Just Maui-ed

Haha! Like my title?? I saw it on a shirt in Lahaina and although I didn't buy it (I know, I should have) I liked the saying enough to make it onto the blog. Bryan and I got back last Thursday from Maui. It was sooo fun. We had the best time. We went with Dave and Lindsay to her aunt's house and if we hadn't been with them we would have been both lost and bored. We did all kinds of fun things that got me out of my comfort zone (the beach) and doing things that I will remember forever and do again when we go back to Hawaii someday (hopefully soon). Here is how it all went down:

We dropped the kids off at Nana and Papa's house Friday morning. I cried (of course), mostly because Bryce wouldn't give me hugs and kisses good bye. He eventually caved when he saw my tears, but I don't think they knew we were leaving for six days (would that have changed Bryce's actions? Hmmm...). We then ran a few errands and headed to the airport. I was not prepared for six long hours on a plane. We watched a few episodes of Burn Notice until the laptop died, we read the SkyMall magazine, we talked, we stared blankly outside. We survived. The last half hour was bumpy due to those pesky trade winds, causing me to be slightly, I mean very, air sick. We finally landed (thank HEAVENS!) and got off to be met by - humidty. Oh, and Daniel, the caretaker at the house. He had leis for us that were so pretty! Mine was tuberose and it smelled so wonderful, and I was so excited to get a lei! It was the ultimate Hawaiian experience so far. We drove to the house and met Dave and Lindsay. They showed us the property and the beach, which was so beautiful! It was like paradise, seriously. We went to dinner at the Shops at Wailea, where we had an awesome salad and way too many pizza sticks. How am I supposed to feel awesome in my swim suit after eating pizza sticks?? We were in sort of shock of where we were and when the shock wore off we were ready for a week of swimming, playing, and adventure (thanks to Dave).

Here is what we did:

* We did lots of body boarding, which I eventually got the hang of. I hate salt water. H-A-T-E. It makes me gag and burns my nose and eyes, so whenever I crashed it took me a while to recoup, but it was worth it. It was also fun to just float in the ocean on the boards and wait for the next wave.

* We also did lots of snorkeling. The first day we went we saw a manta ray, and on the way back to the shore, the manta ray swam right below Dave and I. It was kind of scary because it was so big, but it was also so cool. The second time we went snorkeling we saw several turtles, about the size of Rix. When I first heard we were going to look for turtles, I was thinking we would find turtles like you see at pet stores, the size of puppies. But these turtles were huge! They were so relaxed. They would sit on the bottom of the ocean floor and hang out, then come to the surface several times for air, and then go back down. And don't tell the Hawaiian government (shhhhh!) but Dave and Bryan touched the turtle, but I guess that's against the law!! Whoops! We saw all sorts of fish of all different colors, angel fish, eels, and even a little octopus! Bryan and Dave also went "night snorkeling" with flashlights and glow sticks. Bryan said they saw lots of puffer fish and a huge lobster, but that it was creepy since he couldn't see more than a few feet around him. I don't think he'll night snorkel any time soon.

* We drove to Hana, which includes hundreds of turns and twists (I got way car sick, of course), some so narrow that only one car can fit, so you have to take turns. After we got to Hana we went to a cool park with a black sand beach and lots of blow holes. It was gorgeous! If I could ever live anywhere in Maui, it would be there. After the park we went on a four mile hike to these beautiful waterfalls. The hike was so beautiful with lots of little water falls, cliffs, and caves in the lakes. We walked through a bamboo forest that was amazing. You could hear them clacking together - it was such a cool noise. And they were so dense that it was dark there in the middle of the day! Bry and Dave got in the water fall, which was freezing (so I hear). Lindsay and I prefered to just watch the waterfall. Then Bry's flip flop broke, and he wasn't about to hike two miles back without it, so Dave aka Macguyver rigged it with a key loop and saved the day. The hike would have been the highlight if the bugs hadn't eaten Lindsay and I to death - they didn't even touch Bry and Dave!

* We did lots of shopping! There are lots of places to shop, both low and high end. We got lots of souveniers and shirts for us and family. There are these stores called ABC stores that have lots of souveniers and they are EVERYWHERE! Thanks Dave and Linz for letting us stop there so much! The shops in Kihei were our favorite! They were outdoor shops with everything you can imagine! We also discovered Moose McGillycuddy's (lovingly referred to as Moose's) - they had the best pork tacos and pork sliders! And they were pretty cheap. We went twice!

