as i cleaned them tonight!

then, we got the kids school shoes.  they are so cute!  nora has hot pink toms.  and james got some sperrys.  goodness, are they cute!  we had dinner at wahoo's, and then some dairy queen, cause jamey had been asking.  in all, a fun day.  currently, we are watching gymnastics on tv... and nora is enjoying it.  she has been cheering for michael phelps all day.  so fun!