YUM

I just love the Pioneer Woman. I was looking for an apple-something recipe that I could try with my KitchenAid Mixer and happened upon a recipe for this yummy goodness...

It's an apple cake baked in a cast iron pan. How cool is that? I just happen to have a cast iron pan that was given to me as a gift and this dessert was so much fun making in it.

Here's what it looks like before I flipped it over.

YUM

Try it for yourself here

Topping off the Trip

Our trip would not have been complete without a bit of gazing at the Waimea Canyon.

Also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific...

 

Take note of the Rooster...they are everywhere on Kauai!

 

 

 

It also wouldn't have been a complete vacation without an educational moment! After our Waimea Canyon visit, we took a little field trip to Fort Elizabeth, one of three Russian Forts on the island that was used as a trading post in the Pacific. The Fort was constructed in the 1800s as a result of an alliance between an Hawaiian High Chief and a Russian-American Company. The fort was later dismantled and today all that remains is the exterior wall of the Fort.

 

 

Fort Entryway

 

Fort Interior

One of the most interesting facts about the Hawaiian islands that intrigues me is the island of Niihau, also known as the The Forbidden Isle. We were able to get a glimpse of the island off the coast of the west shores of Kauai. This island is privately owned by the Robinson Family.

 

 

Wild at Heart

The trip wouldn't have been a vacation without a book to read, but I didn't pack one for the trip. I was happy with glee when we checked into our resort and caught a glimpse of the little library by the pool.

I grabbed this one.

This read went a long way at describing the heart of a man. It gave me an appreciation for the natural tendencies of a man's heart for adventure, seeking after the thrill of a victory, and the desire to be his wife's champion, rescuer, and protector. The author makes the reader comfortable with the notion of a "man's man". Yes, men can have a soft side that is comfortable with showing emotions, but God created men with a distinct difference from a woman and every man should live in this place of being himself.

I was encouraged through this book to appreciate what makes my husband the man that he is. An outdoorsman, a lover of sports, and a valiant protector and provider for his family.

The next time that I'm tempted to whine while the hubby heads for another round of basketball or to head up a tree to hunt out another deer, I'll consider the wildness within his heart and be at peace that its this God given difference in him that makes him the man that has courageously stolen my heart, protects my family, and seeks to honor the God that created him just the way he is. Considering all this, I wouldn't change a thing about him.

Underwater Livin'

You know my girls could have been born with webbed feet given how much they love being in the water. What's interesting about it all is that when my oldest was five or six, no matter what I did, I couldn't get her to get her face wet let alone put her head under water.

 

Let's just say she's come a long way beyond getting her face wet.

 

I enjoy the natural beauty of the water and the calming effect that waves have as they roll into shore.  On our first trip to Kauai I became a fan of snorkeling and each time that we return I'm always willing to give it a try to see if I can see a few underwater creatures. This time around I took our GoPro Camera with me to capture a few shots.

 

Yellowfin Surgeon Fish

 

Saddle Wrasse

 

Sergeant Majors

 

 



Unwrapping a hidden gem

Just when you think you've ventured to every possible place on Kauai, you uncover a new hidden gem. Yesterday we spent most of the day indoors, just relaxing. Hunger pains started to hit us all so we headed to Hanalei to grab a Bubba Burger.

After we all got our bellies full we decided to make a drive to the end of the island on the North Shore. The road's end landed us at Ke'e Beach. Hubby and I have been to this beach on past trips, but we've only taken a peek at it. The trail head of the Kalalau Trail is positioned at the entryway to Ke'e Beach and has distracted us really from embarking out onto this hidden gem. 

As we walked out onto this beach the backdrop of the Napali Coast took our breath away. What a beautiful scenery God has painted here. As the waves rolled towards the shoreline, they get trapped into the bay area creating waves that roll along the shoreline sideways. 

Ke'e Beach...an amazing hidden gem

Trey's Aloha

It's been such a joy watching my little guy experiencing the "aloha" of Kauai.

He had a adventurous journey to the island that started with me scooping him out of his bed at 130 a.m. to head to the airport. He was a trooper on the long car ride to the airport and then surviving airport security. The airport had a little play center that kept him occupied over the hours that we had to wait for the first of 3 flights.

He was a complete angel on the first flight, falling off to sleep before the plane even took off.

After the first flight with him sleeping the entire time I thought that I'd be crowned "Flying Momma with Toddler" of the year, but the 2nd and 3rd flight wasn't as pretty. The toddler apps and gift wrapped dollar store toys lost their baby luster halfway through the 2nd flight and the journey to keep my little man content began.

I praise the Lord that we survived all the flights without being threatened to disembark the plane. Once we arrived in Kauai and I witnessed his awe and wonder of God's beauty, it made the journey all worth it...

Kauai - A Walk Down Memory Lane

Kauai 2012 - Love having her first shaved ice

Kauai 2012 - Mom & Girls

Kauai 2010 - Napali Coast

 

Kauai 2010 - Secret Beach

Kauai 2012 - Love & Lea's first Kauai Beach Experience

 

Kauai 2012 - ATV Tour

 

 

Kauai 2013

 

Kauai 2012

 

Kauai 2013 - Hula Pie

 

Kauai 2013

The Great Escape... continues.

Our Great Escape has continued on the island of Kauai. We've tried this time around to do a lot of, well, nothing. There is so much to see and do on the island, so it can be tempting to fill the day with lots of activities.

There is the Napali Coast, an amazingly beautiful shoreline, with striking cliffs and valleys to see. The coastline can only be seen by foot (an 11 mile hike), air, or by sea. We were fortunate enough to see the breathtaking views of Napali in 2010 by helicopter. We've hiked into the trail that meanders along the coastline with the girls. One other way to see part of the coastline is to venture up through the Waimea Canyon to the Kalalau Valley Lookout. We always make a trek to the Waimea Canyon on the western side of the island to see the Pacific's Grand Canyon. Another treat on the island is the Spouting Horn, a sort of blow hole that the ocean shoots up through, creating a loud, swishing noise as the waves crash against the coast.  In addition to these amazing sites there are numerous hikes to embark on, waterfalls to gaze at, off road adventures, horseback riding, zip lining, and snorkeling. We've been blessed to be able to see all of these sites and engage in most of these activities on past trips.

This time around though, we're trying real hard to simply... chill.