Extracting the maximum with monsters

How did I play the following two hands? Any adjustments I need to make? I really feel I could have extracted more out of these hands, but I cant really put my finger on how. Bet more on the river first hand, checkraise or even push? 2nd hand, should I push flop and hope opp has an overpair, bet more turn or even push on the turn?

Hand 1:
UTG is semiloose (VSIP 33%), but he seems a bit on the weak-tight side postflop. Button is a very loose donk

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (6 max, 6 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Hero ($24.65)
UTG ($36.75)
MP ($19.08)
CO ($23.42)
Button ($74.45)
SB ($108.70)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9:diamond:, A:diamond:. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
UTG raises to $0.5, MP calls $0.50, CO calls $0.50, Button calls $0.50, SB (poster) calls $0.40, Hero calls $0.25.

Flop: ($3) 8:diamond:, 9:club:, Q:diamond: (6 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets $0.25, MP folds, CO folds, Button calls $0.25, SB calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25.

Turn: ($4) 6:diamond: (4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets $1, Button calls $1, SB folds, Hero raises to $3.5, UTG calls $2.50, Button calls $2.50.

River: ($14.50) 7:spade: (3 players)
Hero bets $8, UTG calls $8, Button calls $8.

Final Pot: $38.50




Hand 2:
Opp is the same donk as above (button).

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Hero ($49.65)
Button ($43.65)
SB ($20.53)
BB ($24.42)
UTG ($56.55)
MP ($87.50)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 9:spade:, 7:spade:. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
UTG raises to $1, 1 fold, Hero calls $1, 1 fold, SB (poster) calls $0.90, 1 fold.

Flop: ($3.25) 6:heart:, T:club:, 8:heart: (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets $2, Hero raises to $7, SB folds, UTG calls $5.

Turn: ($17.25) T:spade: (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $8, UTG calls $8.

River: ($33.25) 5:spade: (2 players)
UTG bets $5, Hero raises to $15, UTG folds.

Final Pot: $53.25

Raise to $2.50 on the flop cause you ar elikely ahead and have an excellent draw, builds the pot for when you hit, and they may even fold. Stop betting 1/2 the pot, it doesn't build the pot enough, but in the second hand you must also realize that your hand is no longer a monster.

1st hand two people called your $8 river bet, what more can you ask for?
You should have bet the flop since you had mid pair and a nut flush draw, or at least raised UTG's min bet.

Hand #2. Bet more on the turn. There's $17.25 in the pot and you bet $8. Make it $10-12.

I'd have folded like a flash to your raise on the turn in the first hand, even with a pretty good hand.

In hand one, the flop check-call is fine. You want as many people in the pot as possible with a nut draw. Your turn play, however, is incredibly transparent. Just bet out. Also, by attempting a check-raise, you risk someone betting in late position, which means your raise is likely to force out players who may've called had you bet. I prefer betting when I hit my hand at a loose table to collect as much money from each player as possible. You might even get raised by somebody with a smaller flush.