The Move to Charlotte

Brian and I arrived in Salt Lake at 10:03am MT on Monday, June 21st. We showered Mom and Dad Hanks with gifts for taking care of our kids for 10 days, then packed three suitcases to check (50 lbs. each), and then packed and mailed eight boxes via FedEx to ourselves at our new address in Charlotte. We then repacked all of our carry-ons and finally went to bed. On Tuesday, June 22nd, we said goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa Hanks and caught our flight at 8:25am!

Wes, Grandpa, and Sydney enjoyed some trampoline time before we had to leave.

Wes improved his jumping skills quite a bit over the couple weeks he was in Utah.

Sydney got it figured out too, even with only one shoe.

When we got to our new apartment, Wes got the best surprise ever: a train track in his backyard!

It's kept him up a couple of nights - and naps - and he still runs to the window every 10 to 20 minutes to check out the train. At least he's happy!

Kauai - Days 6 and 7

On Saturday, June 19th, all of us except Brian and Mom went to a zipline course. Then, we relaxed by the pool, went to the Kilauea lighthouse, watched the sunset, and had dinner at Scotty's Beachside BBQ in Kapaa.

Ready to go zip-lining!

The beautiful course we crossed (I think someone is in the middle, but it's hard to tell).

There were 9 ziplines and a suspension bridge (the scariest part for me!). Dad is getting ready to go on the Big Kahuna. It is the 2nd longest zipline on the course at 740 feet across.

Dad and I "raced" across King Kong which is 1,200 feet.

The Kilaeua Lighthouse.

Family picture.

Watching the sunset...the shadow is Eliot taking the picture.

The super cool sunset shot of Brian and me.





On Sunday, June 20th, Mom, Dad, and Eliot left early in the morning. The rest of us checked out, went shopping for souvenirs, ate lunch at Duane's Ono-Char Burgers, then Brian and I went to see The A-Team, had dinner at Puka Dog, watched the sunset one more time, and then went to the airport for our overnight flight home!

Puka Dog was soooooo good. They take a roll (like Subway bread), make a hole in it, stick a hot dog in there, and squeeze in what ever sweet island relish you choose (me: mango; B: pineapple; also available: papaya, coconut, banana and starfruit) and lilikoi, which is a Hawaiian mustard (also available: ketchup, mustard, guava relish, and sweet pickle relish). It was so, surprisingly yummy!

The beautiful sunset in Koloa.

Kauai - Day 5

On Friday, June 18th, we relaxed by the pool in the morning and then in the afternoon, we celebrated the reason we were all in Kauai: my Dad's 60th birthday!

Brian and I taking a dip in the pool.

The family reading by the pool.





We had dinner to celebrate my dad's birthday at the hotel restaurant, Nanea.




Mom and Dad celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on June 20th.




The family.

After dinner, we went back to the room to sing "Happy Birthday".

Happy 60th, Dad!

Blowing out the candles.

Dad then opened his last present: a DVD with pictures from Dad's 60 years! (Jennie did an amazing job.)

Between the video segments, we took turns talking about how great Dad is! On the screen behind me, you can see a cute picture of my dad.

We're all so lucky and grateful to have our dad!

Kauai - Day 4

On Thursday, June 17th, we made our way to the south side of the island again and then up to the Pu'u o Kila lookout over Waimea Canyon with lookout spots along the way. After the drive down, we stopped at the grave of one of our ancestors, had JoJo's Shave Ice in Waimea, went to Spouting Horn, and then ate dinner at Brick Oven pizza.

This was the first scenic stop along our route.

Waimea Canyon is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.




Wild roosters have run free on Kauai ever since hurricane Iniki hit Hawaii in 1992. When we stopped at Kokee Lodge, they were after Eliot for food.

One of the roosters got some air as Mike was feeding them Maui Onion potato chips.

The view from Kalalau Lookout.

Brian and me.

They had beautiful blue hydrangea bushes growing at the entrance of the lookout. L to R: Jennie, Mom, Natalie, and Angie.

The men felt they had to look tough in front of the flowers. I love this picture of my dad. :) L to R: Dad, Eliot, Brian, and Mike.

A view from Pu'u o Kila Lookout.

This is the grave site of my great-great-great-great grandfather's sister. She and her husband went to Kauai as missionaries for the ABCFM (American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions) in 1820.

The blood relatives of Mercy Partridge Whitney.

The headstone.

Pretty yellow plumerias.

I loved this sign...it was the hours for JoJo's Shave Ice.

It was really cool to see the waves crashing through the hole at Spouting Horn. Brian was the only one adventurous enough to check it out up close.

Pretty rainbow on the mist.

A video of Spouting Horn (if it works).