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).