July....family, family & more family!

July was a busy but fun month, full of family... kids and grandkids. Kelly flew over right after Parma convention to get busy on the job and Derek, I, Kyla and the kids flew over a week later.  Then a few days later Mark, Kyla and Brynlee came. Then Benji and Ryan. We had a full house and rented another condo close by to accommodate everyone. While Kelly worked we played. Beach time, pool time and sight seeing. The kids LOVED the ocean and while we enjoyed 85 degree weather, it was a scorcher in Idaho at 100 plus.

Too cute with their own suitcases!!

Love this little look....hanging out with Uncle Derek during our flight delay.

Finally in the air on our way to Hawaii.

We are SO excited.

Keaton is a born flier....loved it.

View out the window over Honolulu.

Papa met sissy with a lei!!!

Boys with Papa in our pool.

Then we headed to the beach by the marina to turtle watch...and found a shark warning.

Walking along the marina.

Turtle watching.

Our first of many trips to Kua Bay.

Loving the water.

Sunset view from the lawn by our condo.

Another day, another beach....this time Hapuna Beach.

The kids found this beach access sign and decided it was a measuring pole.  Camden is showing us how big he is "3"!!

Of course, Tiana is 5.

And Keaton is just BIG!

Nana's underwater camera is pretty cool!!

Camden was "getting" Papa's shadow.

On the way to Waipio Valley we stopped in Honokaa to get malasadas....YUM!

Brynlee slept through a lot.

Mark....being Mark, hanging out of the pickup on the way down to Waipio Valley.

Derek, Mark and Ryan headed on their overnight hike and camping trip.

Three adorable kids in Papa's pickup on the job.

Brynlee sleeping through Laupahoehoe.

Another sunset.

Kua Bay with Brynlee sleeping.

One tuckered out boy.

Kyla with Camden, Tiana with Benji and Keaton on the right.

Camden "holding his breath".

Aww someone is awake!!

Love those little baby toes!!

Keaton, Benji and Tiana snorkeling at Kua Bay.

Snorkeling Kahalu'u Bay in Kona.

The kids were excited to see a turtle.

Keaton snorkeling with his turtle friend.

This turtle is getting a "car wash".

On the rocks with Kahalu'u Bay in the background.

A flounder....pretty well disguised. 

On the 4th of July we decided to hike into a beach and some "Queen's baths", hoping to avoid the crowds.

A "queen's bath" is an inland fresh water pool....usually very close to the ocean.  The water is crystal clear and cool.

Hiking into Ke-awa-iki Beach.....4th of July and no one else there!!!

We snorkeled a bit and saw a turtle....yay!!

Kelly with the turtle.

The rest of these underwater pictures were taken at Kealakekua Bay a few days later...we hiked down the 2 mile trail (1300 ft elevation change) and snorkeled at the best place on the Big Island. (in our opinion)

Keaton hiked down with us, while the rest of the kids (Kyla, Tiana, Camden, Kyla and Brynlee) stayed home.

Keaton was a little trooper....made the hike with no problem at all.  In fact, he would run ahead...hide and then jump out like this to "scare" us.

A few days later we took a 4 wheel drive road in to Kekaha Kai State Park and another beautiful beach.

Guess what, we saw turtles there, too.

We had to check out "Brynlee" that Mark had written on the rocks with sand in March when they were here....yep...still there.

There are all sorts of wild goats around.

A lovely place to dance.

And pose.

One of the evenings we went to Waialea Beach and took Benji and Kyla's family pictures.

Camden....the future photographer.

Nana's "fun" pictures....can't let the kiddos get bored.

Camden's muscles.

Here's a few more snorkeling pictures....they are kind of out of order....but oh well!!

A crab that sissy found while snorkeling at Kahaluu Bay.

Laupahoehoe from the scenic viewpoint.

Hiking into Akaka Falls.

Ahalanui Pool....trying to warm up.  It is a natural warm pool heated by the volcano.

The kids being silly with Papa in the little area where the warm water flows in.

A bunch of monkeys.

Sonja was on the Big Island nannying for a few weeks so we met her and walked through the Hilton, which is very close to our condo and has a cool inland lagoon and a dolphin pool.

Sunset at "A" Bay by our condo.