Joel and I are now moving through our Bucket List-things we want to do before we leave Hawaii. Thankfully we feel we have done an OK job throughout our years here so we don't feel overwhelmed now to shove activities in. We have done a lot but now want to see it all again! It is amazing how accustomed we have come to life here and are not looking forward to being housebound due to bad weather. Everyday we try to look around and not take this beautiful scenery for granted. We are truly blessed to have been able to enjoy paradise for 2.5 years.
So this past weekend we got a sitter and finally did an intense hike, Kuliouou Ridge, that ended with a 180 degree few of the island.
However our hike started with us hiking a 2 mile detour on the wrong trail....so after an hour, we found the right trail. This resulted in a 7 mile hike for the day. We were pretty dead!
At one point, the trail and surrounded landscape was completely covered with pine needles. It was so beautiful and looked like snow to me...it didn't even seem like Hawaii.
This was about the halfway point and I don't think my dear friend Melissa was too happy about agreeing to hike with us at this point. Melissa was my sailing partner when I first learned how to sail and now we are instructors together...a lovely friend that I will sorely miss.
One of the many amazing views...that is Diamond Head crater in the background.
The hike was fairly steep.
But we made it and it was well worth it!
Joel and I at the top. I don't think there are words to describe that color of blue. The sky was so clear that we could see 3 of the other Hawaiian islands from the top.
At the top with our friends Melissa and Richard.
This past weekend we rented a kayak and explored some islands around Oahu with friends.
This is the only time Jesse was smiling in the kayak (when it was on the shore). It was a traumatic experience for him. He was hysterical when I held him on for the 1st trip and Joel paddled but after a wave flipped us, he didn't make another sound-just hung on for dear life like a statue. The next day he was a little more relaxed and was able to point out some turtles swimming by.
Anna and Asher took turns being brave...at times they liked it and at times they didn't. They both thought it was fun to surf waves with the kayak. 
Here Joel is paddling Anna and Asher out to "Goat Island", a bird sanctuary that we camped out on and explored for the day. We had enough adults to have one stationed on each shore while the dads ferried families back and forth. Joel was exhausted at the end of the day!
The kids had a blast together!
Jesse and Asher doing the boy thing and exploring the island with Daddy. They found a big bird egg and saw some strange birds.
Our beach camp. Also the site where Asher found a diamond ring while digging in the sand. Our jaws dropped when he trotted over to us saying "Look what I found!". We believe it is real and plan on taking it to get appraised this week. Now every time we are at the beach he says "Mommy will you help me find a diamond ring?"...spoiled already!
Asher getting some paddling in.
A tired but happy family at the end of the day.
