Monday, January 4, 2010

Aloha! (It Means Hello And Good Bye, You Guess Which One I Meant)

Back to the wonderful world of sun, warmth and crazy weed dudes, we find ourselves snorkeling in Molokini.

Molokini is a crater out in the middle of a channel away from the sand so it's a tropical underwater oasis and blah blah blah which means it's an amazing place for snorkeling! The water is clear and blue and the fish swim right up next to you.

Now I went snorkeling in Cancun but that was nothing like Hawaii, sure in Cancun we saw a couple sting rays and the water was clear but there was nothing else to see. The crater was just full of colorful plants and fish everywhere and yes, sharks!

I saw two sharks, mind you they stayed at the bottom of the crater and didn't come near us, at least didn't come near me, and they weren't the "jaws" type of sharks, they were smaller but definitely frightening.



Of course not frightening to me because I knew I could totally take that shark if by chance an attack was underway. I've got an unforgiving uppercut and the ultimate scuz face that would stop any shark dead in it's tracks.

So I wasn't worried and I followed the shark until I couldn't keep up with him anymore, or until I ran into a fellow snorkeler. Seriously, it's amazing to snorkel there but in that small of space with a million other snorkelers it's kind of hard to find a remote area.

We then were fortunate enough to snorkel with sea turtles. They are huge and they are beautiful. And those suckers are fast! We had underwater cameras and Clay took a bunch of pictures but I haven't seen them yet, so I'm sorry I have no turtle pictures for you.


Get over it.


I did however, get a few pictures of us on the boat before they threw us into the middle of the cold deep ocean. With no life jackets.






If you didn't notice, Albert is absent from these photos. He actually opted out of the snorkeling adventure due to the cuts he received on his feet from snorkeling the day before. He could hardly walk. He still has scabs.

Ouch.


Okay are you ready for the cutest picture of the year? Probably the cutest picture ever?

























We all couldn't help but laugh when we saw that Ava thought she was going snorkeling too, she was already to go!



Later in the week we found ourselves enjoying a sunset dinner cruise on the Spirit of Lahaina.



Before dinner they had a little magic show and my two cutie nephews got to be part of it. He had each of them hold a rope tight while he stood in front of it and then you'll never guess what he did, he pulled that rope right through his body and it appeared in front of him!



Seconds after I took this picture the top half of the magicians body fell to the floor and blood started spewing out from where his torso was once attached spraying blood on the whole audience. He was pronounced dead at the scene.


Guess he wasn't that great of a magician after all.


Ok, that part didn't really happen but you all are wishin it had, you sickos.



Ta-da!


Not only was this dude magical, but he could take pictures too.



Amazing.









Back at our Hawaiin abode, Al would work out every single day. Seriously, doesn't he know what the word vacation means?




Apparently not.

But the kids wanted to work out too. They were hilarious!





The following pictures are brought to you by Cris when the guys went boogie boarding, I'm so sad I missed out on this!








Okay, so my cute, innocent sister in law Sharon thought it would be a great idea to make a sand sculpture of a nice big pair of boobs. I know, I couldn't believe it either.




Okay, so she wasn't sculpting boobs, on purpose anyway. She was trying to make Mickey Mouse, but she told me while she was doing it she looked down and realized it looked like boobs, and everyone was giving her the WTF look. It's funny because that is SO unlike Sharon, I love her.

We also went to the aquarium and saw lots of cool sea creatures. Here I am taking a picture with the scariest sea creature on display.



Don't be frightened, I used my shark uppercut and survived the encounter.





I love this picture, can you see the reflection of a certain someone?













This seems to be a popular form of transportation for Ava.







And finally, the moment you've all been waiting for. Don't be frightened, I heard that Hawaii officials were able to taze this creature and had it contained before it could pray for undeserving people.


Ladies and gentlemen, the 5 foot 10 inch Praying Mantis!





















32 comments:

Liz Mays said...

You take such great pictures or someone does! It really looks like an extraordinary vacation!

Rebecca Jo said...

that really is the cutest picture... what an adorable little scuba diver! Guess little girlfriend is fearless!!!

Looks like a dream vacation!

And wow... you have AMAZING eye lashes!!!

Shandal said...

I'm so jealous! Not of the swimming with sharks part, but the whole idea of a vacation at Hawaii! All of your pics were great. Especially your group pics! And I couldn't help but notice too that you have AMAZING eye lashes! haha!

MJW said...

Loved these pix! Looks like ya'll had a blast! I think I commented on a few on fb too :)

Jen said...

This makes me want to go on vacation. *sigh*

Kristina P. said...

If one of your resolutions is to make me hate you, you are doing an excellent job.

