We were tired from spending 8 hours in the car the day before so we decided to just stick close to home. We went back to the beach near the house where, as Riley pointed out, there is a lifeguard, no flies, and lots of sand (Kama'ole Beach Park I).
My sister in law and I went to Safeway to buy some essentials, and as we were driving back into her neighborhood, we saw that Ron had gotten the kids ready and my niece, nephew, brother in law, husband, and kids wer walking to the beach! WOW, I was impressed that Ron went to the effort. They continued their walk to the beach, and my sister in law and I went to put away the groceries and finish up some household chores before we joined them at the beach.
Riley found another friend to play with on the beach, but my nephew did not like him because he put sand in my nephew's face. So, while Riley, Reese, and his friend continued digging their hole with Reese sitting in it and helping out, my nephew built a small sand castle village.
My brother in law saw a beached whale while he was out on his motorcycle earlier in the day. While at the beach this day, we saw whales and their spouts, but nothing too close to the shore. We followed their spouts all the way to Molokai.
For dinner my niece stood in line for us to go to Sansei, a sushi restaurant that has 50% off their sushi on Mondays from 5-6pm. You have to go and stand in line starting around 4pm in order to be in the front of the line. She was the first person this day. The kids stayed at home with my nephew, and my niece after she rode back from standing in line. The sushi was delicious and very fresh. I ordered the 69 roll, which was a California roll topped with unagi (eel) which Ron did not like. We left very full and satisfied.
My brother in law has been trying to get us to go and see a movie since we got here. We tried to go and see Benjamin Button after dinner, but it did not start until 8pm, and it was only 6:30 when we left the restaurant. We ended up watching Hitch at home instead.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Hawaii Day Five: The Road to Hana
Ron wanted to see some waterfalls so it was decided to go to Hana. We had to leave very early because most of the trip is on narrow, winding roads and although the distance is not very far, the time it takes to get there is. Riley got sick on the way up so we had to move him to the front of the car.
Right outside of Pa'ia it started to rain. I saw a rainbow over the sea and wish that I would have asked to stop so that I could have taken a picture of it. We saw other rainbows on the way back, but they were not over the sea.
We stopped in a few places on the way to Hana to take some pictures and for Riley to rest. We got Auntie Sandy's banana bread at Ke'anae Landing Fruit Stand. It was delicious!
Once we got to Hana, we drove past it onto more winding and even narrower roads to go and see the seven pools at Ohe'o Gulch, which is a part of Haleakala National Park and where Charles Lindbergh is buried in the cemetery outside of Palapala Ho'omau Congregational Church. The burial site would have been more difficult to find without a park ranger telling us to turn left at the vertical Maui Stables sign. Before we got to Ohe'o Gulch, we stopped at Wailua Falls, a waterfall by the side of the road. Unfortunately, we were not able to see the seven pools very well because of all the rain that had fallen. The pools were overflowing, and water was gushing everywhere.
We went back to Hana for lunch at Hana Ranch Restaurant Takeout. Then, we returned to Kihei because we did not want to be driving on the winding roads after dark. We got back in time for my niece and I to take another short bike ride.
The adults enjoyed the scenery and the sights, but the children did not really enjoy this trip.
Right outside of Pa'ia it started to rain. I saw a rainbow over the sea and wish that I would have asked to stop so that I could have taken a picture of it. We saw other rainbows on the way back, but they were not over the sea.
We stopped in a few places on the way to Hana to take some pictures and for Riley to rest. We got Auntie Sandy's banana bread at Ke'anae Landing Fruit Stand. It was delicious!
Once we got to Hana, we drove past it onto more winding and even narrower roads to go and see the seven pools at Ohe'o Gulch, which is a part of Haleakala National Park and where Charles Lindbergh is buried in the cemetery outside of Palapala Ho'omau Congregational Church. The burial site would have been more difficult to find without a park ranger telling us to turn left at the vertical Maui Stables sign. Before we got to Ohe'o Gulch, we stopped at Wailua Falls, a waterfall by the side of the road. Unfortunately, we were not able to see the seven pools very well because of all the rain that had fallen. The pools were overflowing, and water was gushing everywhere.
We went back to Hana for lunch at Hana Ranch Restaurant Takeout. Then, we returned to Kihei because we did not want to be driving on the winding roads after dark. We got back in time for my niece and I to take another short bike ride.
The adults enjoyed the scenery and the sights, but the children did not really enjoy this trip.
