Maui, Hawaii ~ What can I say? I think this was the absolute best vacation I have ever had, making it even better because I spent it with you and Daddy, our first family vacation! We met Lindsey and Micah at the airport in the morning, and while they flew on another airplane, we all spent one glorious fun-filled week together.
You were so excited to ride on the airplane. Buckling yourself, and Winnie the Pooh, into your seat and telling him, “It’s like a ride, up and down, ok?” (just like what I kept telling you). You initially freaked out at take-off, however by the third leg of the trip, you were a pro. You love your new pink headphones for the plane. You kept singing along, bobbing your head to the music. You even put them around your neck at one point and said, “Look Mama, Doctor!” pretending to have a stethoscope around your neck. Every time we’d get on a plane too, you’d be so anxious to go that you’d be saying “Go go go airplane!!” Every time we’d fly, people would get off the plane and compliment us on two things. One, how cute you were, and two, how well behaved you were on the plane. You did surprisingly well, even for such an arduous journey as traveling all the way to Hawaii. You are our amazing little traveler, which fits you perfectly into our family, as we love to get out and see the world as much as we are able!
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| corn dog |
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| sunbathing with daddy |
This week, you have really grown close to Aunt Lindsey and now UNCLE Micah (they got engaged in the moonlight on the beach and we got to see it all!!) Not only have you had a ball with them (and vice versa), calling them "Linley" and "Micmah", even copying every little thing they do, but I think I have had just as much fun watching you deeply enjoy two more members of your ever expanding family. Micah was particularly funny on a couple occasions, using Lindsey's Droid to listen to music with you and then walking around, dancing with and singing to you. It was really sweet. Daddy and I sat watching you, numerous times on the trip, marveling at how well you adapt to your surroundings. Throughout this trip you have also fallen more deeply in love with the swimming pool, using your noodle and floaties like a pro ~ your swim teacher would be so proud!!
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| i think your smiles say it all |
During the middle of the week, you and I took off into Lahaina while Daddy, Micah, and Lindsey all went zip lining up in the mountains. While they had their adventure, we had one of our own. We shopped in a bunch of the stores, right in downtown Lahaina, buying two different matching Hawaiian outfits for you, Daddy, and I to wear in some pretty pictures later this week. Then, we stopped for ice cream and ate it in a park in the middle of town where these huge banyan trees had their vines hanging down all over the place. It was a truly beautiful, "Mommy and Daughter" day in Hawaii. While we ate our ice cream, you and I both noticed what I can only guess was a homeless man, quietly reading a book on a bench very close to ours. Something in that moment tugged at my heart. Maybe it was feeling so blessed to be sitting there in that slice of paradise with you or maybe it was the aloha spirit, but as I watched you noticing him too, I realized I had a wonderful teaching moment in my hands. We finished our ice cream and got up, slowly walking over to him, and asking if he would allow us to treat him to an ice cream cone as we had just finished ours and they were quite good. He looked up at us with surprise and uncertainty at first, but eventually said that that would be very nice. He decided he wanted strawberry and so we marched back over to the ice cream shack together and got him a double scoop. We took it back over and gave it to him, wishing him a good day as he looked into our eyes and said "thank you" in one of the most sincerest of ways. As we walked away, I could tell you were wondering exactly what we had just done. So I took that moment to explain to you that that particular man may not have a home to sleep in at night, and just might spend the night sleeping outside. I told you that we were lucky to have a home, to take vacations, and be able to do something as seemingly simple as buy ourselves an ice cream cone when we wanted one. I finally told you that it is nice to share with others when we can, especially when we notice that they may not have as much as we do. I know that that ice cream cone was but a tiny drop in the bucket in comparison to what that man actually needed, however that was what we had to give on that particular day. I have no idea how much of that lesson sunk in for you, but hopefully it will be one of the first of many such lessons in your future. Any opportunity to teach random kindness is an opportunity worth taking in my opinion.
