Six months is too long without our Hawaii fix... so we packed up and headed back to Maui to use our Hotel points at the fabulous Mariott resort there over the memorial day weekend.
The flight from DFW is SO long (8 hours)! We let the kids bring their own entertainment/snack bags and it worked out well for them.
Unfortunately, we got split up. Mariah and I sat up front with a Jehovah's witness girl who I loved talking to. She was open and honest and happy. It was lovely (plus her and her husband split up so I could sit with my baby... SO NICE!)
Dave sat 20 rows back with these two hooligans. They enjoyed new $ store presents to entertain them. They love playing together with the occasional outburst/fight. At one point all 5 of our family was squeezed onto these 3 seats just to change things up a bit. It was way too long, but we finally arrived in Maui. Dave got a tiny car for our family and we still had to wait FOREVER for our bags. I'm not sure how such a small airport can take SO long. I was getting panicky about losing our bags, but they were the last 3 to come out of the conveyor! YaY!
Despite it being late our time, we hit costco for dinner and then checked in at our resort and went to the pool and beach. It was perfect. We let our kids stay up until 1 am our time!! They were tired, but still enjoying the beauty and fun of the sand, sun, and pool. Part of our reasoning in letting them stay up late is so they aren't awake at 2 am Hawaii time.
Despite a very late night, we still wake up early in Hawaii, by 6:00 am we were out the door for a fabulous road trip around the Island. We drove the road to Hana. It was a little rainy, but nothing like the rain Dave and I experienced 4 years ago. All the sights were so different with little rain fall.
We did a short nature hike which got us all very muddy. Mariah didn't like that at all.
The kids enjoy discovering new plants, animals, bugs and critters (even if we make them!)
Great waterfall to explore. They get more and more brave as the day goes on.
We made it to Church in the tiny city of Hana. It was so awesome to share our worship with these good people. They are so welcoming each week to all the visitors. Our kids doubled the nursery and loved the attention. I love that every church has a kitchen we can count on with a microwave (we make EZ mac/ canned fruit and oatmeal at church every Sunday we travel).
We went to the sacred pool state park. Last time we were here it was scary... the water was a torrential river flooding out to sea. This day was amazing and beautiful and peaceful. 
Hallie laid on a rock and soaked in the sun for so long here. Mariah dug in a shallow pool and Jackson and Daddy and I took turns exploring more and more. a little piece of heaven!
We drove around the south side of the island which is a barren desert SO opposite from the north side of the road to Hana. It was an experience to see a tropical jungle and a barren desert within a few hours of each other. We finally made it back to the city to get a dinner... we were starving. Mariah had a giant poopy diaper (which we had smelled hours previous but thought it was something outside the car, so her bum was so sore! We had a giant mess and we were all so hungry!! But finally got some food in our bodies and felt good again. Vietnamese food is yummy!
Up early again, we wanted to spend the day on the beach and at the pool. All relaxation for us. Mariah was ready!
The Luau stage was right outside out back door.
The kids really just wanted to play at the pool. Depsite me wanting to be at the beach all day, we consented and spent several hours enjoying the pool and hot tub.
We traveled south on the island and tried another great beach. The waves came in a bit harsh, so we just enjoyed the sand. Fish tacos for us and some taco bell for the kids topped it off. For some reason, we didn't time our arrival at the airport correctly and we had to get gas, turn in the rental car etc. So I went through security alone with the 3 kids and then had SOOO long to walk to get to the airplane. We got to the top of the escalator and Mariahs carseat fell backwards down the stairs onto Hallie right as the steps leveled out leaving us toppling over each other with more passengers coming our way. It was a mess. Then getting all the kids to 'hurry' to the gate was unbelievably torturous. Luckily, we made it in time for tickets and Dave wasn't far behind us after the kids took that long. We hit the plane for a good 6 hour sleep and I have no recollection of where we sat or what we did on the flight at all, must've been good!
Until next time Hawaii!
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