Final Day

Our last day began with some major packing. Cute stuff was jumping on the bed and fell. So now she has a scrape above and below her eye. We then went swimming and finished packing. After checkout we headed to the aquarium. The aquarium was a hundred times better than the one in San Francisco. There was a lot of interactive activities for the kids. There was a small pond that had star fish, fish and other sea animals that the kids were allowed to touch. The fish and sea creatures were amazing. Some of the sea life there included turtles, sharks, fish, shrimp, lobsters and coral. They have a program where they get pieces of broken coral from the ocean and help it grow enough to be released back into the ocean. The kids were bummed that there weren't any dolphins. After the zoo we went to Walmart to pick up some wipes and a plug as Cute Stuff lost her plug the day before and i left the wipes at the hotel. Next we went to the mall to pick up the Doctor's phone and to have a quick lunch. Then to Costco for a bag and then off to the airport. At the airport let the girls get their souvenirs as they hadn't found anything they really wanted before then. They all picked small bags made in Hawaii. Had a quick dinner and then waited for time to board the plane. The ride was hard as Cute Stuff barely slept so we barely slept and when she was sleeping we would hit turbulence. When we landed in San Francisco they had already begun boarding our flight to Denver. While waiting at the front of the plane the flight attendants were trying to convince people to check their luggage at the gate as there was no more room on the plane. This took them twenty minutes people were just standing in the back of the plane looking at all of the bins that were full hoping some space would magically appear. As the flight attendants were getting nowhere with these people they finally had to go to the back of the plane to accomplish this. We left 3o min late other people still had another plane to catch. Cute Stuff was very active on this flight also. People behind us made a comment about it but hey what do you do? She crashed 15 minutes before we landed. When we got back to our car it would not unlock so I use the regular key and the other doors won't unlock. Somehow a few lights were left on so we had to wait for a jump. This took awhile as they sent the guy to the wrong lot. By the time we leave it is lunchtime and the kids are starving. We run a few errands, pick up the dog from my Dad's and headed home. Daisy Duke was spoiled while she was gone with being inside a good portion of the time and her own full size bed all to herself. The pass still had snow off to the side and a few inches in certain places. Our mail box was crammed full. The kids went to bed around eight, we fell asleep around 9:30 and everyone slept until 9:45 this morning making us an hour late to church which starts at 10. It is always nice to sleep in your own bed. Vacation was great and we all had fun but I am glad we are home. I hope to post pictures tomorrow after I download them.

Museums in Lahaina

Yesterday we took a walk around town and visited a few of the museums. We went to the old sailors prison, the courthouse, and the Wo Hing museum. Out of all of these I think the kids liked the Chinese museum the best. We also looked around the shops for a little had a late lunch at cool cats again and then headed for the beach one last time. When we got there it was raining and a little cold. The water was getting pretty rough so we only stayed for an hour. Then we hit the shops for the kids to find souvenirs. Today we plan to pack, swim, go to the aquarium and the mall and then catch our flight.

The Princess's view on heat

It is very hot and muggy for the kids now that they are no longer acclimatized to the California weather. We have gone by many cemeteries. One day as we were going by yet another one, the Princess announces that all of the people in the cemetery "probably died from the heat" here. She was very serious. Sometimes the kids think they might melt. Colorado is the perfect climate for them. Not too hot.

Royal Lahaina Luau

Yesterday while typing up my blog Cute Stuff was standing on part of a window. While she was bouncing on it it of course broke. Thankfully she didn't get cut. She is so crazy. The doctor and the two older kids swam around the beach while the two younger ones and I walked around. We then came back and swam in the pool before the Luau. At the Luau they were taking pictures of everyone which could have been cool to have but when it came to us he didn't even wait for everyone to get together before he took the picture and said we were done. The Luau was a Tahitian Luau. The dancers were great and the food was pretty good. I especially liked the coconut cake. (Good thing I went for a run yesterday). Even Cute Stuff had a good time and screamed very little. The kids favorite part of the Luau was the fire dancer. The girls had their picture taken with one of the guy dancers. We all had a great time and were exhausted at the end of the night. Today we hit the many museums.

The road to Hana

Yesterday we took the beautiful but curvy road to Hana and the Seven pools. Going to Hana wasn't too bad even though there are a lot of one lane bridges and curves it was going to the Seven pools that was scary. Especially on the way back. While there the Doctor, and the Dude went swimming in one of the pools while everyone else waded in them and I sat on a very hot rock. I don't like slimy things on my feet even when I can see it. We were going to to go to the red sand beaches as Tanya had mentioned until we were listening to a CD that said they were nude beaches. On the way back we stopped at waianapanapa state park. There we walked through a lava tube, down to the black sand beach which was really rough and had all kinds of warnings (the Princess stuck her feet in), and also through to some caves. In one of the caves was a large pool of clear water and people were swimming so the Doctor and the Dude decided to get in. A little later after walking around I decided to jump in as well as the Dude. by then it was only us, so it was a little scary. We jumped in and it was Lake Tahoe cold. Probably a pool of fresh water like rain. We then finished the nice drive back and went to dinner. On the way to dinner a lady stopped the Princess and told her that she was a true Princess and gave her a flower. The girls also got flowers at dinner. Today we are going to the beach.

