Kauai Vacation: Day 3

We had most of the day to ourselves before the wedding so we took in some of the sights. Our first stop was Wailua Falls.
My cute boys.

Next we went to the Smith's Motor Boat Service and took a ride up the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto. The ride is on an open-air flatbottomed boat. You can also kayak up the river which is something we would have liked to have done but with Zachary made it a little impossible. Zachary would wave at all the kayakers that we passed.

The Fern Grotto was one of my favorite places that we went to.

Once you get up to the Fern Grotto you exit the boat and walk up to it where they sang and danced for us.

I love this picture. This is Zachary's reaction everytime he heard one of those wild roosters. Here he heard one as we were walking back to the boat.

On the boat ride back they taught us how to hula. Joe did a pretty good job with Zachary hanging onto him.

We then went onto see the Opaeka'a Falls.

Here is a view of the Wailua River from up by the falls.

We soon went back to the condo to get ready for the wedding. Isn't he handsome?

Joe said that the ceremony was beautiful. I wish I could have gotten to hear more of it, but I spent most of the time chasing Zachary down the beach. Congrats to Chris and Kristin!

I just love his little footprints in the sand.

And of course Zachary was trying to get all of the sand off his hands so Dad tried to help.

As we were getting ready to leave the beach, Zachary found this drift wood buried in the sand and thought it was so funny to try to balance on it on his stomach.

We then went to a luau after the wedding. The pictures just didn't come out very well at the luau. But we had a great time. Fabulous food and enjoyed some great dancing and singing.

Kauai Vacation: Day 2

**WARNING** I'm posting a ridiculous amount of pictures** but it's my blog and I can do what I want...right?
Our 2nd day when went to breakfast with the bride and groom at this delicious place called the Ono Family Restaurant. If you are ever in Kauai I seriously suggest eating there...especially for breakfast. After breakfast we had the day free until late afternoon when we were going on a sunset dinner cruise. So we headed off to the beach! There is this great place called Lydgate Beach Park. Perfect if you've got kids.
There are these huge rocks that surround the beach creating a little cove-like area. So you don't have to worry about getting pummeled by any waves. The waves break on these rocks and create this fabulous area. We have come to find out that Zachary doesn't really care for the sand too much. (Is he really my child?) He would constantly try to brush the sand off of his feet, then try to wipe the sand off of his hands onto his stomach and chest, and next thing you know he is covered head to toe in sand.

All over this island there are wild chickens and roosters. In fact, they even call them ferrel. I've only heard of ferrel cats...but chickens? Sure when you get there you think oh so cute but then they are EVERYWHERE! I do have to admit that the colors on some of those roosters where beautiful. Zachary chased them every chance he got. So that was pretty much everytime we got out of the car.

Unfortunately for me, my husband and child do not love the beach nearly as much as I do. (Who are these people!?) So we headed back to the condo before we had to be out at the harbor. Zachary watched a movie then went down for a nap. In fact we all took a nap. Traveling with a toddler is so different...especially for Joe. He is the kind of the person that is on the go go go all the time. But unless you want a very unhappy child...naptime is a neccesity.

Everyone that was there of the wedding was invited to go on a catamaran dinner cruise. It was a lot of fun. It took Zachary an hour or so to like it.

He loved being below deck and listening to a guy play acoustic guitar. He just sat there with his bottle of water and swayed to the music.

Joe and his best friend Chris Haidet.

This would have been a great family pic had Zachary looked at the camera. That was a challenge this trip. Usually he is a cheese ball and will smile for the camera.

One of many sunset pictures I took.

There were two trampolines towards the front of the boat. It took Zachary a while to warm up to them and the other kids. But he loved to run across it and into my arms. Luckily we didn't lose anybody overboard.

Kauai Vacation: Day 1

It was a VERY long first day. After 10 or so hours of traveling and lots of bananas and raisins we finally made it to Kauai!

Zachary was a CHAMP! We are so lucky that he travels so well. He pretty much slept for half of the 6
hour flight from Phoenix to Kauai
and watched movies the rest of the flight.

After we unpacked at the condo we set out in search of somewhere to eat. We came across this place called Olympic Cafe. It was atop several little shops and was open all around the place. So we got a great view of the island. And Zachary loved all the doves that kept landing on the ledge to retrieve any crumbs that were left.

The main reason that we went on this trip was that Joe's best friend, Chris, was getting married and Joe was the best man. We eventually met up with him and his bride-to-be at another local restaurant. Unfortunately, by this time Zachary was offically done fo the day. After a very embarrasing temper tantrum (by Zachary not me) I left Joe find his own way back to the condo. Of course Zachary fell asleep before I even turned the headlights on the truck. It didn't take me long to drift off to la la land myself.

