christmas in utah

kauai

hawaii was amazing.  we aren't ones for big trips, we would love to, but we are pretty frugal people.  so it wasn't until we had saved a bunch from my night shift that we decided to make our dream of years and years a reality.  john has been saying for a long time how much he loves kauai, and he finally got to take me there.  a combined anniversary/babymoon trip and it was perfect!

the first morning, we discovered the BEST macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup.  so amazing, i need to try and recreate it at home sometime.  

then, we explored the beach right by our hotel.  they have an AMAZING snorkeling spot right in front of the marriott in poipu.  we snorkeled in several places and this was by far the best!  there are tons of beautiful tropical fish, sea anemones, sea cucumber, and one day we even snorkeled with a SEA TURTLE.

then we got puka dogs for lunch, shave ice, and drove up to waimea canyon.  it was amazing.  they call it the "grand canyon of the pacific" for a reason!

i definitely puked on the way down the canyon.  worth it.

the second morning we got acai bowls for breakfast and headed to church.  afterwards we drove to the north side of the island to queens bath.  aka one of my experiences of the trip.  

this is getting long-winded so let me just give you the highlights:

favorite activities (in no particular order):

1.  Napali Coast tour

2.  Waimea Canyon Lookout

3.  Queen's Bath

4.  Wailua Falls

5. Snorkeling at Poipu Beach

6.  airplane ride over the island

favorite food:

1.  banana macadamia nut pancakes

2.  Brennecke’s Beach Broiler

3.  the dolphin

4.  hawaiian luau

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utah and idaho summer trip!

we LIVE for this trip each year.  i have now been sick and pregnant for three summer trips and i can honestly say my burden is significantly light with grandparents around to help with the girls.  hazel and cora automatically go up to my parents room at 6am every morning and i can't say i'm upset about it.  this sick momma needs sleep!  and jolly ranchers.  lots of jolly ranchers to keep the nausea at bay!

hazel LOVES wakesurfing.  she continues to be a little daredevil every year.  

we went horseback riding, and to wade lake... and of course the fourth of july fireworks playlist was on point this year.

 cora did not like wakesurfing.  she is not a daredevil like hazel.  but i was SO PROUD of her for being brave and trying it!  

easter weekend in AZ

THE ENTIRE BRUNT FAMILY GATHERED FOR EASTER!  some kind of wonderful miracle.  too much delicious food and fun cousin time.  plus, it was swimming heaven for these two fishies:

idaho summer 2017

easter weekend

we spent easter weekend with john's sister's family in AZ.  we had the best time!  i think there is just something awesome about being with family on easter.  also, i love these people of mine.

a quick winter utah/idaho trip

there's nothing like snowmobiling in idaho in the winter.  or hanging out with family and eating delicious food.  john built a snow cave at the lake house, and hazel is definitely a thrill-seeker.  she begged to go on a snowmobiling ride every day.  cora was surprisingly easy - she is great at keeping herself entertained.  and it is clear that she is partial to grandpa and pop pop neff.  she is talking more and more and it's so sweet!

island park

just a few island park photos
floating the snake river is honestly THE BEST.  so beautiful and peaceful.

at the top of sawtelle mountain, where john and i got engaged six years ago! (on july 4th)  two amazing things have happened to us since then.  we were just so happy and in love and we had no idea what a beautiful mess we were in for.  

 hazel and cora loved the atv rides, and jet ski rides, and boat rides.  

look at hazel's boat face. totally hilarious.

that's a wrap!

yellowstone!

we spent a day in yellowstone national park a couple weeks ago and it was honesly the best!  we ate at the famous taco bus on our way in, and yes, we saw a bear so i'd say it was pretty darn perfect.

our summer vacation thus far

1. cora, pointing at a bird
4. throwing dirt in the air
7. the curiosity museum with cousins {it was awesome!}
8. her new cheese face
9&10. swimming every darn day
12. musical duets

there is so much that could be said about idaho.... but i think i'll let idaho speak for itself.

Island Park Summer 2016 from Paige Brunt on Vimeo.

have you ever been to pennsylvania?  we just visited for the first time this last weekend {besides a quick drive-by hershey, PA when we moved out here} and let me just say, it was beautiful.  for being the ugly end-part of the winter yuck, pennsylvania was stunning.  i actually enjoyed the road-trip out there, despite getting up-chucked on once and whined at ten million times.

of course we had a pressing desire to see pennyslvania, but the main reason for visiting was NEWBORN BABY SNUGGLES.  our friend jordan {who set john and i up} and his cute family are going to school in happy valley and just had a baby back in december.  and since my baby basically refuses to snuggle with me these days... i stole theirs away at every opportunity!  

we ate at a famous sandwhich/burger/sports bar joint in downtown state college, and then explored the cute children's arboretum.  

we ate creamery ice cream and i cried a little from sheer happiness.

we did a cute easter-egg hunt with the older girls, and got to meet the easter bunny and the nittany lion himself.  

cute rory was the best little playmate for our hazel.  they are so close in age, have the same energy level, and got along great.  too bad we don't live closer!

 we drove through beautiful farm country and went to an amish wedding {which isn't really a wedding, but a delicious buffet - (the potatoes were amazing and so was the stuffing... it had shredded chicken IN IT)} and gorged ourselves silly.

sunday we went to church, drove home, and attempted to recover from such a fun-filled weekend.  don't tell anyone, but i still haven't unpacked.  ;)

thanks for having us crespos!