We have successfully acclimatized ourselves to an easier, slower way of life. It's too bad this can't last forever. The days have all been roughly the same: beach, pool time, lunch, shuffleboard, nap time, all the while chronicling all of the above with various electronic devices. We usually add one small excursion into the mix somewhere, and try to add a night time swim if we can. The kids are fascinated that they don't have to wear "sunscream" when we go swimming at night.
Yesterday we took the kids to the Maui Ocean Center, the nicest acquarium I have been to. They had an amazing shark exhibit, with hammer heads, nurse sharks, stingrays and manta rays. The kids had a great time, and really enjoyed spending more of their allowance in the gift shop. Jackson got a windup scuba diver ("scooper diver" according to both kids) andKenzie got a stuffed sea turtle. Jackson was excited she got the turtle, because "now I don't have to share Myrtle the Turtle with my sister anymore!"
Poor little Kenzie lives in perennial fear of losing pool priveleges. Everytime she gets in trouble she gets a panicked look in her face and asks "do I still get to go swimming in the swimming pool?" I think we need to come up with some new consequences...
Kenzie continues to keep the grounds clear of any fallen flowers, most of which end up in our condo. Jackson is the master swimmer now, able to swim a good 20 feet by himself, and was very excited to have defeated a 6 year old kid in a find-the-rockets pool game.
Another highlight for the kids has been feeding their leftover toast in the mornings to the songbirds that invariably flutter up to the lanai while I'm having my morning coffee.
Steph and I have both gone snorkling out in front of our condo... this is a huge bonus of our location, and enjoyed seeing a wide variety of tropical fish and coloful coral.
Anyhoo, we're all having a great time. It is incredibly gratifying watching our small children having so much fun. They are so incredibly happy here. There are a million small joys here that you just don't notice if you don't have kids with you (like the sound of the SugarCane Train whistle that elicits such excitement from our kids 20 times a day). Tonight is the luau, and thank goodness I cancelled our reservations to the 6 time best-of-maui awarded Old Lahaina Luau (it doesn't feature a fire dance), and switched to the widely panned Royal Lahaina Luau. The other night at Whaler's Village their was a free hula show, and the only comment Jackson had afterwards was "why didn't they have a fire eater?"
Cooper
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
island time
We are enjoying the slow pace of Maui, although from the duration since my last post, you would think I've been on island time for all of May! I've been out almost every week of May, and the few days I've been in town have been devoted to catching up on life's chores, and spending good time with the kids and Steph.
There's lots to talk about, and plenty of pictures and clips to share, but I'll save that for a later post.
Unfortunately, I didn't bring a card reader to Hawaii, so I can't give any "live look-ins" but rest assured, I am doing my usual overkill of photos and video. Life's special moments aren't official unless they include me annoying all the participants by taking pictures and video. I'm sure I'll be thanked for it in 50 years.
So on to the update... we arrived in Maui on Sunday and are here for 9 days, 8 nights. The travel day was exhausting for the kids, and as typical, brought out different sides of the kids' personalities. When Jackson is sleep deprived, he gets sloppy and punchy. He says all kinds of funny things and his comedic timing is hilarious. Poor Kenzie on the other hand, gets incredibly cranky, everything upsets her, and she gets frustrated by anything.
So after getting them up 2 hours early, flying them 6 hours across the ocean, then dragging them to Costco and Safeway before getting to the condo, these kids were cooked. We allowed them the reward of going swimming before dinner and bedtime, however, which bought us a lot of goodwill.
Yesterday was day 2, and after our long travel day, the 200 yard rule was strictly enforced. This is my rule that we don't venture more than 200 yards from our front door, and it facilitates slowing things down from rat race to island time. This rule allowed us to get in 2 beach sessions, 2 pool sessions, shuffleboard, a viewing of Cars in the condo, plus a very much needed 3 hour nap for the kids.
After the nap, the kids were like new little people. The whining and crying are quickly turning into distant memories, and it officially feels like vacation now.