Hawaii Day Four: Snorkeling
We went to a beach in Makena to go snorkeling on this day. Ron, my brother in law, and nephew went off to snorkel and got the opportunity to see a sea turtle. I was not able to go out with them because the kids were not situated on the beach and the sand. They just wanted to play in the sand, and Riley did not want to have anything to do with snorkeling. I tried to follow the snorkelers out, but found that my swimming abilities were not good enough to challenge the waves without a life preserver of some kind. Once they got back, the idea was floated to climb over the rocks to go snorkeling, but everyone was too tired from their last trip out to go with me. Hopefully, we will be able to go snorkeling again or go to Turtle Town because sea turtles are my absolute favorite.
We had lunch on the beach, and left about 2pm when the wind picked up and started blowing our things around. Once the kids were settled at home, my niece and I took the electric bikes (ebikes) out for a ride. We went down to Kihei Rd. to look at the little gift shops and stores that are there. The bikes are very fun to ride. They go about 20 mph, and you can peddle if you want to, but don't have to.
The adults went out to celebrate Ron's 40th birthday at Sarento's, a restaurant on the shore. We got there in time to have our pictures taken and see the sunset. It was a very nice evening with good food and friends/family.
We had lunch on the beach, and left about 2pm when the wind picked up and started blowing our things around. Once the kids were settled at home, my niece and I took the electric bikes (ebikes) out for a ride. We went down to Kihei Rd. to look at the little gift shops and stores that are there. The bikes are very fun to ride. They go about 20 mph, and you can peddle if you want to, but don't have to.
The adults went out to celebrate Ron's 40th birthday at Sarento's, a restaurant on the shore. We got there in time to have our pictures taken and see the sunset. It was a very nice evening with good food and friends/family.
Hawaii Day Three: First Rainy Day
We started out our day with a car tour of Wailea and Mekena. We ate lunch at a great pizza place across from The Shops of Wailea and then did some after Christmas shopping at The Shops. After ice cream at Lappert's again we went on a tour of the property of The Grand Wailea Resort. We got some great family pictures on this trip thanks to my niece and my brother in law.
The men and kids were wiped out after this expedition so my sister in law and I dropped them off at home and went on to Walmart and the Filipino store. We were looking for a boogie board with an aqua eye in it and a life jacket for Reese. We found the boogie board at Long's Drugs, but ended up not buying it because it was too expensive for something that I was not sure that Riley was going to do. We did not find a life jacket because we needed an infant one. I now wish that I had found a way of fitting in ours from home, but it was a choice of Ron's tennis shoes or the life jackets.
Ron cooked fish tacos that night for dinner and they were very yummy.
The men and kids were wiped out after this expedition so my sister in law and I dropped them off at home and went on to Walmart and the Filipino store. We were looking for a boogie board with an aqua eye in it and a life jacket for Reese. We found the boogie board at Long's Drugs, but ended up not buying it because it was too expensive for something that I was not sure that Riley was going to do. We did not find a life jacket because we needed an infant one. I now wish that I had found a way of fitting in ours from home, but it was a choice of Ron's tennis shoes or the life jackets.
Ron cooked fish tacos that night for dinner and they were very yummy.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Hawaii Day Two: Christmas on the Beach
We are staying with my sister and brother in law at their house on Maui. They have a really nice house just down the street from the beach.
We opened presents on Christmas morning, and they were really generous with their gift to us in addition to sharing their vacation with us. Once we were done with all the present opening, we headed to the beach.
The beach is less than a five minute drive from the house. It was a great day; very relaxing and enjoyable. While, on the beach, we saw dolphins jumping and a sea turtle that was about 10 feet from Ron. Riley learned to stay on a boogie board and surf the waves near the shore. Reese really enjoyed the sand. At one point someone asked what time it was, and no one knew or really cared. We did end up leaving shortly after that due to the winds and the tide coming in and blowing our umbrellas down.
For Christmas dinner we went out for Korean food. The bulgogi was awesome as was the fish. On our way into the restaurant we got our family picture taken as the sun was setting. For dessert we went for ice cream at Lappert's. They have this amazing ice cream called Tutu's Anniversary, raspberry and passion fruit sorbet with coconut bits swirled in vanilla ice cream.
We opened presents on Christmas morning, and they were really generous with their gift to us in addition to sharing their vacation with us. Once we were done with all the present opening, we headed to the beach.
The beach is less than a five minute drive from the house. It was a great day; very relaxing and enjoyable. While, on the beach, we saw dolphins jumping and a sea turtle that was about 10 feet from Ron. Riley learned to stay on a boogie board and surf the waves near the shore. Reese really enjoyed the sand. At one point someone asked what time it was, and no one knew or really cared. We did end up leaving shortly after that due to the winds and the tide coming in and blowing our umbrellas down.