Where In The World....

has the Davis Family been???

We've been on the island of Kauai the for the last week!!!!

Pictures and stories to come soon....

Thankful Thursday

1. I am especially thankful for Grandpa Mann this week. This is Joe's grandfather. He has been here visiting the last several days and it was wonderful to see him. Zachary and I spent most of the day with him my mother-in-law and her sister on Monday. We drove to Bountiful (where he was born and lived until the 8th grade) and listened to him tell us stories about when he was young and various family members. We visited the Bountiful Cemetery and saw the graves of his parents, grandparents, and many more extended family members. It made me want to jump back into family history research! I love all of the many stories that Grandpa Mann has to tell. Not only about the days of old but of his experiences overseas during WWII. We miss him already and cannot wait to see him and hear more stories.

2. I'm thankful for Visiting Teaching. VT for those of you that don't know is a program in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where women are paired together in "compainionships" and visit other women in their congregation on a monthly basis . The purpose of VT is to create lasting friendships and to provide support and comfort when needed. I'm thankful for my own Visiting Teachers who without fail stop by my house and visit every month. I know that I can call on them for the smallest of things and they will be there when I need them. I am also thankful for my own Visiting Teaching companion. I have built a lasting relationship with her as we have visited several sisters.
In the VT message this month, Margaret D. Nadauld stated, "Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind... We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith." Sure there are times when I think of the worldly stuff and of things that I want (Jessica, I'm really jealous that you got a new fence!). But I would be perfectly happy making my family happy and knowing that my children think of me as a woman of faith.

Mother D

We LOVE it when Joe's mom comes to town! She has been here with Grandpa Mann for a few days and tonight she came out and played with us.

She even got on the Merry-Go-Round with Zachary and I!

Here is Joe trying to give Zachary some pointers.

And we finished off the night with some ice cream.

Thanks for coming to visit Mother D!

Utah's Best Chef Competition

So Joe was invited to participate in the Utah's Best Chef Competition that was being held at the Home Show this past weekend. It was something similiar to an Iron Chef competition. He and three other chefs had an hour to create a main dish along with a desert with just a few ingrediants that were provided and a "mystery box" that held a surprise ingrediant. It was actually three...almonds, peaches, and frosted flakes. We heard in a past years show that hot dogs were once the secret ingrediant.
Zachary spent half of the show running up to the counter to wave at his dad.
Here is Joe and David (his sous chef) discussing strategy.

Joe is cutting up a chicken while Angie from Good Things Utah is hosting the competition.

Here was one of the best things of the night. That is Kelsey from The Next Food Network Star! I was able to talk to her for a little bit after the competition. She was such a sweetheart.

Joe is discussing the final product. They ended up doing some sort of an herbed chicken with a tomato cake (that's right I said tomato cake), green beans, and a small chocolate cake. Now I know that does not sound glamours but you have to remember who is describing the dishes...the chef's wife and not the chef.

And here they are....Team Baxter's! Unfortunately, the competition was one by another team. But rumor has it from some very reliable sources that they came a very close second. Irregardless of who won I'm so PROUD of my husband! He's #1 in my book...and kitchen!

SERIOUSLY?!?!

Yes...that is snow on top of my car. It's only October 12th! I'm not ready for this.

Today's Bounty

Here is today's bounty. All picked from the garden this evening...ok...with the exception of the pumpkin that was picked a couple of days ago. Guess I'm not so bad at this gardening thing. Now...off to make some salsa!

I'm Irritated!

I was just listening to a conversation between two people regarding the election. Excuse me while I get on my soapbox for just a moment. These two people were discussing who they "might vote for if they were voting." ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? They are not going to vote. Because they either don't feel educated enough or they just don't like either candidate. It just irritates me because there are many many ways to become educated....they just don't feel like spending the time to get educated. Now I'm not one to sit around and discuss politics...it just isn't me. But this is one of our liberties of living in the United States. And to be a woman and able to vote as well. Arrrggg! I think that I might have to duct tape my mouth shut if I hear either one of them complain about anything after the election.

Sunday Fun

After General Conference yesterday we went to the Temple grounds just to walk around and let Zachary get some much needed energy release time. He was super good and stayed close to us most of the time. He loved touching the water in the Reflection Pool and his new found love of jumping. I just couldn't get a picture with his legs off of the ground. What a cutie!

He Makes Me Melt

Look at those blue eyes! Of course he makes me melt everytime he opens them big and just stares. He knows how to get what he wants. And right now that no longer sitting in his high chair but sitting at the table with Joe and I. Oh the messes that will come!

Anyone know where I can find a booster seat?