Back from the Big Island.

I'm back! It was a great week in Hawaii and even greater break from the Rock but it's nice to be back amongst my friends and neighbors! A couple of things I learned in Kona...

• We didn't actually stay in Kona! We stayed up on the Kohala Coast, about 20 miles north...beautiful!
  
• Hawaii's west coast has the most sunny days in a year whereas Hawaii's east coast has the most rainy days, crazy eh?
  
• It is good to have generous friends. We stayed in a BEAUTIFUL house in the Mauna Lani Resort complete with a car (mercedes!), beach equipment and a private beach!
• One can actually walk on a volcano crater floor.
  
• Losing your contacts AND glasses is not a good idea when your vacation is heavy on the sightseeing. Ugh.
  
• Going to the honeymoon capital of the world is surprisingly difficult when you just sent your husband off to Kuwait.
  
• Goats! Tons of them! We were told the island still has a herd of wild goats roaming around...I think we found them in our backyard. (see picture below)
  
• Waterfalls are cool. Paying $13 per person to see them is sooo not.
  
• Pina Coladas, Lava Flows and Daiquiris are a great way to ease deployment worries. (Thanks Dad!)
  
• Hawaii sunsets rock. Period.
  

The Crater!

Right before dad burns his hand on the steam vent. Nice goin dad!

Triple Falls

Our new "pets"

A great house!

Sipping away the deployment.

Pretty typical.

A few pictures from the week before Hawaii. My folks made pizza and margaritas for 35 of my "closest" friends one rainy night. I think we set a record for squeezing a small army into our flintstone house. 

Hi Tommy!

We also attended Tommy's first birthday party! My littlest neighbor turned one and got to dig into the customary baby birthday cake!

I was determined to make sure my parents could appreciate a beautiful Guam beach before hitting the shores of Hawaii so Dad and I hiked down to Haputo with Cheddar. If you ever want to impress someone on Guam, this is THE (and possibly the only) place to take them!!