Sunday, June 8, 2008

Pig skin, drug dealers and sunset, Day 3 in Maui

Sunday, Day 3. Woke up early again, and had 7:30 buffet at the Longboard restaurant. Then church at 9am. There were probably 500 people in the sacrament meeting. Carsen saw a relative. I had the perfect view: palm trees on my right, the speakers straight on, and the ocean view on my left. I call this my perfect storm.

Early morning buffet before church. The winner was oatmel with brown sugar, macadamia nuts, roasted coconut, butter and cream. Low calorie, most definitely but it gave us strength for the sacrament meeting.


After church we drove to Lahaina for a nice Sunday stroll. This is in the Lahaina park with the huge Banyan tree that is the size of the city block.


And here are the obedient children climbing the Banyan tree.


I can only guess what you are saying about this pig skin rotting nicely on a railing. We were surprised as well. Not sure what the meaning was. His friend "blackie" was next to him, propped up like this one. After passing these two pigs, around the bend was a drug dealer "Pablo" selling pot. I wanted to take a picture of him but the two men (Greg and Rod) in the van were adamant that I could get shot if I did such a thing. If no picture, then just imagine two guys standing in the middle of nowhere holding up a bag of pot, and with the other hand showing how to smoke it. Needless to say, we didn't stop. We guessed that maybe the pigs were a sign for "pot ahead".


Sunset barbeque at the Beachwalk cafe.


At the end of the day, we witnessed this postcard worthy sunset from our hotel grounds. Aloha! Tomorrow: hiking the waterfalls and snorkeling in Hanalua.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Getting our vitamin D on, Day 2 in Maui

Day two in Maui started before 6am when we all woke up and decided to go walking around. It was a gorgeous and warm morning. Cloudless skies, warm water, beautiful smells all over.

Ready to go explore the grounds.


My favorite flower, Plumeria.


Alex and Carsen at the shipwreck beach.


Marriott scenery


Then there was this guy.

Carsen ready to go snorkeling.


Kapalua Bay. Incredible reefs to snorkel in. Carsen's first time to snorkel and he was such a pro.


After snorkeling..Alex and Carsen being cool dudes.


Some of the fish we saw.


Turtle sighting.
After we got back to the hotel, we went to the pool and got fried....all of us. Vitamin D well received.

Aloha from Maui, Day 1


Welcome to sugar cane and pineapple country.


The boys were so happy when Rod drove in the convertible Mustang


Marja's do was doo-doo after 21 miles on the highway.


Alex getting a lei greeting at the Marriott


Carsen getting a lei greeting.


Katherine, Greg and Kristine


Carsen, Rod, Marja and Alex. Aloha!

After we checked in, the boys and Katherine and Kristine hit the pool and hot tub for a couple of hours. Rod and I took a long walk along the beach. Welcome to Paradise!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Brad and Liz's Beautiful Wedding



Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Hansen



Happy couple, Liz and Brad


Both sets of parents


Rod, the executive


Elle and grandma


Alex and grandpa


Grandkids


Liz and Rod


Wedding cakes by Melinda, flowers by Jana


Happy parents, Reed and Irva


Marja, Rod and Alex


Cousins and good friends, Elle and Alex


Twins, Whitney and Rodney

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Favorites from the Home Show

There is a Parade of Homes going on in Utah County for the next 2 weeks. We have been able to see a handful of houses, and they are all equally gorgeous. Here are some samples:

I love the beadboard above. The feather lamp is not bad, either.


Rod's heavenly tub. Only one channel would be available on that TV....ESPN


I love this living room. Might have something to do with the color YELLOW. So airy and light and beautiful. This was the 13,000 sqf (1,207 sq meters for those metric-minded people) house. We would never find each other in this house. But surprisingly this was very homey and comfortable house. Trulan Preece is one of our favorite builders, also a fellow soccer coach from Alpine.


I love the color combination with ice blue and black. Very stunning.

Monday, June 2, 2008

4 days until....

Snorkeling in a thong

Scuba at Molokini

Hiking to the waterfalls along the road to Hana


Golfing the Kapalua golf course


Or just swimming in the pool.

Friday, May 30, 2008

What time is it? Summertime!





Yep, all the way off, baby!

Swan Lake...Swan Pond at La Caille


Yesterday when we were returning from a wedding shower in SLC, Alex insisted that we would do a quick drive-by the La Caille restaurant. If you are not familiar (like I'm not) with this restaurant, it is an EXTREMELY expensive French restaurant. Alex is the only one in our family who has dined in there. He is proud to say that he had "Escargot with Artisan Bread" while having an exclusive meal with other fellow French students. I had never even been inside the gated area, and I was totally impressed by the landscape, the roaming animals (we saw these swans..also black ones, bunnies etc.), the quaint cottages, the expensive cars parked on a nice lawn, and the main restaurant building. What a gorgeous place! Maybe one of these days we even get to go inside and have a nice meal.