a mid week jungle excursion.

To switch things up a bit we decided mid-week to start at the beach instead of the pool! Ha! Before the sand was just too hot to enjoy the kids played in the water, built sand castles and found new friends on the beach. We ended up hanging out with these friends the rest of the week and even exchanged contact info to have new pen pals! 

 Don't worry, we didn't forget about the pool though. After a few hours we went back for a quick swim, relaxed on the cozy couches and then fed the gigantic koi fish.

 That afternoon we took the big kids on an ATV tour through the jungle. We told them months ago they could choose an adventure with us and after going through all their options they really wanted to ride in a muddy ATV. And we loved it! It was fun to see a new part of the island we've never been to and for Matt and I to try something new too.

 The views were incredible. We stopped at 3 different locations to learn more about the history of the land and hear some of the famous movies that had been filmed in various areas. After a quick snack we headed to the final stop, a hidden waterfall! Since we had a little extra time they even let the kids swim and jump in for a bit. So so fun.

 Simon loved his one on one time with Grandpa and Grandma too. He went fishing in the lagoon and caught 3 fish! A really fun day for all of us.

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tacos and the canyon.

Tuesday morning started off as usual. Early to rise, hearty breakfast and down to the pool. The kids usually had it all to themselves at that hour and they didn't mind one bit. After a few lawn games we changed and headed off to Waimea Canyon. 

 There was a local fruit stand at the top of the drive so we chose some local mango and papaya for a quick snack that was so delicious. Anytime I can choose fresh, local produce I'm all for it. The kids loved every single bite.

 It was the most beautiful morning to be up there. The perfect view from all directions. We were lucky to stumble upon a local guy who gave a fantastic talk about the history of the island, the canyon and his people. It's always great to learn more about this beautiful little island.

 Seriously, so gorgeous!

 After a lot of family pictures, pictures with grandpa and grandma and more pictures of the view we drove down for a lunch at a family favorite...the Shrimp Station!

 Then..back to the beach!

 That night Matt's parents graciously babysat so we could have a couple hours out for a simple dinner. Taco Tuesday at a local restaurant down the street, delicious mai tais and good conversation. The kids got to make campfire s'mores on the beach while we were gone so a win win for everyone! Dinner was quick so we thought we'd relax on the beach before meeting up with the kids. Lucky for them they spotted us right as we found a quiet bench and date night was over! Ha...I'll take it though. These family vacations are everything.

 Beautiful sunset and smiles around. It was another amazing day.

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