* We kayaked and almost died (Dave and Bry will argue with that) hence the "adventure" I talked about eariler. We kayaked over to Turtle Town, but the wind was blowing really hard, and the kayak trip back was rough, I thought for sure we were going to flip and we had no life jackets (so dumb, I know). We eventually decided to head back to Turtle Town since that was the way the wind was blowing and Dave hitched a ride to the house to pick up the car so we could get the kayaks home. So scary! But fun at the same time.

* We played Bocce. We were so preppy! But it was fun, even though I'm not too good. Yet.

*We built sand castles, took naps, ate food, walked the beach, laid in the sun, I got burned, and hung out.

We had a BLAST, but when it was time to go home, we were ready. We were ready to see our kids (I missed them like crazy!), and we were ready to get back to reality. Our time there was relaxed and open. We even got used to the muggyness and heat! We could go to the beach whenever we want to without worrying about nap times or diapers, so to us it was like an alternate universe. But we are also looking forward to going back someday with the kids and any other family members who want to join us. Below is a ridiculous amount of pictures. Scroll through and enjoy! Please note: We took about 180 pictures in Hawaii and it took lots of effort to condense it down!

This is the view from our room. It was so nice to wake up to this every morning!

Dave body boarding at the beach.

There were tiny geckos all over the place. Thank goodness they were fast or we would have stepped on them!
Lindsay and I playing bocce. I wasn't very good, so poor Bryan had to carry our team.
The property came to a point, and you could see ocean for miles. It was so gorgeous!
Bryan and I at sunset.
The trees at the state park in Hana were so weird! Their braches went everywhere!
Bryan and I at the state park in Hana. Is was so awesome there! It was how I pictured Hawaii would be.
Dave and Lindsay
Bryan and Dave looking at blow holes at the state park. The rocks are cooled lava flow.

Looking through a blow hole.

The waves crashed around this lava-formed arch. We watched it for quite a while!

Lindsay and I at the lava rocks.
Isn't the water so blue??
At the black sand beach in Hana. The sand wasn't soft - it hurt my feet!
A view on the drive to Hana.
Bryan and Dave didn't read the signs! This was on the hike to the falls.
One of the little falls on the hike.This big old tree is one tree that reroots it's branches. It was huge!!!
Of course Bryan had to climb the tree.
At some other falls. The rock formation was so cool - it looked so smooth, like bricks!
Walking through the bamboo forest. It was so cool!
Bryan and Dave at the waterfall. They said it was freezing, but how often do you get a chance to stand under a waterfall?

The waterfall. It was so beautiful - the walls around the waterfall were "weeping" with little streams of water going around them.
Since I didn't go into the falls, I had to at least take a picture in front of it!
We saw this shirt in Lahaina. If it wasn't so expensive we would have bought it because it was so true. On the shirt you can see how many miles, curves, etc, the road to Hana is.
Bryan body boarding.
The caretaker, Daniel, showed us how to husk a coconut. Fresh coconut tastes more like almonds with a coconut texture. He also showed us that you can open an unripe coconut and drink the "water". I didn't like it too much, but if I had to drink it I could! Lindsay and I made "coconut chips" with the fresh coconut, but I didn't really like those either. I prefered it fresh (or in Almond Joys!).
Bryan climbed a papaya tree to pick us some papayas. He broke off a branch in the process (free tree trimming!).
Nice melons Dave!
At night there were tiny frogs everywhere. They were the size of my thumb nail! Also at night humongous cockroaches come out. One flew into my hair...but I don't want to talk about it. Ewww *shudder*
Bryan and Dave night snorkeling. See the glow sticks on his shorts? That was all Lindsay and I could see of the boys from the shore.
Bryan and Dave getting the kayaks ready.
Dave and Lindsay at Moose's.
Bryan and I at Moose's. I left my hair straightener at home (so sad) so I had to go curly every day!
Bryan and I overlooking the beach from the property.
At the beach right before we left for the airport.

Bryan and I need to thank Dave and Lindsay for letting us tag along with them. It was such an awesome experience to stay at her aunt's house and hang out with them for so long! Also thanks for Ani and Jerry for letting us stay there and use their house and property. And of course thanks to my parents who watched my kids for six grueling days! They spoiled them rotten, and they loved every minute of it! In fact, when I went to go pick them up none of them were ready to go home with me and Cole didn't even remember who I was! It took him almost thirty minutes to warm up to me! And thanks to everyone who was excited for us to go. We had an awesome time!