Raiatea

The third island we went to was Raiatea. The following pictures are from a lagoon sunset cruise we went on.
My mom and I. And people wonder where I get my facial expressions from!

The island in the distance is Bora Bora

Perfect surfing waves that day! We stayed out there and watched some surfers! It was pretty sweet.

Oyster hut and Bora Bora in the background, as well as lots of water, fish, coral and sharks!

We did a 4x4 through the middle of the island and also stopped at a vaniall plantation which was quite interesting.

This kid was standing on the pile of gravel crying really loudly. It was kind of funny though, because he was pretty much by himself and was really really loud.

The rim of the volcano on the island

Vanilla plants!

House by the ocean

An old Marae, which is where human sacrifices used to take place.

View up the coconut tree

There are wild chickens everywhere and a lot of little chicks too. These guys were having a little feast on the smashed melons that were on the ground.

Vanilla bean plant demonstration

Crazy flower

Church in the distance. Protestant Churches are the main religion of most of the islands. I would have thought Catholocism, because the islands are governed by France, but I guess the Protestants were the first missionaries, so they have churches everywhere.

Drying coconuts

Second Day in Paradise

Our second day was on an island called Huahine.

My mom enjoying the boat ride.

Our cruise ship from afar.

Beautiful!

we went to a mini island and had our lunches in the water!! It was great! If you threw food in, the fish would come gather around you and it was pretty sweet!

Our guide Delores

Loved the headband!

The bridge connecting two of the islands

Our musical accompaniment along the way.

In the afternoon we went snorkelling in this area. We saw a giant eel!

The first of many installments!

So, here is the first installment of my pictures from my trip!! I am normally not one to take pictures in an airplane, but as we were landing in Tahiti, the sun was setting, and the clouds looked absolutely glorious, so I had to take a few shots!

We arrived in Tahiti in the evening after a very long day of travelling. We boarded our ship, the Tahitian Princess and pretty much went to bed right away! The ship was smaller than most I've been on-only 650 people, but it was super nice, because you got to know most of the people and interact with them all-very fun!

First day in Tahiti, had to take a shot of myself off the balcony of our room!

The day after we arrived, we went on a 4x4 in the middle of the island. The roads aren't paved and we got to be in open air jeeps, but it was great!!

One of the viewpoints we stopped at. In the background you can see the city of Papeete

So many palm trees along the coast! Beautiful! Because all the islands are surrounded by a coral reef, everything is right on the water, including the roads, so you get a beautiful view as you drive around the island!

The last of paved road we saw for a while!

Here we entered Papenoo Valley. Lots of waterfalls, trees and lush lush vegetation!

This is the waterfall we got to go swimming in

This was the "bridge" we used to cross over the water

One of the crazy drivers/guides

Another nice and convenient bridge. Our driver kept reassuring us that the jeep had a snorkel

We got to jump off the waterfall as well, although our jumps weren't quite as dramatic..

Feeding the eels

Back From Paradise!

I just got home a few hours ago and when I look at my pictures I still sit there in awe that a place can be so incredibly beautiful in its untouched beauty. I had a fantastic time and have many stories and pictures to post, but I am off to bed and you will have to wait until Wednesday to see them! Tomorrow morning I am flying out to Ontario for my friend Becky's wedding. I'm super excited to go to her wedding and to stay with some relatives for a few days!

So here's a couple pictures to whet your appetite and I look forward to posting more soon!! :)

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane

In less than 24 hours, this is where I will be!!! My mom and I are going on a ten day cruise through the Cook Islands!! The Cook Islands are located north east of Australia in the French Polenesia. We will be landing in Tahiti tomorrow evening and going aboard our cruiseship. There are stops such as Bora Bora and some of the other islands!! Some of our day excursions are swimming with dolphins (one of my dreams) and checking out volcanoes!! Very cool and I feel extremely blessed!! So check back for pictures and I will miss blogging land while I am gone!

Bora Bora from a distance

Roadtrip to Moses Lake

Viewpoint in the Gorge

I went to Moses Lake for a few days to visit my friend Krista. We mostly worked on our last paper for one of our classes, but we had a ton of fun hanging out and goofing around!

Japanese Peace Garden. Sure worked for us.