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| ice cream under the banyan trees |
After our wonderful girls' Lahaina day, we went to a magic show that night. Lao Lao had bought Daddy and I (and all of us) front row seats to dinner and a show and it was AWESOME! There was Hawaiian dancing and the music was good but pretty loud, (you plugged your ears for a lot of the show and had a slightly glazed over look from the fatigue of jet lag), but overall really enjoyed it, and even made it through all 3 hours of it! Daddy and Lindsey actually got pulled into the act at different points, and at the very end, the magician made a point to come out and especially present just you with a huge chain of balloon doggies in front of the whole audience. I don't remember much of that, other than the gasps of "awww" from the crowd when the spotlight hit you. It was all very sweet and you loved it. Afterwards, we walked back to the hotel room and the resort's Hawaiian band was playing John Lennon's Imagine. You and I stopped and slow danced to the rest of that beautiful song. You were so tired, you just laid your head on my shoulder. It was just one more of those "moments" with you that I wish I could freeze in time forever.
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| with the magician and all of your balloon doggies after the show |
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| slow dancing with my favorite person in the world |
I love all of the relaxed little things you have been doing on this trip too. You have never been more silly or laughed more continuously as you have while in Hawaii. I love it. For instance, you got up one morning and walked onto the balcony, saying “Morning Sunshine!” When I asked you the time one day, you said it was “1-2-3-4-5 minutes”, and you also are very interested in scuba divers with all of their gear, but you mistakenly think we are saying “drivers” so whenever you talk about them, you mimic driving a car. Hee hee. I really love how great you are now saying aloha, mahalo, and shaka ~ especially shaka as you do the “hang loose” sign with your hand, and in a kind of deeper and breathy voice you say “Shaaakkaaa!!” It is pretty funny. You also have been very sweet, noticing a boo-boo on my finger one day and after giving me a big hug, you went and got your silkie, which you proceeded to gently rub over my injury, no doubt trying to make me feel better. What a kid.
One day, we walked down the beach not far from our hotel. There is wonderful snorkeling there and while the adults took turns with the snorkel gear, you and I hung out in the water and actually got to swim with some sea turtles! It was so cool! They would swim right up to shore almost and we’d take the moss or seaweed off the rocks and they’d even let us feed them by hand. They were huge! You got the biggest kick out of it and were splashing and trying to swim to them like mad. When one swam right up to you, you giggled and said “Hiiii!!!” You are such a natural in water, a true water-baby!
Later that afternoon, we all hiked through some rain forest, trying to find a waterfall. No luck with that, but we saw some gorgeous landscape.
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| it was super windy that day |
One morning, you got up and headed off to breakfast with Daddy (Lindsey and Micah) while I went for a run. You had a great time at Betty’s Café, a beautiful little restaurant right on the beach in Lahaina. Then later, we all took a ride on the Sugar Cane Train. It was loud, and just like at the magic show, you plugged your ears at first, but then somehow managed to fall asleep on the ride to Pu’ukulii. You did like it though and at our first stop, we all ate Hawaiian shaved ice and tried fresh pineapple from the farmers’ market there. It was delicious and we all got nice and juicy!
The last night there, we went to a traditional Hawaiian luau and it was fabulous. The night before, and then this night, we all wore our two different matching outfits. It was fun to get some cute pictures of us as a family, however you are such a stinker lately about cooperating with the camera! I have to get sneakier and sneakier about it. I guess your mamarazzi has finally worn out her welcome, but I’m still hoping it’s just a phase in your assertion of independence. Anyway, we ended up sitting next to a family at the luau where they had adopted from Korea many years ago, and their daughter is actually getting ready to adopt from Korea herself right now. They are just waiting to bring their grand-daughter home right now. Then the people on the other side, who had just gotten married that day, also were foster parents. We all got to talking briefly and it was really cool. We all agreed that whether it’s fostering or adoption, it’s been an amazing experience for us as parents. You ended up falling asleep, (jet lag is kicking your butt too), but we all had fun. The parts of the luau that you did see, you liked, and you ate a ton of food. And I’m glad that you got to at least see the fire-twirling finale, which only slightly freaked you out.