For Christmas dinner we went out for Korean food. The bulgogi was awesome as was the fish. On our way into the restaurant we got our family picture taken as the sun was setting. For dessert we went for ice cream at Lappert's. They have this amazing ice cream called Tutu's Anniversary, raspberry and passion fruit sorbet with coconut bits swirled in vanilla ice cream.
Hawaii Day One: Travelling There
I decided to use my blog to journal about our trip so that when we get back, I will have an easier time when I do the journalling for my children's picture books.
We left home at 5am for our early morning flights. Ron and Riley flew together, and Reese and I flew together. Reese did really well with me as a lap child. She slept the whole first leg of the trip, and more than half of the second leg in two segments, 4.5 hours at the beginning and an hour at the end of the flight. During our lay over, Reese played and walked and we toured the airport. I bought her some French Fries for lunch and she was content.
Riley slept the first leg except for take off and landing. He got popcorn and McDonald's during their lay over and stayed up for the second leg of the trip.
We got to Maui about 4:30pm local time. Reese was sick on our trip, and although I was giving her Motrin regularly, she still seemed to be coming down with an ear infection or sinus infection. We got off the plane and took her straight to urgent care since the next day was Christmas. She just had a cold with no infection, and it was recommended that we give her Benedryl.
We had a nice dinner at home that night and ended up missing church on Christmas Eve.
We left home at 5am for our early morning flights. Ron and Riley flew together, and Reese and I flew together. Reese did really well with me as a lap child. She slept the whole first leg of the trip, and more than half of the second leg in two segments, 4.5 hours at the beginning and an hour at the end of the flight. During our lay over, Reese played and walked and we toured the airport. I bought her some French Fries for lunch and she was content.
Riley slept the first leg except for take off and landing. He got popcorn and McDonald's during their lay over and stayed up for the second leg of the trip.
We got to Maui about 4:30pm local time. Reese was sick on our trip, and although I was giving her Motrin regularly, she still seemed to be coming down with an ear infection or sinus infection. We got off the plane and took her straight to urgent care since the next day was Christmas. She just had a cold with no infection, and it was recommended that we give her Benedryl.
We had a nice dinner at home that night and ended up missing church on Christmas Eve.
Recap of 2008 Books Read
As it nears the end of the year I realize that I will probably not finish another book in the next five days. I am proud of the books that I did finish reading and as always, some were memorable and some worth forgetting! The following are the books that I read:
A Page Out of Life by Kathryn Reid
Multiple Bles8ings by Kate Gosselin
Audition by Barbara Walters
Shutter Island by Dennis Lahane
Her Mother's Shadow by Diane Chamberlain
The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain
Veil of Roses by Laura Fitzgerald
Domestic Affairs by Eileen Goudge
Kitchen Confidential Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
Escape by Carolyn Jessop with Laura Palmer
Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
Freedom: The Story of My Second Life by Malika Oufkir and Linda Coverdale
Swimming Lessons by Mary Alice Monroe
Around the World in 80 Dinners: The Ultimate Culinary Adventure by Bill Jamison and Cheryl Alters Jamison
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret
The Girls by Lori Lansens
Big Green Purse by Diane MacEachern
The Good Children by Kate Wilhelm
Write It When I'm Gone by Thomas M. DeFrank
My favorites for the year were: Veil of Roses and Escape. The ones that I trekked through and didn't really care for are: Kitchen Confidential and Shutter Island.
A Page Out of Life by Kathryn Reid
Multiple Bles8ings by Kate Gosselin
Audition by Barbara Walters
Shutter Island by Dennis Lahane
Her Mother's Shadow by Diane Chamberlain
The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain
Veil of Roses by Laura Fitzgerald
Domestic Affairs by Eileen Goudge
Kitchen Confidential Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
Escape by Carolyn Jessop with Laura Palmer
Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
Freedom: The Story of My Second Life by Malika Oufkir and Linda Coverdale
Swimming Lessons by Mary Alice Monroe
Around the World in 80 Dinners: The Ultimate Culinary Adventure by Bill Jamison and Cheryl Alters Jamison
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret
The Girls by Lori Lansens
Big Green Purse by Diane MacEachern
The Good Children by Kate Wilhelm
Write It When I'm Gone by Thomas M. DeFrank
My favorites for the year were: Veil of Roses and Escape. The ones that I trekked through and didn't really care for are: Kitchen Confidential and Shutter Island.
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