It’s hard for us to believe, but we’ve been here for a week and our vacation is ending. In the morning, we’ll load our 87,000 items back onto a plane and return to Los Angeles. To help prep Annabel for the post-vacation blues, I’ve been reminding her that this week is going to be really fun: a field trip on Tuesday and Halloween on Thursday. Yesterday she woke up asking how many days until the pumpkin patch, and after I told her she said, “I can’t wait!…But I’ll miss Hawaii!!!!” I feel the same way.
When you take out travel time, we had six and a half days here, which is a lot but at the same time, not nearly enough. On Thursday, we celebrated my mom’s birthday. We surprised her with a massage and then took her out to a nice dinner.
There is a gorgeous beach in Kahana directly off the property we were staying at that we went to the first few days we were here, but on Friday and Saturday we branched out. On Friday we went to a spot in Napili that my family has frequented in the past, and on Saturday we went to the beach in Lahaina.
Annabel made friends everywhere she went. Most of the time that worked out well, and Annie had playmates to dig in the sand and chase waves with. James was the best baby. His skin is soooooo pale, so I slathered him in SPF 1,000 and covered him with shorts, a hat, and a rash guard. If he wasn’t under an umbrella, he rolled around in his shaded tent.
My parents and aunt were wonderful and offered to watch the kids one night, so Mike and I were able to go out to dinner just the two of us. We had an amazing meal while we watched the sun set over the island of Molokai. And of course, no date night is complete without shave ice!
We are now all obsessed with shave ice. We might have bought shave ice every day, and I might be a little worried that Mike is going to have serious shave ice withdrawals.
He is hugging his last shave ice goodbye…
I think a highlight for me was taking James in the ocean for the first time. My mom was surprised that he hadn’t been in the ocean in California, but the timing was never right. Annabel was sooooo excited.
James was like, “Whatever, dudes.” Maybe someday he’ll think it’s cool that the first time he touched the ocean, he was in Hawaii.
If you look at my left leg, you’ll see the bugs found me…again. They always do.
When we wake up, we’ll throw the last of our things in our suitcases and say goodbye to this beautiful place. This has easily been one of the best vacations I’ve ever been on, and I am so thankful. I’m sad to see it end but I’m hopeful that my family can turn this trip into a new tradition and we’ll be back soon (next time with my cousin Leah and her fiance, Ted!). Mahalo, Hawaii!
Becca Masters says:
i’d love to go to hawaii, it looks amazing! glad you had a great time!
RzDrms says:
It’s so wonderful to see your aunt, and looking so great at that! I’ve been praying.
Karen says:
Um…Christmas present idea for Mike! Hawaiian ice shaver!
Jenn says:
Ha ha!! That’s a GREAT idea Karen!!! I bet Mike (as would everyone else in the family) LOVE this!!! Heather – so glad you all had a WONDERFUL time!!! Thanks Gramma & Bampa!!!
amourningmom says:
My sister-in-law loves shaved ice & we did get her the ice machine for her birthday. She loved it but the only problem is that now there is no way to top that present.
Sounds like a fantastic vacation and a fun week back in LA. Safe travels & happy pumpkin picking!
Colleen says:
So glad you all had a great trip! Thank you for sharing it with us!
MG says:
I visited CA as a child and one thing I remembered the most is shaved ice there! It was called Piggy’s Shaved Ice….like ice I’ve never had. My mom and dad inquired with the owner (who was skeptical to share until they showed their WI drivers licenses proving they didn’t live in the area) because they considered opening one in our city. All that to say, I still dream about the shaved ice. The kind at fairs comes close (if you hit the right stand)….glad you had a great time. That’s my dream vacation!
mccgoods says:
I just showed my husband the pictures of the shaved ice. He would visit Hawaii often. I asked him “isn’t it the same as the slushies here?” He just looked at me like I had 6 heads.
RzDrms says:
(PS, I heard an instrumental song on the radio on my way into work today titled “Dear Jacqui” and of course thought of your JACKIE! It It’s beautiful, just like her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaXnf8IeTi4&sns=em
I wish she hasn’t died so young.)
Amy says:
Where did you stay in Kahana? That beachfront pic looks a lot like where my husband and I were married and honeymooned. Kahana Sunset by chance?
Maui is wonderful, so lucky you are going back again so soon!
Amie says:
we have a lot of shaved ice places in the valley. Maybe not as good as the real hawaiian deal but if Mike is really having withdrawals when you get home I’m sure he can find one not far from you.
Paula says:
My niece lives on a Hawaiian island. Her husband is in the Marines and stationed over there. She loves it and her little daughter is a lover of all things ocean. I bet her and Annie would get along great!