Little League Opening Day

We finally signed Max up for REAL Little League this year. He was put on the Texas A&M Aggies Upper Division Tball team. He has such an awesome coach and already enjoys playing. Just a warning: there are going to be lots of Tball pictures in the next couple months! I can't help it, he looks so cute in his little uniform. 

Huntington Beach Little League has a big celebration for opening day.

 They do all the team and individual pictures. Max would not smile with his mouth open for some reason...no matter how much I begged!

 There was a pancake breakfast and tons of booths and games for the kids to play. Most of them were even free. Imagine a mothers delight that she doesn't have to spend $5 for her kid to go down the giant slide! And he can go as many times as he wants. 

I had to work the bounce house for a few hours so I didn't get any pictures of the parade of teams. To top it all off it was a beautiful sunny day. I realized that this is only the beginning, many of my hours are going to be spent at the Little League fields in my lifetime....and I can't wait!

Day Trip Around Tahiti

Our ship pulled back into Papeete, Tahiti on Thursday morning. Our trip was coming to an end but we had all day to enjoy Tahiti before our plane left. Eric desperately wanted to see Teahupoo, one of the thickest, meanest, freakiest waves in surfing history. Lucky for us Dad and Lindsay were game to rent a car and drive around the island to find it.

The wave breaks out pretty far so it is difficult to understand the scoop and magnitude of this thing.

Eric felt like he checked off a bucket list item just getting a look at it.

As we continued around the island we went to a forest area with 3 waterfalls.

It was beautiful and mosquito filled.

We didn't have too much time to marvel at the beauty but managed to get some pretty good pictures.

I wanted to check out this blow hole one the way back as well. It almost cost us making our shuttle, but we made it by the skin of our teeth! Thanks to Pops and Lindsay dropping us off and navigating the crazy roads to return the car.

It was a trip I'll never forget and was EVERYTHING I hoped and dreamed about. I'm insanely luck to have a Dad that was willing to take us along on his journey around the world. 

Drift Snorkling in Rangiroa

Our very last island was Rangiroa. Word on the boat was that this was the best place for snorkeling. We hurried into shore to try and find a boat that would take us out. We found a boat that would not only take us out but they would let us experience drift snorkeling. 

This island is unique in that it has only one outlet to the ocean and the island is around the bay in almost a complete circle. The current coming into the bay from the ocean is pretty strong, so if you get dropped off the boat in a certain spot you just have to ride the current as you stare at the reef below. Its both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time!. 

We went for it! 

The little island you see above is surrounded by reef and is nicknamed "the aquarium". That is where you end up after riding the current. 

I felt like Crush the turtle riding the EAC, it was fast and you didn't have to move a muscle. 

Not to mention the aquarium you view along the way.

Of course these pictures don't even come close to doing it justice, but you get an idea.

We did the ride twice. The first time was definitely the best, but I'll never forget the experience.

Marquesas

The storm that blew in kept us out at sea for a couple of days. We didn't mind that much because it gave us time to lay around, read, and of course eat. We eventually landed in the Marquesas. We road the ship tender in to find these guys waiting for us.

I have to admit it was a little intimidating having to pass through these guys doing the Hakka. I can only imagine how it would scare off other tribes back in the day. 

The tattoos on these guys were pretty incredible.

We were told that the Marquesas had the best handicrafts of all the islands. There were some outdoor shopping areas with all sorts of jewelry, wood carvings, and various crafts set out. We picked up a couple of wood carvings for the boys, heaven forbid we come home empty handed!! 

Lindsay commented that this statue was of Eric and the boys. She could tell by the hair cuts:)

Unlike many other islands this island was quite brown. Apparently it was the dry season in the Marquesas.

Since it was Sunday we decided to take a short walk to a cathedral. It was cool to see it make out of the local lava rock and wood.

This was a small cemetery guarded by a wooden pope. 

Judging from the key and net full of fish I'm guessing this is Peter. It really was a beautiful Island church.

Our second day in the Marquesas was spend with a local guide named Eric. He took us out on his boat during the morning and then in his car in the afternoon. Thankfully this is not a picture of his boat. We towed this little beauty behind the boat and took it into the land from his anchored boat. 

Although the island was dry it still was pretty beautiful.

The tender boat had these sweet wheels on the back so Eric could drag it up onto the beach. Pretty clever if you ask me.

If you are a devout follower of Survivor, you'll be excited to know the beach behind me was one of the camps during the Marquesas season. Eric and I were pretty excited to see it and get the inside scoop on the show. Our guide had helped shuttle some of the cast and crew around the island in 2001 when the show filmed here.

A far away shot of Eric's, barely, sea worthy vessel.

Our guide took us on a little hike to a beautiful valley.

Beautiful valley not pictured here

Another shot of Survivor beach.

Many people bury their families in their front yards. This is a little cemetery in the hills that was passed .

Getting a little greener as we near the valley.

Our guide told us to keep our shoes on as we crossed this river because "there are shells that bite". WHAT?????? He showed me the shell and it actually is a shell with spikes that would hurt to step on. Sometimes french doesn't directly translate into english.

I was pretty proud of my Pops for making the hike. Not an easy feat in 90 degree heat 100% humidity.

The valley was very beautiful with the river running through. We passed a lot of horses and stinky Noni trees.

We happened upon this little chapel just as a little rain storm hit. Nice dry season! It passed through pretty quickly and we were on with the hike.

No need to rough it! There is a random telephone booth in the middle of the valley.

Our guide grabbed this giant green ball and told us it was a grapefruit. It was HUGE! He brought it with him and I was suspicious that I was going to have to politely sample some.

We made it back to the beach and headed into the water to cool off.

Even my water paranoid pops made it in! That is a testament to how hot and muggy it was. That guy avoids the water like the plague.

As feared our guide brought the chopped up grapefruit to us in the water. To my surprise it was DELICIOUS! It was green fleshed and not as bitter as a pink grapefruit. Lesson learned!

This guy met us on the trail and kept us company for the whole hike. I guess our guide sneaks him some grapefruit on the side.

I know, no people. But its too beautiful not to include.

Such a rocky, jagged coastline. It just makes me wonder what kind of volcanic eruptions happened to form these islands.

We drove over to the other side of the island in the afternoon. That's our cruise ship down there in the bay.

Don't worry, our guide took us to see the other Survivor beach. 

This is where Boston Rob's tribe camped out during the show. Plus its beautiful to look at if you have no idea what Survivor is:)

No that's not sweat, we're glowing.

You'd never know it was the dry season on this side of the island.

This archaeological site was covered in dense jungle. Someone chopped away the trees and found an ancient village underneath.

Each block of volcanic rock was a warrior dwelling. They put wood poles up and then added a thatched palm leaf slanted roof.

The site was built around a gigantic banyan tree. This pit was behind the tree. It was used to house prisoners before they were sacrificed. Amazing...and creepy at the same time!

Our guide was so knowledgeable and accommodating. He did a great job at showing us the beauty of his island.