the country classic

We just got back from the Country Classic in Wilsonville with Matt and Annie. The Grand Prix was the final event of the classic, and the top three split a $25,000 purse. It was amazing to see these talented horses and people compete on those seriously high barriers! 

early birthday!

My birthday isn't till monday, but I'm taking the day off from work and so my fabulous friends at AMAA Loree and Denise gave me the nicest cards! Loree also gave me this awesome toy horse and rider! (Boy does she know me well!) Thanks Loree and Denise, what a surprise!

hawaii day six

On our last full day in Maui we went to a beach a little past Lahaina and tried out surfing.

That night we went to a luau called "The Feast at Lele." We had a five course meal and watched dancing from Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand and other island nations. The sunset at the show was the best we'd seen all week! 

hawaii day five

La Perouse Bay is on the southwest side of Maui. It's a place where a lava flow took out the road and went into the ocean. We walked around and took pictures of the blow hole where the ocean would spray up through the rocks. 

fourth of july in hawaii

We had a relatively laid back fourth of July here in Maui. We spent most of the day down at the beach by our house swimming, snorkeling, acting like we were in a Corona commercial and soaking up the sun.

After the beach we went out for a fourth of July dinner at a place called SanSei's Sushi. Annie was all dressed up for Independence Day...so adorable!

We went to Lahina to see their fireworks display it was really pretty to watch them launch the fireworks from a boat out in the ocean surrounded by sailboats and low clouds. Happy Independence Day everyone!

hawaii day three

On our third day in Maui we went to Iao Needle Monument. It's a 130 something step climb to the viewing of the rock formation and it's so pretty to look down the canyon out to the sea! We found a little side trail and adventured up through serious rainforest. It's probably my favorite place we've visited so far!

hawaii day two

On our second day here we went out on the west side of the island and went snorkeling! We saw all sorts of fish and a turtle. I was pretty creeped out by the sea urchins but otherwise it was way fun! Afterwards we went to the north shore and watched some seriously professional windsurfers cutting it up in the ocean.