last of the big island...

the hawaiian vanilla company.  sadly, it was closed on sundays, so we didn't get to go in.  but i TOTALLY want to go back there!

more of the drives…  and the views!

eucalyptus trees lined the roads.  it was so pretty.

more driving.  and more farmland.

sweet husband, looking for the waterfalls!

the smaller falls at akaka falls.

us and the falls.

a kaka falls.

with us.

so beautiful!

soaking up the last of our week away...

another small falls.

love this man… and loved this time!

it was a heavenly 8 days.  we relaxed, we swam, we read, we napped, and we explored!  it was so wonderful.  i am so thankful for my parents, who watched the kids for 8 days!  and have offered to do it again!!!  and that we had the time to take this trip.  it was so wonderful.  

and now we are gearing up for the big goodbye.  and holding on to these memories!

waipio valley

standing at the look out.

looking down into the valley.

the cliffs.

there were a few waterfalls in this pic.  

and the sand was AMAZING!  it was SO soft...

he really wanted to dive in!

looking back in to the valley.

taking in the view.

these kids were riding these little waves in the river to the ocean.  it was so cute!

selfies.

more of the river.

more waterfalls, if you look closely enough!

such a stunning view!

34 weeks pregnant...

driving back in to the valley

a stunning waterfall…  but the sun wasn't working with me!

a river over the road...

more of the waterfall...

eucalyptus trees...

sweet hubby at a lookout!  

hilo and mauna kea

the boiling pots...

more of the boiling pots…  the river that runs in to rainbow falls.

driving towards mauna kea

there she is...

the 'ohelo berry tree..  so cool!  i LOVE this 'ohelo jam, but the berries are the food of the endangered nene birds (several years ago, there were only 30 birds left…. and we saw 8!!), and the berries only grow near the volcanoes.  so, they can only pick the berries by permit and when there is an overgrowth!

devastation trail.  that hill in the background was the result of kilauea iki's eruption in the 50's. 

more of the berries.

kilauea iki crater.  d hiked down to the bottom.  

more of the crater.  david walked along the middle of it!

looking out from the crater rim.

walking back along the devastation trail.

more devestation

david at the bottom of the kilauea iki crater.

he found some nice folks to take his picture!

the aforementioned nene birds...

rainbow falls.

there was a HUGE cave behind the falls.  so amazing!  

the boiling pots are right above the falls.

mauna kea.

at 9200 feet, looking at the stars.  we saw jupiter and the moon through some cool telescopes!

more of the kilauea crater at night…  amazing glow!  (and our amazing hubris!)

while david hiked the kilauea iki crater, i checked out the volcano winery, 5 minutes away.  it was so cool!  they grow most of their own berries!  

we cosmic bowled on top of the crater.  who knew??

finally, a clear shot of mauna kea, with SNOW on it no less!, on our last day!!

so, today, i have a sick boy at home.  let's talk about failing as a parent…  he came in to my room last night, and i assumed he had wet the bed.  i told him to change his clothes and climb in to his other bed. i would deal with it in the morning (we have waterproof pads on all the beds so i can sleep easier!).  this morning, he told me he had thrown up and i just didn't understand.  and then he slept in it all night.  i felt SO BAD.  in fact, so bad doesn't even cover it.  poor sweet boy.

so, he's home from school.  currently trying to keep down a popsicle.  and i am nesting…  i am considering cleaning the couch cushions today….  i am working through laundry and the carseat cover first…  and cleaning up the play room!  hmmm… time for baby to come???