As one could probably guess, the kids' favorite activity seems to be pool time, although they love beach time as well. Jackson's swimming lessons this year are paying dividends. Whereas last year he wouldn't even put his head under water, this year he spends hours diving for these little rockets we bought, swimming on his own for 10 foot stretches, and "scooper-diving" (I think he means scuba diving). Kenzie loves pretending that she is putting Mom to bed in the pool, including singing songs, putting Vaseline on her lips, tucking her in, and shutting the door. Both kids love their water wings, and like swimming under the waterfalls.
In addition to enjoying the little smiles we continuously see on our kids faces, Mom and Dad are enjoying the warm weather and the tasty treats that I have been preparing. Never one to be too humble, I can sincerely say that I have mastered the perfect Mai Tai, the perfect Pina Colada, and last night I made some ridiculously tasty seared Ahi Tuna Steaks for dinner.
Today we're taking the Sugar Cane Train into town after we go for a morning swim, and the kids are excited to spend some of their allowance savings at the Sugar Cane Train gift shop. Tonight we'll eat at the Castaway Cafe at our condo, and play catch and watch the sunset.
that's my update... I'll look to post again on Saturday, with a report on the luau we are going to Friday night.
oh, and to answer the question I'm sure the grandparents have... yes we are religiously applying sunscreen to the kids (or sun-scream, as they like to call it), having them wear swimshirts, and keeping them from getting any sunburns :)
aloha,
Cooper
There's lots to talk about, and plenty of pictures and clips to share, but I'll save that for a later post.
Unfortunately, I didn't bring a card reader to Hawaii, so I can't give any "live look-ins" but rest assured, I am doing my usual overkill of photos and video. Life's special moments aren't official unless they include me annoying all the participants by taking pictures and video. I'm sure I'll be thanked for it in 50 years.
So on to the update... we arrived in Maui on Sunday and are here for 9 days, 8 nights. The travel day was exhausting for the kids, and as typical, brought out different sides of the kids' personalities. When Jackson is sleep deprived, he gets sloppy and punchy. He says all kinds of funny things and his comedic timing is hilarious. Poor Kenzie on the other hand, gets incredibly cranky, everything upsets her, and she gets frustrated by anything.
So after getting them up 2 hours early, flying them 6 hours across the ocean, then dragging them to Costco and Safeway before getting to the condo, these kids were cooked. We allowed them the reward of going swimming before dinner and bedtime, however, which bought us a lot of goodwill.
Yesterday was day 2, and after our long travel day, the 200 yard rule was strictly enforced. This is my rule that we don't venture more than 200 yards from our front door, and it facilitates slowing things down from rat race to island time. This rule allowed us to get in 2 beach sessions, 2 pool sessions, shuffleboard, a viewing of Cars in the condo, plus a very much needed 3 hour nap for the kids.
After the nap, the kids were like new little people. The whining and crying are quickly turning into distant memories, and it officially feels like vacation now.
As one could probably guess, the kids' favorite activity seems to be pool time, although they love beach time as well. Jackson's swimming lessons this year are paying dividends. Whereas last year he wouldn't even put his head under water, this year he spends hours diving for these little rockets we bought, swimming on his own for 10 foot stretches, and "scooper-diving" (I think he means scuba diving). Kenzie loves pretending that she is putting Mom to bed in the pool, including singing songs, putting Vaseline on her lips, tucking her in, and shutting the door. Both kids love their water wings, and like swimming under the waterfalls.
In addition to enjoying the little smiles we continuously see on our kids faces, Mom and Dad are enjoying the warm weather and the tasty treats that I have been preparing. Never one to be too humble, I can sincerely say that I have mastered the perfect Mai Tai, the perfect Pina Colada, and last night I made some ridiculously tasty seared Ahi Tuna Steaks for dinner.
Today we're taking the Sugar Cane Train into town after we go for a morning swim, and the kids are excited to spend some of their allowance savings at the Sugar Cane Train gift shop. Tonight we'll eat at the Castaway Cafe at our condo, and play catch and watch the sunset.
that's my update... I'll look to post again on Saturday, with a report on the luau we are going to Friday night.
oh, and to answer the question I'm sure the grandparents have... yes we are religiously applying sunscreen to the kids (or sun-scream, as they like to call it), having them wear swimshirts, and keeping them from getting any sunburns :)
aloha,
Cooper
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