Brian Miller said...

amazing pics...i totally need a vacation now! love the snorkel pic! smiles.

Everyday Goddess said...

What a perfect trip!
I have an Ava too, she's 8.5.
Happy New Year!

brokenteepee said...

Before my brain decided that I should almost die I used to scuba dive. We dove a lot in Hawaii. There's a spot off of Molokai called The Cathedrals that is just unbelievable.

I always figured if I didn't see the shark the shark didn't see me. It always worked...

Looks like you all had a blast.

Sara said...

Great pictures! Love Ava's scuba picture.

Was he on the phone the entire time?

And the exercising trio was too funny!

Kasey said...

Great pictures. I've never been snorkeling. I think I'd like to try it sometime.

Hernandez Family said...

No lifejackets! In Cancun they make you wear them. Some people have all the luck!

I heard that you brought back that "scary" 5 foot 10 inch praying mantis.

AiringMyLaundry said...

Your family looks like they are so much fun.

I want to go on a dinner cruise!

Mike said...

Awesome photos!!

I love the beach shots, and that one of the little guy pointing in the air reminded me of the kid from Jerry MaGuire!

CLUFF FAMILY said...

I am so jealous. Love the pics. One day when we are rich, we will take a trip there. Just the 4 of us. Let's start saving! I love and miss you so much. I am loving all the bling and clothes you gave me. Why do you spoil me so?

Weeksie50 said...

I love the reflection picture of your man and the fish! What a great photo.. I also love the picture of Ave squatting down looking at the fish thru the square in the floor.. something really has her attention.. too cute..

and I totally agree with you.. GLEE 1 so much better than GLEE 2

Anonymous social worker said...

SIMPLY AMAZING.

Suzi said...

Looks like you had an incredible time on vacation. I an green with envy. Great pictures, loved the one of the island from above.

Anonymous said...

Lol!


This vacation looks like a BLAST! I'm so jealous! Except the snorkeling in open ocean part...NO thank you!

Momma@Live. Laugh. Pull your hair out said...

So.Jealous.

Awesome pics my friend!

Anonymous said...

Looks like one amazing trip with lots of memories made! You take amazing photos! Sitting here in this cold 10* weather right now, and looking at these photos really makes me wish I was someplace warm like Hawaii!

ChicagoLady said...

Wow, was it really only three years ago I was in Hawaii, enjoying the sun, warm air, snorkeling, musicians that use rope to cut themselves in half...

Lee said...

I never really wanted to go to Hawaii.
Because of you, now I do.
Whoever I marry can blame you for our honeymoon.

Justine said...

Ooh, so many great pictures here! I am soooooooooooo jealous. I wanna go back there dammit! Molikini was awesome, but... our "boat" was an 8 person raft. In the middle of the ocean. During a storm. It was NOT enjoyable.
I think my favorite picture is of Ava at the aquarium, bending all the way over to look through the glass on the floor. Cute!

Oh, and check your wording in your magician paragraph. He suddenly became a musician. Asshole.

Heeheehee

Justine :o )

Tara Bennett said...

Love Al's fishy face. Love the praying mantis pose. Hate that I didn't get to be there for all the fun, especially the mickey/booby fiasco!

Why Oby's parents haven't taken us first class to Hawaii is beyond me. I'm going to have to let her know that's what the cool in-law's do. Hopefully next Christmas I can be sporting a 5'10" praying mantis pose in Maui, after getting leid, of course.

Queenie Jeannie said...

Still so stinkin jealous! If you go again and forget to take me again, I might not forgive you. I might, but I might not.

Do you really want to take that kind of chance???

Alexis AKA MOM said...

Praying Mantis you freaking crack me up!!!

Look at all those amazing pictures, I'm so jealous! The kids look like they had so much fun. Ava you always steal my heart!

Just beautiful all of you.

Aleta said...

The personalities are vibrant in these pictures! Hawaii agrees with you, doesn't it! I loved the stories and pictures. My parents are planning a cruise there either late this year or next year. Looks like so much fun!

Christine Macdonald said...

BEAUUUUUUUTIFUL!!! Wow! I can't believe I grew up there... I miss it. THANK YOU for posting these. I love your writing too.

PS: I have camera envy.

Nishant said...

Looks like you had an incredible time on vacation. I an green with envy. Great pictures, loved the one of the island from above.

Work from home India

Paging Doctor Mommy said...

AMAZING pictures! I seriously need to take a vacation like this!

Janalyn and Rob said...

Checking out all of you vacation pics has sent me straight into hater mode. Seriously! Really, I am just super jealous that my eyelashes are only half the length of yours. ☺ Glad you all had fun!!