Aloha and Mahalo

At our hotel as the sun went downBanyan Tree-all of this is actually one tree all connected. 2nd largest in the world. It was pretty amazing
Black sand beach on the Road to Hana
On the Road to Hana
Our car! The convertible was so much fun!
At Mama's Fish house after the Road to Hana
Lunch at the clubhouse at Kapaula Golf Course
Most beautiful golf course (mostly due to the views which the pictures do not do justice)
#18 it was getting pretty dark

In Honolulu-this is where I stayed when I was 7-the last time we were in Hawaii with my whole extended family. Lance and I stayed across the street at another hotel. I did the "hang loose" sign because in almost EVERY picture we have, we were all made to make this sign. It was the equivalent to the Asian's peace sign in every picture (see below).
Rainbow tower at HHV where we stayed 21 years ago. This place is so much bigger now!
Spent the day driving around Oahu up to the north shore. Absolutely breathtaking.
Hanuama Bay on Oahu. Large coral reef where we snorkeled.
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Some Japanese kids at Pearl Harbor. Lance took this because their mom was in the background telling them to smile and holding up the peace sign as well.

Hawaii was everything we thought it would be, so beautiful, so relaxing, so hard to leave...sigh...(sorry to my Madeline-Daddy and I debated how to get you over there. We would not have abandoned you). We spent the first 2 days on Oahu at Honolulu. We went to Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, drove around the island up to the North Shore (Lost, was not filming from what we could tell-sad), and then snorkeled at Hanauma Bay. Gorgeous, but a long day that was filled with driving errors and indecision which is pretty uncustomary for Lance and I, not to mention all the traffic. Too big a city for it to feel like a vacation.

Then we flew to Maui, which was absolutely paradise. It was so incredible to see the differences in the islands that were just a 20 minute flight apart. We stayed in at the Hyatt in Kaanapali-incredible! I highly recommend it (and their breakfast buffet) if you ever get a chance to go. Lance played golf at Kapalua while I rode in the cart. It was so beautiful, but difficult to hit a ball into 30 mph constant winds. He still shot a 90, which he will say was terrible, though I had to keep reminding him we were playing for "fun" and this wasn't the Mercedes Championship. We snorkeled, relaxed by the huge pool, shopped in the funnest little town Lahania, and did the Road to Hana. Only regret was the Road to Hana. The hotel gave us this free CD with the most obnoxious woman in the world talking. She was the epitome of cheesy. I also got very car sick due to the windiness of the road. It was an all day event and I wish we would have chosen another activity. We ate at some incredible restaurants, read books (I finished the last 3 in the "Twilight" series), and enjoyed a real vacation in 3 years. Now, I know what some of you are saying, you went to DC, Paris, London, Chicago? Those are places to see, Hawaii is a place to vacation!

Funny and sad stories on the flight back. I dont sleep well on planes (who does?), well I had just fallen somewhat asleep at what was technically about 4am B'ham time (midnight Hawaii) when the stupid flight attendant came down the isle with water. She knocked my blanket off "by accident" and practically yelled "WATER?!" I jumped because she was so loud. I was completely disoriented and shot her what was probably the dirtiest look I could make up on a good day while looking in a mirror. Mind you very few lights were even on at that point in the cabin. I wanted to shout "lady if I want water I will get off my arse and get some!" Then of course I could not fall back to sleep and at that point I felt that my legs were really swollen and I did have to get up and get water. I still was not pleased.

M was happy we came back. Though she learned the word "mine" while we were gone and now uses it constantly. She had a great time with my parents who very graciously came and stayed with her. They took care of my child, re-grouted both my bathroom floors and shower, re-caulked my shower and tub, fixed my light, fixed my drawer, cleaned my house, and then told me "thanks so much for letting us keep Madeline." Mom and Dad-any time you want to take 10 days off work, come keep my child, and fix my house up-feel free!

I've had vacation hangover as well. We came back Wednesday, Mom and Dad left Thursday morning, around mid-night that night, we were in bed and heard a large crash in the garage. Come to find out the next day, our pulley on the garage broke off hitting our car and scratching the paint. Saturday night at about 1 am I couldn't fall asleep because I keep hearing a "thump, thump" sound. I go in the hallway and see that our ceiling is starting to peel back where water is coming through. Lance has to crawl up in the attic to put a bowl out before our ceiling gets worse. Then this morning, Lance wakes me up to say there are ants all through our kitchen! Nothing like a little reality to kill the buzz from your vacation. Se La Vi! It was grand while it lasted.

Here is a link to the rest of our pictures if any one wants to see them (Hover over and click).

Lizard (and No Pictures)

I figured I better post something now because we are leaving on Wednesday for 8 days. No pictures because I haven't had time to download them. Terrible story from two days ago. I was taking out the vacuum when a lizard came running out! Now, I'm not what you call "gracious" when it comes to small critters in my house. If you made it in alive, you most likely aren't leaving that way. But I have a problem killing anything larger than one of these southern roaches. So, I decide to extend grace to this lizard (which was really more of a salamander I think, but lizard was easier for M to say) and try to catch it. M thought it was a game because I started screaming when I first saw it was running next to my feet. I got a piece of Tupperware and a chase ensued. After about 20 minutes and multiple unsuccessful calls to Lance to tell him to come home because I couldn't find it, and it was his fault for not putting the door sweep back on, I finally captured him and released him outside. I told him not to come back because I couldn't promise he would leave alive next time. M was funny, she kept getting on the ground looking under the couch, grabbing the container and trying to "catch" it. She kept saying "he go bye-bye" after I took him out. Whenever we talk about the lizard now, she points to behind the chair where I caught him and says the same. She has yet to go back behind the chair where we keep a bunch of toys as well.

M continues to amaze me with her verbal skills. She is starting to speak in simple 2 and 3 word sentences. She's so cute with her dolls. She gives them love and sings to them. She will try to put her diapers on them, sit them on the potty, puts them "night night," covers them with blankets and puts her figure up to her lips and says "Shh." Whenever she wants to watch tv, she points and says "Nemo" (her favorite movie). She starting to show some interest in the toilet. She likes to sit on it, get tp and wipe. She's obsessed with playing in water and brushing her teeth (which I blogged about a few months ago that she hated). She loves to do somersaults, and will perform one for anyone who comes over. All her canine teeth are about to come through. Maybe they will be in by the time we get back. Oh, Lance and I are leaving for Hawaii on Wednesday for a late anniversary celebration! I'm so excited! My parents are coming to keep M here at our house. Lots of pictures when we get back! Aloha!

PS-whose excited about the Olympics? Lance and I like to sing the theme song to each other at ear piercing decibels! Watched awesome handball this morning. I've always wondered how you get into some of these sports. Like how do you get good enough to be an Olympic badminton player and where do you train?