Hawaii: Day Three (my birthday!)

What a way to spend my birthday!!! I did miss my kiddos on my birthday, but I got to talk with them on the phone so that made it better.  Since Bailey is three, it made it so much easier to leave the kids because I didn’t have a really young one missing me as much.  She told me she did cry for me a few times, and my boys said they got a little sad missing me too, so that made me feel good that they still missed me ;). The view from the condo. Ok, so these next ones need some explanation.  The first day we were there, we went to FIVE stores in search of a swimming noodle for Dillon, as he was afraid he wouldn’t float while we went snorkeling.  After spending so much time and being told over and over that they were all sold out and to try such and such a store (which we already had), we gave up trying to find one.  The next day we’re driving along the main road heading to Kona, which has zero garbage along it, and Dillon slammed on the brakes and pulled over, yelling, “There was a noodle!”  So he hopped out of the jeep and ran to get it.  It was pretty funny.  My mom was in the back seat and we couldn’t stop laughing. Lava everywhere!  The Kona side is a lot more dry and desert like.  But still beautiful and plenty green. Renting our snorkel gear.  On our way back from Kona we found a lava tube that we explored a bit. Me with my step-dad, Karl. My mom making a rock tower while she was bored waiting for us. People liked to spell out things with coral on the dark lava.  Kind of like when you drive to Wendover and see all the rock on the white sand. More views from our condo. Then we went to the beach near the condo and tried out our snorkeling gear. You knew it was coming.  We had to get at least one shot with the hang loose sign.  Ok, so we were quite comical looking while trying to get to the water.  We so should not have put our flippers on first.  But then walking into the water was the funniest part.  We had to finally walk in backwards.  I’m sure we were quite entertaining to those laying out on the beach (in fact, I know we were from their smiles and chuckles).  Sorry for the butt cheek—apparently my swimsuit wasn’t wet so it wouldn’t stay down.  I’m aware it’s not attractive. I’m glad we got our snorkel gear to try out first, because I was a bit of a wimp—I so held my breath and shut my eyes each time because I just didn’t believe it would work!  And since I wear contacts, it’s been YEARS since I’ve been able to open my eyes under water.  But it worked!  It was pretty murky here because of the waves—Dillon and my mom saw some fish, but I only saw coral.  And then a wave slammed me down into it and I scraped my knees and bled and then I was done. After snorkeling, Dillon and I headed out on our own to spend the rest of my birthday together.  First we went out to eat.  We shared some coconut mahi mahi.  It looks good but it wasn’t so much.  Our view was pretty though! (switch in cameras since I didn’t want to take our nice camera on the boat we were about to go on). I’m actually going to post the next part of the day in it’s own post because it will be long :).