The "volcano" outside the Mirage. It's so awesome to watch! Even has "explosions"!

waterfalls outside the Mirage. This is the "normal" way it looks!

Kauai March 29-Apr. 14th

The chocolate tree! I would like to grow one in my back yard! There is quite a process to making the final smooth chocolate.
The pod is cut open and reveal the nibs inside. They are covered with a mushy, sweet white gooey covering.
We got to taste different kinds of chocolate and write a description of the taste. Didn't know there were so many different kinds of flavors!

A chocolate nib. Have to use your imagination to taste the chocolate! It's bitter...

Chickens in many colors run free all over the island! They are said to run free after a hurricane in 1992 when the cages were torn open. They were kept there for cockfighting!

Limahuli Gardens

Plumeria flowers...they smell so good! Leis are made of these
Bromeliads
Large poinsettia bush

Bromeliads on path
Dunno the name!
These tulip trees are everywhere!

Kauai coffee plantation

Coffee plant in various stages of ripeness
An OLD coffee grinder!

Smith's Grotto tour and luau

Approaching the dock with the Smith's grotto boat tour

The world-famous grotto
Opening the fire pit to remove the pig for the luau

Hula dancers
Fire dancer

TREES

A pumelo tree
Banana tree

Not sure of the actual name of this fruit..I call it "bumpy fruit"!
Another unusual fruit

Spinnaker Dolphin
The boat trip along the Napali Coast

The cliff underwater at the Rock near Niihau

The cliffs on Napali Coast

We did some snorkeling in this area. The cliff underwater drops off quite a bit! Lots of pretty fish here.

This is Niihau Island, the Forbidden Island. Read more about it in the Scrapblog....

This home has a gazebo in front of it

Another beautiful home

Approaching the dock where we ate dinner

Our welcoming lady!

You can rent a boat slip here for $100,000 a year!

A repo marina, how sad! Need to clear out many per month.

Xmas in Boise, '08

Uncle Brian giving the kids a ride

Ashlyn and Jessica make "gingerbread houses"

Ashlyn and Jessica matching pj's
Cody and Ashley...I think she likes his hugs!
Ashlyn, Jessica and Megan in matching horse sweatshirts
'Twas a fun Xmas!