The Blake Family

Swim and Snorkel

May 13, 2008
Gannon serenaded us this morning with his ukulele. What a silly boy!

We headed down to the pool to sun bathe and swim...you can see from the photos below that Gannon has become fond of demonstrating the shaka sign and saying "Hang Loose Dude" to everyone, including the camera!

For lunch we went to the Hula Grill - I loved this restaurant because it was right on the beach and because you ate with your feet in the sand...my kind of place to eat. To top it off, the food was fantastic! After lunch we played more at the beach and ended the day snorkeling...today was the best snorkeling day. Dad, Rich and I went out right off of the shore in front of our condo. We saw so many great fish AND an octopus AND an eel AND we swam with a green sea turtle - AMAZING!!! We took some photos with an underwater camera, so I will post some of these photos once I get the film developed.

Just Hanging Around!

May 12, 2008
Today was all about R & R. Today certainly felt like a true vacation. We spent the early part of the day in Lahaina where we shopped and ate lunch. We ended the day back at the condo and the beach snorkeling.

Mother's Day

May 11, 2008
I need to thank my family for making this Mother's Day such a beautiful day and for helping me to create some of my most favorite memories of us together...memories that I will forever have!

Today we did the Hana drive...saw many wonderful water falls, walked on the black sand beach, ate local and fresh food, entered secret caves and experienced a fun picnic. But - the most remarkable part of the day was within minutes of me waking up...Rich was yelling for me, "Honey, come quick!" Believe or not there was a dolphin swimming in the ocean right in front of our condo...it was amazing!!!

We completed the evening at the most delicious Polynesian restaurant that I have ever been to...Mama's Fish House in Paia. Richard and Gannon ended the night by giving me an unexpected gift - a smoky quartz ring, in which I LOVE!

A special "Happy Mother's Day" to all of my girlfriends that are celebrating this wonderful day with their families!

Becky and Dean's Wedding Day!!!

May 10, 2008
Richard and I woke up this morning and headed to the Marriott Resort, where the wedding was being held to meet with the wedding coordinator and the bride. All I have to say is WOW - the grounds are beautiful.

Me, Becky and Kathy the morning of the big day.

Below are photos from the wedding reception. I will post additional wedding photos once Becky's photographer gives her the link. I'll also get more from my Dad's camera because he was able to take photos during the ceremony

The wedding was incredible. I have been to many weddings, but this one was definitely special - maybe because it was a wedding of two very close friends, or the unbelievable location, or the fact that Becky looked like a true princess...I swear to you that complete strangers were taking photos of her as she was walking down the isle (like the paparazzi) - it was wonderfully crazy.

The reception was held at a delicious restaurant in Lahaina - Pacific O. Becky and Dean truly treated their guests to a five-star menu...I'm talking Lobster, caviar, steak, etc. They are too wonderful! Below is a photo of Gannon and his new friends Regan and Devin at the kids table.

The Newlyweds!!!

Giving the speech.

Dancing the night away.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Scott!

We love you.

We are honored to have been your Matron of Honor and Best Man!!!

Molokini, Turtle Town and a Luau!

May 9, 2008
We woke up very early this morning to head to the harbor to board a snorkel tour to Molokini and Turtle Town. Molokini is a partially sunken volcanic crater just 2.5 miles from Maui and is a wonderful place to snorkel because there is tons of marine life that live there. Gannon had a wonderful time and never got sea sick...which is something that neither me or my Mom can say. I should have known better because I always get sea sick and did not remember to take Bonine. I was doing fine on the boat ride and in Molokini, but as soon as I was in the water at Turtle Town - I was doomed! Throwing up in the water (I know, gross), just like I did in Monterey when I was getting certified to dive seven years ago. No matter how sick I was though - nothing could ruin the beautiful morning!

I was so proud of Gannon. He tried to get in the water with his Daddy and I - and successfully did for a few seconds, but then got a little frightened and went back on the boat with his Grandma. The waves were very big due to high winds (hence why I got so sick) and that is the reason he became unsure about being in the middle of the ocean. Good job Buddy!!! You're very brave.

After we "landed" and recovered and rested...we went to Becky and Dean's rehearsal dinner - a luau rehearsal dinner and it was SO MUCH FUN!!! Not only was it wonderful to spend the evening among friends and family, the luau entertainment was too much fun.

I couldn't believe it when the luau host asked, "who would like to come on the stage to learn how to hula?" and Gannon yelled, "ME!" He dragged me up on stage with him. I was so proud of Gannon - he did a great job at his first hula lesson. Photos of him on stage below.Richard, Gannon and I at sunset...I love this photo of us!

Gannon really liked climbing in and out of canoes during the entire trip to Maui...canoes were everywhere because the week we were vacationing in Maui was also the International Festival of Canoes celebration.

A photo of Kathy and Steve at the Luau.

The soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. Dean Scott.

My Mom and Dad.

I think Gannon fell a little in love with these beautiful dancers...and they loved him right back!

The Beach and a Boat!

May 8, 2008
Richard made everyone breakfast this morning (thank you Choo!) and we enjoyed the food and being together on the lanai. Here is a photo of what we were looking at from our lanai and a photo of me and Rich...

After breakfast, we headed downstairs to the beach to make sandcastles and to splash!

Next, we went into town for lunch at the Cool Cat Cafe and to rent snorkel gear for the week. We had to visit the Banyan Tree once again - since it was light outside.

Then we headed to the harbor to aboard the Reefdancer...a glass bottom boat. Gannon loved this adventure. We saw a lot of fish and even some turtles!!!

We ended the day by going to Whaler's Village (one of my favorites) and eating at the Rusty Harpoon...again, yummy!!!

We arrived in Paradise!

May 7, 2008

Kaanapali is one of my most favorite places on Earth! What a blessing and a pleasure to be here.

Since my parents vacationed with Gannon, Rich and I - we decided that it would be best to stay in a condo instead of a hotel...we stayed at the Mahana right on the beach!!! I mean right on the beach...you could see, smell, hear and taste the Pacific. The condo we stayed in was amazing (2 bedroom, 2 baths) and newly remodeled (granite counters, stainless steel appliances, huge tiled showers, big flat screen TVs, etc. - bottom line...stay in room 901 if you get a chance because you won't be disappointed!). I loved the ceiling to floor windows that allowed us to fully capture the beauty of the ocean...and the lanai was huge! Check out these photos of the living room.

After we unpacked and settled down a bit - it was time to hit downtown Lahaina...so we headed to Front Street where the life of the island is! And the most breathtaking moment happened to us as we walked out the front door of the condo - we saw a gorgeous and full rainbow. I had to capture this moment with a photo...enjoy!