This is how Brayden Rolls. . .

. . .and how he unrolls.

Good or Evil?

MAKENZIE: Look at me! I am soooo stinkin' cute. . .

. . .there is no possible way that I could be the evil twin.
BRAYDEN: Oh pa-leeease! What a load of crap!
MAKENZIE: Wait just a minute.
MAKENZIE: That's MUCH better. Now I don't have that stupid bow on my head. Ooooh, look at the shiny camera. It has lots of buttons that I can push. Must. Have it. NOW!
BRAYDEN: Aaaaaaaah! I wish I could walk too. Wait for me!

MELINDA & ANDY: Thanks Brian & Jen for the cute t-shirts!

We're Ba-ack!

ALOHA! We just got back from our trip to Kauai. I was looking forward to this vacation forever. I wanted to sleep in, lounge on the beach, and hike in the rainforest---most of which I got to do. Here's how it all went down.

Tuesday, August 5

9:00 pm We just dropped the kids off at Grandma & Grandpa Rhodes house. Our house seems strangely empty and quiet now. I'm not sure what to do, but Andy sure does. He wastes no time throwing in a Metallica album and cranking up the stereo. Our packing party begins. . .

9:30 pm The party abruptly comes to a halt when my vase full of rocks comes crashing down off the top of the entertainment center. Apparently the vibrations from the sub-woofer were a bit too much.

Wednesday, August 6

9:00 am We haven't even been away from the kids for a full day and I already miss them. Much to Andy's chagrin, I have been oohing and awing at all the cute babies I see in the airport. Then I see a double stroller and my heart melts faster than a delicious Fudgesicle on a hot summer day.

Thursday, August 7

4:00 am Sleeping in? HAH! There are about 10 roosters outside our condo that have other plans. Apparently, the things run rampant on the island. And they are EVERYWHERE. I hate roosters!

8:30 am We get an early start on the day and head up Waimea Canyon to do some hiking. We stop at the visitors center and are greeted by this. . .

. . .I vow right then and there to eat more chicken! We take a couple of disappointing hikes and then drive to the lookout point at the top of the canyon. Spectacular.Friday, August 8

4:30 am What a surprise. My friend the rooster is outside making noise. I! Need! Sleep!!


4:00 pm We are on boat tour up the Na Pali Coast. I wouldn't mind being stranded on a beach like this (as long as there weren't any chickens on it).

From the boat we saw bottle nose dolphins, spinner dolphins and a Hawaiian monk seal. We went snorkeling and saw all kinds of cool fish. It rained on us for a few minutes, but what an amazing sight the rain brought.

Saturday, August 9

4:12 am YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! I am soooo glad we are staying somewhere else tonight.

9:00 am We drive up to the north shore and hike to Hanakapiai Falls. There are no words to describe how beautiful this hike. From start to finish I am in awe.

Sunday, August 10

8:34 am Wahoo! Once upon a time I considered this getting up early. Now it's sleeping in and quite a luxery.

1:00 pm Today we are just taking it easy. We are just finishing up at the beach where we lounged around, read and swam. Despite the fact that I applied SPF 50 twice in just over 2 hours, I'm afraid my porcelain skin still got sunburned.

3:36 pm Back in the hotel I grab a bottle of aloe vera and rub all over my legs. It feels kind of sticky. That's weird. I take it out in the room and ask Andy to put some on my back. He just starts laughing and informs me it's actually his hair gel.

Monday, August 11

11:45 am We are back in SLC. I had a lot of fun on the trip, but it's good to be home.

1:00 pm I just found out that Brayden took his first steps yesterday. I can't believe we missed that! It's a good thing I didn't find that out until now or I would've spent my last night in Hawaii crying.

2:00 pm Andy is still laughing about the hair gel incident. He's going to get some mileage out of that one. (Sigh.)