Maui 2014

Thanks to a co-worker of Dave's, we were offered 3 nights in a condo on Maui.  With free flights and a free place to stay... not to mention not having set foot in Hawaii in nearly 11 months... we couldn't pass up going.  Also, we just celebrated our 8th anniversary.  Luckily, we also talked my sister Marcie into coming with us so we could spend more time catching up with her. 

Marcie came to our house the night before our flight and we loved showing her around a bit.  We were worried about the 8 hour flight, but had slowly been getting out kids to bed later and later.  We were very prepared with lots of food and toys and activities.  

We got on the plane with no problems and all got seats together! The 2 girls took naps and Hallie slept nearly 4 hours!!  Mariah was very antsy to move, so she walked the aisles... a lot.  We watched 3 movies.  It was long and boring and I was ready to be done.  I had to hold Mariah to land and she started screaming, which eventually lead to her throwing up on herself and me.  It was an excruciatingly long taxi ride sitting in vomit.  Finally, I was able to get to the tiny airplane bathroom and change clothes.  The flight attendants were so empathetic and helpful.  We got all changed and were trying to get all of us off the plane, when Hallie threw up in the aisle!!  Luckily, it didn't get on anyone, but STILL!  We finally made it to baggage and got our minivan.  We stopped at Costco for dinner and some food for the week.  We made the trek to our hotel just to have Hallie throw up again in the car.  Luckily, we were at the hotel.  Unluckily, our car smelled the rest of the trip. 

 We all crashed for the night, only to be up at 4:30 Hawaii time.  I went to the store to get medicine (I was sick by this time) and a few things for the trip.  We didn't have a great plan for our trip (since standby is so uncertain and we didn't know if Marcie would be with us.)  We did some sight seeing of the 'dragon teeth' and then headed to Ka'apalua bay for some snorkeling and water fun.  Mariah just loves the sand and beach.  The other kids were happy there too.  I felt awful, but you might as well be sick on a beach, right?

After naps at the condo (and a soak in the hot tub) we did some more sight seeing up the west coast of the island.  It was amazing and beautiful.  The blowhole and Olivine pools did not disappoint (although whiney kids did put a damper on it).   

 We crashed again and I was just praying I would feel better the next day.  When we all woke up by 5 am, we decided to jump in the car and head up to Halea'kala crater.  We were sad we didn't get there in time for a sunrise, but the sunrise we did see was beautiful too.  The van we got had a DVD player and the drive was exactly the length of a kids flick!  Perfect! The crater was quite the drive and we were all worried about getting sick, but finally we ascended 12,000 feet and were at the 'top of the world'.   It was FREEZING cold! and windy, but we were able to see the Big island and a beautiful sun.  The views were spectacular.

 We timed it just right so EVERYONE (except the driver) fell asleep on the drive back home.  It was perfect to arrive and head right to another beach (Napili beach).  Thanks for taking one for the team, Honey! This one had a wicked crash and we all got taken out by it, we moved down the beach and it was so calm and easy coming in.  We snorkeled and saw another turtle.  On Marcie's first experience snorkeling, I gave her a snorkel that didn't work, so she kept breathing in water!  I felt so bad, but she gave it another go and it was perfect.
We hot tubbed and cleaned up and spent the evening in Lahaina.  We ate at Cheeseburgers in Paradise and witnessed another spectacular sunset on the beach.   Marcie and I shopped around a bit.  We watched a movie at our condo before bed.

On our last day we were conflicted about what to do.  The kids were tired and the weather wasn't great.  Marcie and I went on a walk on the beach and had a great time talking about boys and dating and such.  She is such a fantastic and fun girl.  She will get someone very special.

 Back at the condo we checked out and headed back to the beach we liked, as we drove up the coast the clouds got thicker and thicker.  We had completely unpacked and headed down to the beach before deciding to try driving back down the coast to another beach.  It was the right choice!  Ka'anapali beach was sunny and perfect (and we discovered that what we thought was Ka'anapali beach this whole time was NOT... We have been staying at a beach just north of Ka'anapali).  Hallie was done for the day.  She just laid curled up in a towel most of the time, but the rest of us soaked in the sun, sand and water.  Even Mariah branched out to playing in the waves.  We saw more turtles snorkeling... SO close to us.  We could've touched it (but didn't of course!).  I was so proud of Jackson snorkeling.  He is brave and excited to see the fish.  I loved going out with him.

We packed up and tried to clean off in our condo's hot tub/ bathroom area.  We weren't very clean, but we were happy to have a sunny beach day.  We grabbed a snow cone on our way into town to see the I'ao needle.  This is the part I'm mad about.  We had plenty of time to catch the earlier flight, but didn't check to see that our flight had been cancelled!!   The needle was pretty with some breathtaking sights.  We got some dinner and headed to the airport when all of our plans fell apart with our flight being cancelled.  I was so stressed, but luckily there were several flights with enough seats on them to get us home... we just had to sit in the airport for 4 hours AND have a layover.  honestly, I was just happy we got off the island that night!  The kids slept the whole flight (as did the adults).  the layover was quick and mostly painless.  We were home by 1 pm in time for an afternoon church.  It could've been better, but it could've been worse too.  The flight was much quicker for Marcie getting home, so we were happy it all worked out.  It is stressful to have others flying on buddy passes.  Another beautiful Hawaii trip for the books.

