Love is in Stiles

I really hope ya'll enjoyed the few weeks break from my endless supply of photos, because they are back with a vengeance! 

This is about me and Scott's graduation week. 

Technically I should have walked last June, since that is when I finished school. But with Hawaii being so far away, and commencement ceremonies being so long and tedious, we decided that I could postpone my walk for a year so that our families (and ourselves) only had to deal with graduation one time. My parents, and my brother Colby flew in from Utah to come to the graduation and take me to Kauai! (More on that in a later post) 

For months prior to graduation me and Scottie worked on completing our

 Hawaii Bucket List

1. Hike Stairway to Heaven

2. See dolphins

3. See sharks

4. Another sunset at Sunset Beach

5. Eat at our favorite places one last time

This and the three posts following document how we did all (or most) of these. 

The day before my parents arrived me and Scottie headed to Sunset Beach to have a picnic. 

We picked up some Impossible's Pizza from this amazing pizza truck with THE BEST pizza ever. Goat cheese, kalua pork, and grilled onions.

This was the first time we stayed through the whole sunset, because it takes a long time, and usually we get antsy and cold. 

This is probably my favorite picture of the whole day. It was unbelievably gorgeous. 

And that checks off two of our Bucket List: 

4. Another sunset at Sunset Beach

5. Eat at our favorite places one last time

Here we are at Electric Beach. I think I've told everyone about this beach before, but let me reiterate.

It's a tiny beach just to the side of an electric power plant, the power plant has big tubes that go under the water and release the hot air there. This hot air is a great environment for sea vegetation, which in turns attracts fish that eat the vegetation, which, of course, attract sharks. 

We went in order to fulfill Hawaii Bucket List

3. See sharks

When we went last year at Thanksgiving time Scott did see some sharks here at the pipes, and promptly snorkled his little self back to shore. However, on this day with my family there were no sharks to be seen. We did take the sea kayak, stand up paddle board, and snorkel materials though. I went out snorkeling farther than I ever have (although Scott has to hold my hand because I get claustrophobic) and there were SCHOOLS of fish. I had seen about 50 fish together before and thought that was a 'school'. No way Jose! Apparently by 'school' they mean University. Like a 5,000 person college, because there were SO many fish. There was a school of Dark Blue fish, who swam at a diagonal angle and crossed a group of yellow fish. There were so many it was like a wall in front of us, and I felt like The Little Mermaid. Only that movie always scared me, so maybe more like Finding Nemo. 

Magical.

Saturday April 13th was our commencement ceremony! Me and Scott had to be there at 7, and it lasted until 12, so it was a long day, but I am glad we did it. 

Here is the school's president, Brother Wheelwright, speaking to us.

Scott Stiles!

Kelsey Stiles!

I have to admit I was kind of worried I wasn't going to get any leis, but my family made sure that we did and I felt so festive! 

Here is everyone from my family that was at the ceremony. I am go grateful that they all came, it really made my day. 

I am so grateful to my parents for helping me through school! 

My beautiful leis! The one on the far left

Sage and Saquoyah found a large sand hole and were enjoying jumping in, so I attempted some action shots. 

Here is Sienna, taking after me (and maybe her mom too) by always having a book to read. 

I am so glad and grateful that my family supported me through school, and also that some of them got to come see me graduate. 

And mostly, I miss Hawaii!