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    Aloha, Maui!

    The boys are sleeping off our late night return home. They have a day off today before starting a new school year tomorrow.
    Me? I’m trying to hang at work, through my body is REALLY not ready to be back from vacation? Where did we go? My Turtle Sightings post was a spoiler, but we’ve just spent about 5 days in Maui.
    I’m not ready to be back to life as usual, and already wishing another vacation was near, so I guess *I* had a good time. However, vacations with kids… well, it’s just different. Our kids didn’t have their toys, or other activities to occupy them, so whenever we were back in our room (or sitting still, really) they were constantly asking for the tablets… or teasing each other. Not the most relaxing, for the adults, for sure! At the same time it was really neat to see their reaction to new experiences. For example, one thing that sticks in my mind is listening to Storm, underwater, humming to himself while snorkeling. So imagine a 3’5″ wee-bit kicking while floating ahead just humming. It’s kind of one of the best things, really.

    We took advantage of our CA body schedule and got up for an early morning boat ride out to Molokini and Turtle Town visit. G LOVED being on the boat. Snorkeling was not really his thing, so after Molokini he got back on the boat, and more or less became a hand, passing people noodles and hanging with the boat captain. He even took over the first mate’s chair. I don’t often see him this excited and happy! As a side note, I’m glad that the boys seem to have inherited their dad’s constitution when it comes to being on the water. My achievement for this trip was not throwing up. And trust me, it was a BIG effort. By the time we parked in Molokini my stomach was churning. Even being in the water sucked. Being back on the boat was even worse. When the boat was moving faster I was so much better, but docked I was lying down trying to keep it together. I’m surprised last year’s boat ride out to sharks and rays was fine. I didn’t feel sick. Same measures this year, totally different results. Oh well — doesn’t look like I’ll be loading a boat in the near future. Additionally, and I remember this from last time Shane and I went to Maui and did a trip to Molokini — the snorkeling we did off shore was just as good, if not better than what we saw out by Molokini island. So I’m going to spare myself the cost of money and body and just not do that again. Glad we did it for the kids, don’t see the need to do it again.

    We also attended a luau. It was our first, and as it turns out literally right below our hotel room. We can hear the performances from our space, and occasionally at night we’d leave the door open just so we can hear it. Storm saw a poster advertising the luau in our hotel, but not knowing what it was about kept asking where he can see a ring of fire (think spinning poi). Without context, I had no clue what the kid was talking about so just shook my head at him a lot. Needless to say the kids were stoked about this. The food was actually quite good, the performance interesting, and the boys really dug it.

    Shane and I stole some time to ourselves too — I really wanted to stay at a place that had childcare. It’s how we ended up booking Hyatt Regency to begin with. Kids love it at the kid-camp. To a point where they were mad we picked them up. Griffin had heard “all day” and in his mind 3pm did not qualify as an “all day” stay there. Shane and I went out for dinner one night, and then snorkeling on two beaches for a day trip. That part was nice!

    I convinced Shane to go down to the Wailea area for dinner one night. We hit up Monkeypod, which was yummy and even Storm ate at! He had a salad — gave it a thumbs up. Earlier that week Shane had mentioned that he’d love some local brewery rootbear, and since Maui Brewing Co had a tasting room (relatively) close to dinner, we stopped by for a tasting before we headed in for the evening. There was live music; the kids tried root-beer for the first time (both gave it a thumbs down), and then they watched some adults play life sized Jenga. I kinda want a set, to be honest 🙂

    On this trip Storm figured out the art of the photo bomb. Ah, the gift that keeps on giving :-/

    Now onto some photos
    … but if you want to see the full set (there’s only about two hundred!), go to: https://www.flickr.com/gp/avalikelava/Ux7VVZ

    Making sure we didn’t have to pay extra for the kids2016-08-17 08.57.18

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    This might be the only photo of me on this trip. It’s a good one too! Courtesy of Storm

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    View from our hotel room

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    And this was his first mastered photo-bomb. Griffin was the subject.

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    At least I didn’t get an actual moon 🙂

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    Look at this smile!!!

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    “Look, Mom! A snorkel!”

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    First Shave ice 🙂

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    Storm’s new buddy, Flipper. Hanging out with Leona (and I guess showing off how much bigger he is)

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    Maui — the land of the incredible sunsets and always white, puffy clouds

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    I don’t wanna go home!

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