{Day 3}

Today we wandered over to the Hilton to check our their beaches.  The active volcano on Kona has made the island really unique.  I love seeing the contrast of the dark black volcanic rock against all the greenery.

There aren't many sandy beaches on this island but that didn't stop us from getting in the water. Although, five minutes after this picture was taken Dave wandered out further into the ocean and tripped and sliced his foot on a rock, then while trying to catch his balance he grabbed onto a sea urchin. Ouch! 

{Day 4}

Since we didn't have the best luck on the Kohala coast yesterday, we decided to find a nice man made beach and just relax. The Marriott Beach was just what we needed! It was tucked back into a little bay and there was almost no tide. It was the perfect place for Tenley to play and for me to relax. 

Mele Kalikimaka (Part 1)

{DAY 1}

We arrived to Kona pretty late the night before so we had a pretty low key day to recover from the 6 hour flight with a toddler. We explored our "tree house" that would be home for the next week. This house was the craziest place I have ever stayed. It definitely gave us an authentic island experience. 

First order of business was to get a smoothie. This fruit shack full of exotic tropical fruits did not disappoint!

Later we headed to the beach in Kona near old airport road.  Tenners loves to let the waves crash into her. I wish you could hear her sweet giggles as the tide would come crashing in.

On our way back to the house we walked around the Kona Temple grounds. Such a beautiful temple in the most gorgeous place. 

Of course that crazy little girl had to climb up on the donkey of the nativity. She kept petting it and saying "moo moo." Close enough T.

{DAY 2} 

Today we went exploring around to the other side of the island and found the beautiful black sand beaches of Punalu'u. This place is a dream. 

Then we drove to Hilo which is kind of a strange town, but they did have the most incredible ice cream, ever. Still dreaming about this pineapple coconut cone. 

Making our way back to Kona, we found this amazing hike through a rainforest leading to Akaka Falls. So glad we followed my dad who always takes the "scenic route" which led us to these amazing falls. 

O (tiny) Christmas Tree

We had the cutest little babe deliver our tree to us this year! Jk-ing. Since my giant 14 ft tree is packed away in Utah (and it would not even come close to fitting in our apartment right now) we went to the tree lot and picked out our tiny Charlie Brown Christmas tree.  I didn't have any decorations so I put it in a cute little brown wicker basket and it was perfect. 

This is Halloween

It may take some convincing for Tenley, but I'm totally all for converting to the pumpkin painting tradition instead of pumpkin carving.  Just like every other activity I do with this crazy, she was only interested in painting for about 2 minutes....ok let's be honest, it was more like 30 seconds. But look at that masterpiece! Makes my momma heart proud.  

Later when Dave got home from work we took our little Dalmatian trick-or-treating.  

 She was only brave enough to actually make it all the way up to 3 doors, but she was absolutely thrilled with those 3 pieces of candy!

We live in such a fun neighborhood right now. So many homes were decorated all spooky and there were seriously hundreds of trick-or-treaters.  It was fun to watch Tenley observe all that was going on. She kept looking at my hair and giving me this funny look.  I tried to teach her to say "trick-or-treat" but I failed. However, she was blowing kisses and saying "baahy" [her southern version of goodbye] to everyone who walked passed us. 

Getting a good view and soaking it all in.  I'd like to put this night on repeat a few times. It was so much fun!

Pumpkin Patching

 I took T to the McGrath's Brother's Great Pacific Pumpkin Patch and she had so much fun running around and getting covered in dirt. I think her favorite part was all the rocks.  This child is obsessed with rocks. Everywhere we go, she has to pick up a rock and carry it with her. I laugh because I was such a rock collector growing up as well. I even had one of those super awesome rock tumbler polishers. When my parents would go on a trip, I would make them bring me back a rock as a souvenir. Super strange I know, but it appears that "rock obsessions" are genetic. I mean, they must be. While Tenners baby may not look a thing like her momma, she is totally her mommas girl. 

Utah Weekend

I have been missing my Utah sooooo much lately.  I live for colder weather....not freezing cold weather, just perfect Utah fall weather.  Lucky for me, BYU had a home game last weekend, so of course we had to go! Tenners has been on so many airplane trips now I lost count how many times its been, and she is usually so easy and wonderful. This time, not so much. Let's just say it was a very long hour and 20 minutes and we were all really happy to land in Utah (including the lady in front of us who glared at Dave in 5 minute intervals the entire flight.) 

Our first stop was for food and we of course chose Cafe Rio. Mmmmmmm. Later we bundled up and headed to the BYU football game and on the way made a little pit stop at Swig and I devoured an entire sugar cookie.  I was off to a good start on my mission to enjoy as much yummy Utah food as I could in our short 2 day trip.

Good thing we took this picture before the entire BYU team got injured including Taysom Hill who is out for the season.  Needless to say, the Cougars lost and the rest of their football season seems a bit hopeless with all the injuries that happened from this one game. 

The next day we had a few things to take care of at our house.  I played with Tenley outside while Dave did some yard work. It felt so strange being at our house and knowing someone else was living inside.  Weird.  I think I'm still trying to wrap my head around this move to California being more permanent. 

After we left our house, we went to Park City and I was in heaven admiring all the pretty colors of fall on our drive up the canyon.  We ate at Baja Cantina and walked around Park City Mountain Resort. 

It was such a perfect weekend and I'm happy I was able to get my "Fall fix."  Utah still feels like home to me and I think it always will. 

Widows of Fall

Football season has officially begun, which means I'm a widow on Monday night, Saturday and Sunday night.  I'm kidding, sort of.  This weekend BYU plays University of Texas and Dave went to Texas with his dad to cheer on the Cougs.  I'm so glad he got to be there to watch BYU dominate the Longhorns!  

I always get crazy productive when Dave leaves town so we got ready and headed out for a long day of shopping. (Not the Nordstrom kind of shopping though. Boo.)  First things first....food.  I am a cranky lady when I am hungry and my sweet little Tenners definitely got that same trait from me.  A quick stop at In-N-Out and we are both so much nicer to each other. 

Next stop, Home Depot.  I have been wanting to re-paint our kitchen table and chairs FOREVER and I deduced this would be the perfect weekend.  Everything is a phone to her lately, so she "talked" on the paintbrush the entire time we were in the store. I should quit buying toys. 

Finally we made our way to Target.  Because I figured with a newly painted table, I would want to add a rug, and some pillows and some storage.  This is normal, right?!  

Most days she is just a dreamboat and makes me want to have 10 more just like her.  She was getting a bit restless by now, but she just laid her pretty little head on these pillows until we left.  Now home for nap time while I attempt to paint.