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| i just love matching our outfits ~ i hope you never outgrow liking it too! |
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| an absolute angel |
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| family kiss! |
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| heading to the luau |
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| up on stage, trying out our "hula hips" |
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| being silly with daddy |
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| i love our family |
We were all a bit sad when it was time to depart Maui. The morning we left, our hotel had a special kukui nut lei ceremony that they do for all their guests. It gained its origins just after 9/11, when many guests travelling on United and American airlines were stranded there for nearly a month. At the ceremony, they hand out these kukui nut leis to each guest. They kiss you on the cheek as they put it around your neck, and talk about how it is a symbol of an aloha to the world. It is meant to somehow symbolize an everlasting connection of one soul to another, particularly as a remembrance in the instance of 9/11 to honor those fallen and as an offering to anyone who has lost a loved one. I, of course, cried. They told us that if we should come back to Hawaii, particularly to their hotel, they will restring the lei and add one special white cream color kukui nut, each time you return. Then they sang us all a song in Hawaiian about how we are all beloved. It was very special. I have never felt a place touch my soul like Hawaii. I really hope to all come back someday, I truly do.
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| mama, why are you crying? |
We spent the day in Lahaina, before departing on our planes at nearly 10pm at night. You were so excited to ride the airplane again, saying “Woo hoo!” upon arriving at the airport. We all took turns, throughout the week, remarking on how awesome you have done, how proud we all are of you, and how much absolute fun we have had with you. We have all grown closer together this week and there are not two better people than Aunt “Linley” and Uncle “Micmah” with whom we could have shared our vacation. I honestly have never had a better time on vacation than I have on this one.
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| last night in hawaii, dinner @ the pupu lounge on our way to the airport |
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| helping with the luggage cart @ the airport |
You slept the entire first leg of the flight home (5 hours), and upon waking up, you asked if the plane was “broken” when we told you that we had to change airplanes. I guess that would make sense. The rest of the legs you only slept sporadically, however after every flight at least one (usually more) person would come up to us and tell us how well you did, what an angel you were on the flight, or what a pleasure it was to fly with you. You were so well behaved and seemed to enjoy yourself so thoroughly, and I think people got a kick out of seeing your silly antics too. You were pretty silly and loved getting drinks from the flight attendants off the drink cart ~ thinking you were “big stuff”.
Once (FINALLY) home, I put on our new IZ CD while I unpacked and you danced a naked hula boogie, which was hysterical! Then, for some reason, you got it in your head that you wanted to “go jogging” outside, choosing your red ‘Made in China’ t-shirt, pink embroidered jeans, and of course your running shoes. Then you went outside, and actually ran back and forth for a while on the sidewalk. Not sure what that was about, but you even insisted on sleeping in this outfit. We ended the night by your giving us what we are now calling “fish kisses”, consisting of making our puckered fish faces and then pressing our lips together for a long while, while we act like fish and, of course, kiss. It’s super sweet and one of the bigger kisses that either Daddy or I have gotten lately. I LOVE IT! What a great way to go to bed!
On Monday, after relaxing on Sunday, we decided it to be best to take you to school to try to get you back on your normal schedule as quickly as possible. Once we dropped you off, Daddy and I had breakfast. We reminisced about vacation, how it was so awesomely perfect. We also pondered that you must be somehow magical. This entire trip, your charisma has been working overtime and you just seem to have this special little spark, a magnetic quality about you that just draws people in and makes them fall in love with you, just by being you. Not only did you help to make this vacation spectacular for all involved, but you have also been such a remarkable addition to our family in general. Family members that never before had been able to, easily, come together have come together around you. I’m not quite sure what it is or how to define it, but all I know is that you have been a blessing, through and through. I just hope we can all be as much of a positive influence in your life, as you have been on ours already, in just the short time we’ve known you.
I love you, my “little magical naked hula girl”.
Mama
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