12 on the 12th December

This 12th day fell on a rather busy mommy day.

1 My day begins with getting kids dressed (since we are all on Hawaii time still we are LATE in the mornings and always rushing around! )

2 &3.  My babysitter for the girls fell through so I had to take them to Jackson's school to decorate gingerbread houses.  The girls LOVED all the candy right at their level.  Hallie was mostly distracted with my phone, but eventually the candy won over and it was hard to help Jackson much.  He didn't seem to mind and was just happy I was there.

4,5, &6  I took the girls to the Science center in Arlington.  Mariah was thrilled to be able to spot a snake (in a glass case) and frogs.  She kept yelling for me to look.  Hallie completed her entire Scavenger hunt and was very attentive to the details.  She has several girls her age in this playgroup/ward.  So we are excited for her friendships to develop.

7.  I am finally feeling like we are getting to know people, but am still feeling a little lonely.  I was gone for 4 weekends and no one called or missed me at all.  I didn't miss anything here, which makes it difficult to want to be here more.  I know I need to be here to improve friendships.  After the science center, all the moms took off within 1 hour.  I am use to just hanging around and enjoying mommy time.  Luckily, Abby stayed for a while and we got to talk and let the kids play in the leaves and the outdoors (the weather is gorgeous).   I am still hopeful that these friendships can develop into deeper relationships.   I waited to leave until too late (the other moms know how to not push their kids to the breaking point... not me!)  So Mariah threw a major tantrum.  Wish I'd gotten a photo of that!

8.  I met up at Dave's work for a minute and then went to get food for myself.  I got In'N Out and they asked if I wanted to eat it in the car and then proceeded to give me a lap food catcher and make it all ready to bite into!  It was delicious.

9.  Gas is SO cheap!  I paid $2.12/gal.  It is nice that it is more affordable, in a world where everything is getting more expensive.

10. After school, I took the kids to Costco to pick up some photos.  They loved playing with the toys that are out for Christmas, esp. this 'olaf'

11.  Dave and I went to "Torchy Tacos"  for dinner (the kids were there but don't like Mexican).  Dave loved it.  I knew he would!  It is fun to find new places to love.

12.  I spent the evening cutting our our Christmas cards, addressing envelopes and stuffing them.  It was a process to put it all together, but I love thinking about our friends through the different stages of life.  I sure miss many of them.  I hope these cards help us to stay in touch and keep our friendships

Thanksgiving break

Marcie returned home from her mission to Kennewick Washington!!  We were so excited to see her, but couldn't get home until a few days later, but we got to spend an entire week in Utah to reconnect with her and with Melinda.  We had a very special day at her homecoming and enjoying my extended family for dinner.  

Grandma gave all the kids jammies and they had a party together.  All the grandkids loved playing together and love grandma and Grandpas house with a room full of toys.  It is a perfect place for the little kids to play.

 We went to the Museum of Natural curiosity one day.  The kids loved exploring and discovering.  It was a bit difficult to have kids of such varied ages and abilities.  I was glad that my mom and sister were there to help.

 

We also made it up the canyon to play in the snow for an afternoon.  Mariah was having NOTHING to do with the snow clothes and threw an epic tantrum.  Finally, we just threw her out into the snow and tried to explain that the clothes would help her be warm.  she finally was talked into it and I realized she is getting to the age where she can start to be reasoned with or negotiated with.  

On Thanksgiving morning Melinda and I ran a race.  Despite being sick and having no voice for 6 days, I managed to run ok.  We both got 1st in our age group (actually I got 3rd, but the 1st 2 people placed in the top 3 overall). So we won a turkey.  All my kids ran and Hallie was amazing. 

Thanksgiving dinner was amazing as always.  My mom always does a great job feeding so many people.  the girls loved their own little table and I just found out that Mariah is a kid now... not a baby.  Pulling on my heartstrings. 

My Aunt Vickie is always awesome to host our families at her elementary school gym.  the kids LOVE playing with all the PE equipment and the adults enjoy watching the fun and gorging themselves on PIE!  

We spent Friday with the Gorley family for dinner and met Tom and Bethany for lights at the temple. 

We had the pleasure of riding a little train around a Lindon neighborhood.  It celebrated Christmas and took us to Santa's workshop.  Hallie was concerned that the workshop didn't have the toy she wanted.  Mariah is still terrified of the big guy.  

We made it back to Texas on Sunday.  We kind of went Crazy on black friday (we've been saving up a lot of thing) and had to check it all home (we checked 9 things... our limit is 10 whew!   The looks I got at the baggage claim were priceless!  Luckily, one nice man helped me move it all since Dave was out picking up our car.)

I can't thank my parents enough for being gracious and wonderful hosts.  I love to spend time at their home.    We also got a date night to celebrate our 8th anniversary.  We played racquetball, watched movies and caught Marcie up on all the happenings of the world for the past 18 months.