Grandma's Back

My Mom flew in a week ago and gets to stay a month this time! I can't believe how quickly this first week has gone. She flew in on Tuesday and already substituted on Thursday (in Adam's class). We left Thursday after school and hit the road to Volcano National Park. We stayed 2 nights at the Military camp/resort there thanks to my brother Chad who is in the Army. It was a great place with lots of history. Here's some random photos from our trip.

First stop was Akaka Falls which is on the way to VNP. It is a short hike through the jungle to an amazing waterfall. The picture doesn't do it justice because it only shows half the fall...the water continues down into a valley you can't see. It was amazing!

Dawson testing out the umbrella (morning #1). We arrived at the cabin after dark and it was chilly. It was fun to light a fire and drink hot cocoa.
We enjoyed a nice fatial at the steam vents. These vents have steam from when rain water hits the warm rocks through these holes. It was HOT water.
In a "Lava Tube" There are many underground lava tubes that lava once flowed through. I was a little freaked out walking through it considering Kilauea is still an active volcano.
walking the lava fields. Isaac's glasses fell off when he was building this and it wasn't until hours later that he remembered. He and Matt headed back there praying they would find them and miraculously they did. someone had stepped on them but they were repairable! A little miracle!
Volcano National Park ends at the ocean with this dramatic cliff. It was a freaky overlook and then I was especially disturbed after we walked up to the visitor board and read articles about acres of land dropping into the ocean without any notice just like the volcano rocks we had just been standing on..Hello...WHAT? A few years ago,Just 3 miles down the road from that spot 55 acres dropped into the ocean in a 4 hour time period. There were other instances recorded too. Crazy. We missed out on seeing the active lava flow due to bad air conditions. there is a spot a fwe miles from the park where the lava is currently entering the ocean and you can see the lava, especially if you go after dark. We were bummed but not so much after reading about the earth falling in. I think they are cautious and only let you go out to areas they think are safe, but still...
We ended the day with a mean game of bowling back at the resort. I definitely have some serious form! I'm just bummed I forgot to wear my bowling jeans (Kimber :o)
Day 2 we woke up and checked out and headed for home. We had some great stops along the way. First stop was a black sand beach.
2nd stop was the "place of Refuge" It is a historically sacred ground and is amazingly beautiful!

We are loving having my mom here! We are glad we still have 3 more weeks but it too will go too fast! She substituted in Adam's class again today and has a couple other days lined up in Isaac's class.