Some of the artwork in Moses Lake (okay i dont' think the people come with it)

My amazing bowling outfit! My first time bowling in a skirt!

Very excited about this bowling ball despite my low low score!! haha I think I'm better at five pin.

Full Throttle kicking in at two in the morning at Bob's Trucker Stop

Very happy to be typing her paper..

The two books we were writing our papers on... I think this picture is taken at three in the morning!

I fell asleep at Bob's..

Thinking in Solitude with our book "Thoughts in Solitude"

And so ends my last roadtrip of the summer!! I am leaving in two days and will be gone for about three weeks!! But stay tuned for:

-10 day trip to the Cook Islands (Tahiti and Bora Bora here I come!!!)

-Trip to Ontario for a friend's wedding

-My last summer class which is taking place at Green Bay Bible Camp

So I apologize ahead for the lack of updates in the next few weeks, but make sure you check in September, because I will have lots of new pictures from my travels!! Have a good three weeks! :)

Hanging Out With Family

My brother Chad and his wife Bobbi just opened a Jugo Juice in Abbotsford (it's right under Milestone's on Sumas Way-you should go check it out!! It's fantastic!) We were their first official customers and it was great to try it out for the first time!! Now I'm hooked!!
Bobbi ringing up some of her first customers

Aunty Sharalynn and Adrielle enjoying their drinks

My Uncle Vic and my brother Lucas lounging in the chairs

Burying Jaxon in White Rock

Crab!!

Desiree ripped muscle out of a shell and decided to feed it to me! Yum!

Everybody hanging out on the White Rock

Mika playing in the water

The whole gang headed off to White Rock. All of these people int his picture stayed at my house during the week!! :)

Building our monstrous sand castle

Desiree lounging

Searching for crabs

The infamous diving board flip over

Husking corn

Part of our garden

Playing Bocce

The three Sisters: Helen, Elizabeth and Maria

My great uncle Peter and I

Justin and Carrie

Justin and Uncle Orville

Thought I'd include a picture of my beautiful toes (see 8 random facts for more info...)

Omi's Surprise 80th Birthday Party

My grandma (better known as Omi) is turning 80 in September, so we thought we'd surprise her early by having a surprise party for her in July. We had relatives come out from Ontario, Manitoba and North Dakota to join in the celebration! Here are some photos from that day:

Omi's original reaction upon seeing everyone My cousin Caleb (who I am actually related to three times through some weird Mennonite working.. We are first, third and fourth cousins..)

Kissing Cousins setting up the volleyball net

Uncle Orville and Uncle Peter with two of their nephews

My cousin and friend, Desiree and I

Caleb, Desiree and I

The three sisters

Chicken fights in the pool

Jaxon, Simone and Mika

Desiree and her Dad

We had some guys come and set up a chicken bbq on our lawn. it was fantastic!!

Playing on Fun Island

Bobbi (sister-in-law) and Caleb (cousin)

My Aunty Esther and the fantastic chocolate fountain

My cousin Simon testing out the chocolate

Trying to flip over onto the diving board.. A famous trick that happens in our pool

The centerpieces

A flower from our garden.. One day I hope to go take pictures of our garden and post them, because it really is beautiful!!

Roadtrip Back to the Homeland

I think could have just pulled over and stared at the mountains all day long...

Archway of Antlers

Old Faithful!!

Our heads blocking Old Faithful!

The amazing hotel by Old Faithful

The last piece of scenery we saw before leaving the States...

Yay for the Canadian Rockies!

The hotel at Lake Louise

Random Facts

Since I have been tagged, I figured I would take a break in my blogging series for eight random facts about myself.
According to the tag rules I have to post these steps so you'll know what to do if I tag you. So here goes:tag rules:
1. all right, here are the rules.
2. we have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
3. players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
4. people who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
5. at the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they are tagged, and to read your blog.

1. I have a journal in my bathroom titled "Thoughts thought while in Vanessa's bathroom". I leave it there for friends to write in while in the bathroom and the running commentary throughout it is quite enjoyable!

