Tropical December

One Year Ago today we were on a plane to Maui. *Sigh*

My MIL was turning 60 and wanted to take the family on a trip.

We were very happy to oblige!

I had intended on blogging about this trip when we got home, but with all the Christmas prep that needed to be done...it got left behind.

As I woke up this morning and realized what the date was, I began reminiscing about the trip...

all day.

long.

I thought it would be a good opportunity to post about it now :)

The Birthday Girl...!

If you get the opportunity to go to Maui...STAY HERE...!

It was so beautiful!

3 Pools.

1 Kids' Pirate Ship.

On the beach.

*Sigh*

Here is the balcony of our room...

We spent the week riding the train...

(The boys got a weeks' pass to the Sugar Cane Train, which we could walk across the street to board.)

Walking the beach...

(On one very long beach walk, Jeff, Emma Kate, and I walked down to Whalers Village...on the way, we walked through the grounds of the Sheraton Hotel. This is where J and I spent most of our honeymoon 8 years ago. It was so fun to remember that trip and talk about how much life has changed!)

There were many afternoon naps...

Lots of sunscreen...

Tons and tons of beach time!

And play time...

There were even a couple of hotel-run-games of Texas Hold 'em, in which Dom bravely joined in on...on his own. (He had just learned how to play and was really excited to test his skills among strangers.)

Papa (above) refused to let him practice with him ;)

Our one big activity was to take Dominic Ziplining.

The three of us first went in Kauai a couple of years ago and are seriously hooked!

The crazy thing is...neither Jeff nor I are too thrilled about heights!

(There were so many activities planned around the "Little Kids" that it was nice to go do a "Big Kid" thing together.)

I think this is Jeff...!

We had "Cookies on The Beach" several nights...

(We were staying in condos, so it was really nice to make our own meals for most of the trip...

lots and lots of fish from the local fish market...and homemade chocolate chip cookies to take down to the beach for dessert.)

After Cookies on The Beach it was time to grab the boys' flashlights and go frog-hunting.

And night swimming...

And...back to the beach...!

As we watched the sunsets, it was so hard to believe it was actually December...

One day the ladies...except this little one...

headed up North a few miles to The Ritz Carlton Residence for massages.

(This was the infinity pool we hung out at and ate lunch by all afternoon after our treatments.)

Here is my "Villa."

If there is one thing I can say about my Mother and Sister In Law...

those ladies know how to pick a spa!

And finally...our last evening...:(

We went out for a nice family dinner...

And the next morning it was time for a little more pool-play...

Water slide time...

And Christmas Card picture-taking...

before saying Good-Bye...

And heading home...

*Sigh*

Can you see why I am in mourning today?!?!

Why can't we do this every December?!?!

*Sigh*