Kaanapali Beach

Went to a different beach that was much more suited to snorkeling and practice for body boarding for the kids. The Princess and the Dude became braver and were out in the ocean more. The Dude practiced his snorkeling a lot and loved body boarding. Afterwards we went to Bubba Gumps for lunch and then walked the shops a little bit. After naptime we decided to get the other three kids pictures done. The guy was amazing and only charged us for two of them. Cute stuff was as good as she could be for him and he still did a great job.

The beach in Kapalua

Yesterday we went to the beach in Kapalua. We built sand castles that Cute Stuff would knock down as fast as we could put them up. The doctor worked on the wall that turned into Cute Stuffs swimming hole and slide. Brought cute stuff back for a nap and then took a very long walk through the houses in town went for a swim and then to Hard Rock for dinner. We had an excellent view of the ocean. The kids picked out their souvenir pins and we headed back and went to bed. Today we are headed for a different beach.

Lahaina

Yesterday we walked around the town of Lahaina and all of the shops. We walked right to the ocean. There was a wrecked ship just sitting a couple hundred yards away in the ocean. there is also a huge tree that has branched out into multiple trees. The shops were cute even though we only got through about half of them. We stopped for lunch at cool cats. Best burger ever. After lunch we received free rootbeer floats which the kids enjoyed. We looked at a few more shops and then brought Cute Stuff back for a nap while the Doctor took the others to the pool. After a game of uno we woke up Cute Stuff and walked to dinner at a BBQ place. The girls had a really hard time staying awake for their dinner. On the walk back we walked by the shops and were stopped by an artist who wanted to paint the Napster. She wouldn't do it so he asked if the Princess would. Of course she agreed. He did an awesome job and wouldn't even let us give him a tip for the picture. Can't wait to frame it. He said he would give us a deal if we wanted to do the other kids and we are really thinking about it. He is very good. After that we went back to our hotel. I got cute stuff ready for bed while the Doctor and the Dude took another dip in the pool before bed. Today we are off to the beach for snorkeling and swimming.

Hawaii Surprise

Yesterday we were woke up by a screaming baby one hour before we had to get up to leave. After 45 minutes of trying to sleep we decided to get ready to leave. Sleepy kids are very easy to persuade to get dressed and in the car at 3 am. After we turned towards the airport the Dude asked if we were going to the airport. The Doctor convinced them that we were going to watch planes until we took out our luggage. All of the kids were excited to be going to San Francisco. However the Princess has a very sensitive stomach and spent the first half hour holding a puke bag from nerves. (She doesn't like heights). It doesn't help that our plane had to turn around from nose control malfunctions. On the way the Dude thought we were going to be staying there. He wanted to stay at the Embassy Suites where we always stay. The Princess thought we were going to their cousins for the weekend. At breakfast we told them to hurry so we catch our ride and they were all speculating what we were riding and decided it was the Bart. The princess wanted to go to the mall. When they we got back in line to board another plane the Dude was convinced we were going to Disneyland or Disneyworld. The princess did not want to get back on the plane. I convinced her to look at a magazine this time and that really helped. Cute Stuff was really good on both flights. Once we landed we went to Costco for breakfast foods and realized that almost everything was too much food for a week. So we went to Wal-Mart for beach toys and decided to stop at Safeway later. On the trip the Doctor's phone stopped working. the touch screen part so we went to Sprint in the mall. While the Doctor took care of his phone I stopped at Jamba Juice for the kids. Within ten minutes Cute Stuff had opened her drink and dumped it all over her so on to Macy's for a shirt. The Doctor was given a temporary phone to use and they ordered him a new one. We then went to the hotel and went swimming. It was very hot and muggy. After our swim we went to Round Table Pizza which the Doctor has sorely missed since we moved. Then onto Safeway and then bed at 7:30 for everyone. This morning we got up at 5:30. Hung out with the kids, made breakfast, went swimming and now we are going to hit the town. We are having a lot of fun just being together. (Pictures will have to come when we get back as I forgot the adapter for the card).

Yee Haw

Some friends of ours invited us to go on a hayride with them last night. The whole way there I was trying to decide whether or not I unplugged the glue gun. By the time we arrived I was 95% sure I had. All but cute stuff had their first horse ride in a corral where they were in charge they all loved it and did it again after dinner. We had a hot dog roast were the Dude and the Princess cooked their own hot dogs in a campfire. The Doctor came just before dinner was over. Thank goodness because cute stuff kept trying to play in the fire and make a break for the pond. After dinner we went on a very long hayride. The kids had a blast. The dude enjoyed playing with all of the boys there as they outnumbered the girls 4:1. A very rare occurrence. After the hay ride the Doctor helped load the hay onto a different wagon and then I was able to go for a horse ride. I haven't been riding since we sold my horse before the Napster was born. Things were going great until she tripped over something. She fell all the way down to her shoulder. I started to walk her and noticed that she was limping so I got down and walked her back. Once back of course she was fine so I took her back out for a little while. Riding reminds me of how much I miss it and can't wait to move so we can get horses again. While I was out riding everyone else were making smores in the campfire. What a way to finish up Labor Day. Even better the house didn't burn down aI did remember to unplug the glue gun.

Whoa

Cute stuff's new word is whoa. She especially likes to say this in the car when we go around a sharp corner or come to a really fast stop. It's really cute.