2. I am the person that changes the outdoor sign at my church.

3. I have travelled to 22 different countries and my goal is to get to 40!

4. I lived in Quebec for two years and am fluent in French.

5. I am a neat freak and go a little crazy if anything is out of place in my room. Borderline OCD.

6. I have a book fetish. I love to buy books. However, I do not have time to read them, so I collect books that I absolutely love and hope to read them all one day.

7. My favorite time of day is dusk when the sky is a myriad of blues from the horizon to the other side. It's breathtaking!

8. I like to get one pedicure every year and then I leave my nail polish on until it grows out. Most people think it's gross, but I figure I get the most for my money. I call it a backwards french manicure with color. Right now I have blue nail polish on the tips of some of my toes that was put on in february...

People I'm tagging:
1. Becky
2. Kaylen
3. Kristal
4. Leslie
5. Lovella
6. Theresa
7. Bonnie
8. Kelly

Roadtrip To Colorado

Sorry for the delay, but figured I would finish the roadtrip series on my blog!

Jacquelyn, Bethany and I headed down to Colorado where we were going for a wedding and had a great time!! We drove through Montana, Wyoming (we hate highway troopers!) and Colorado (good place to drive since we were going there and all). Below are some selected pictures from our roadtrip of awesomeness!

Outside of Jacquelyn's house in Calgary before leaving!
Jacquelyn, the offical trip window washer

I absolutely fell in love with Montana (well, the parts with the mountains and the river...)

More of Montana

We stayed at a really country-ish hotel/mill and they had a cowboy bedspread which we were very fond of..

Shot of Bethany in the side mirror

Bethany and I at Ford's Drive-In

Ford's Drive-In, our fantastic lunch stop.

Dinner at Applebee's where Jacquelyn became famous for saying "So, THIS is what Americans are like..." Not totally sure what she meant by that, but we had been driving for long amounts of time that day and were fairly tired. I think it had something to do with all the waitresses wearing white sneakers..

We saw an antelope in the parking lot and told Jacquelyn to go chase it and we would take pictures of her. We soon realized that if you ever want Jacquelyn to do anything, you just tell her you'll take a picture of her doing it and she's all over it! hahaha..

Hey Jacquelyn, will you ride the mechanical bull? We'll take your picture...

The mechanical bull at the Greeley Stampede. We went to the Lonestar concert and saw some fantastic fireworks afterwards!

THese were two really drunk sailors at the Lonestar concert. For some odd reason they thought that all the audience was there and cheering for them specifically (guess they didn't notice the concert going on...) They were walking around shaking hands, hugging women, holding babies... we asked Amanda if that was American Patriotism and if that normally happens and she said no, not quite like that.. haha.. it was pretty funny to watch them though and we had to snag a picture with them!

At our favorite coffee shop, Marge's in Colorado.. Jacquelyn even got some tender loving care for her dreads

The strange baby doll that is embedded in the flooring at Marge's

Our two new friends at the coffee shop. They were working there and came and chatted with us for a while.

We got a tour of Estes Park, the Capernwray in Colorado which was pretty cool.

Estes Park, Colorado

Dinner at Dave's Smokehouse in Estes. Jacquelyn was amazed at the cheap beer prices..

We went to Rocky Mountain National Park and had a nice little picnic by Bear Lake.

Jacquelyn trying to change in public with crowds of people walking by..

Jacquelyn and I swimming in Bear Lake which turned out to be infested with tiny leech like creatures which later covered my whole body.. Yuck!! Gives me the squirmies thinking about it!

Rachel and Mark's Wedding

Megaan, Jacquelyn, Rachel, Amanda, Bethany and I at Rachel's wedding. So nice to be reunited with friends from Bible School and to be able to catch up!

My heels got a little dirty from sinking into the lawn continually....

The famous Stanley hotel where 'The Shining' was filmed as well as a scene from Dumb and Dumber. We decided to go explore and grab a snack in the restaurant.

Jacquelyn and Amanda

Jacquelyn and I baking cookies at Amanda's house

Hanging out in Amanda's kitchen

Bethany posing for the camera..

So that's a snippet of my trip down to Colorado. Stay tuned to this blog soon for:

-Pictures of the trip back to Canada, including Yellowstone National Park

-Pictures of my Omi's (grandma) 80th surprise birthday party

-Pictures of our week long family reunion

-Pictures of my mini road trip to Moses Lake