Maui - Day 3

Today, we finally got a break from the rain. Steve, Shannon and Matt hit the gym and Matt returned and offered to watch the kids so that I could get in a quick run. I just ran up and down the walkway by Ka'anapali Beach - I love it there. Plus, running at sea level is so much easier than at home. Anyway, thanks Matt - it was great! 

After that, Shannon and I took the kids to the pool (even though it was still cloudy). They had fun going between the pool and the hot tub and the kiddie area with a pirate ship. 

With the kids tuckered out (and with us not wanting another dinner interrupted by tired, cranky kids), we brought the kids inside for a nap. After that, we got ready and headed out for dinner at the Hula Grill - probably our favorite place here. It is right on the outside of Whaler's Village and is another beach side, sand in your feet restaurant. They had live music and hula dancers. We just sat and watched the sun go down while we ate and listened to the music. It really is paradise here.

Maui - Day 1

We are heading out of the snow and into the sun and surf. It's that time of year when the holidays are over and yet winter lingers on. You (ok - we) need a break and where better to take a break than .... (say it with me) MAUI!!! 

Steve's daughter, Shannon, and her husband, Matt, have joined us (as they usually do) and we are excited to have Steve's youngest brother, Brett, and his family along as well. 

The flight was a bit of a challenge as Cole was not thrilled about having to be in an airplane seat for over six hours. Reagan slept for much of the flight, but Cole was only out for about an hour and a half. That left the rest of the time to eat, color, read, watch Shrek (thank you, thank you, thank you Rachel), eat, walk up and down the aisle of the plane, change pants (oops - no, that's wrong - no change station on the six hour flight - hello????), talk to Brett and Annie, eat, move from Mom to Dad to Mom to Dad, and eat some more.  Then, finally, we arrived. 

The first thing we did was to walk to the beach (even before checking in). We just had to get to the official destination - the sand and surf. We love Ka'anapali Beach and usually stay at one of the resorts on this mile and a half stretch of beach. This time we are at the Marriott Maui Ocean Club.  Since it was 5 or so by the time we got into the hotel, we just walked up to Whaler's Village and ate at Lelani's by the Beach.

By the time dinner was over, the kids were spent so, we walked back to the hotel and called it a day - a wonderful first day in Maui. 

Pocket Full of Posies

Like any kids, mine love to play Ring Around the Rosies. They especially love to play it with Daddy - mostly because it seems to always turn into a wrestling match afterward. Reagan is usually the ringleader (not surprising to anyone who spends time with her) and Cole is willingly dragged along for the ride. She begs and pleads for Steve to join in and then informs me that Daddy was the one who wanted to play. I don't care who initiated it.... I just love watching them go round and round and hearing them laugh as they "all fall down". 

Just Like Daddy

Cole cracks me up. He tries to be like everybody. He'll put on Reagan's headband, grab my slippers and try to walk with them and he loves Steve's belts for some reason. 

The other day, he pulled one of Steve's ties down from the shelf. He then proceeded to sit on the bathtub (like Steve does), wrap the tie around his neck (like Steve does) and then tried to make it stay. I got a little bit of video (see below). 

Of course, it was way too big to stay on his neck, but I had to laugh at him going through all the moves that Steve does. It scares me in many ways because I realize how much both kids are watching us and following our every move. No pressure - nope, none at all ... gulp!

Tents and Tepees

Santa Clause brought Reagan and Cole this "maze" of tunnels that go between a tent and a tepee. They love it. They chase each other, sit in the tent together, put blankets on the floor of the tent and hang out with their stuffed animal friends. They have to show it to everyone who comes over. 

Most people just look and ooohh and aaaahh for the kids' sake, but a select few will actually venture inside the tent or tepee and only 2 people have attempted to travel the tunnels (Matt and Steve). Both got stuck. I was present for Steve's trip (and caught it on video - see below). 

Matt didn't 'fess up to getting stuck; Reagan informed me after he left that he got stuck in the tunnel. You are busted Matt! Great way for us to repay him for babysitting, huh? Seriously, even attempting the tunnels made the kids love you (and Steve) even more than before. So, here's to tents and tepees.

Step, Two, Three - Part 2

If you were reading our blog back in September, you'll remember that we enrolled Reagan in dance class. Well, let's just say that we were "invited to come back" when she was over 2 1/2. The teacher said "Give her the gift of time. Those couple of months really make a big difference." I (now)  have to admit that she was right. We started back this week for the new semester and Reagan did great! She loved it, she did everything the teacher asked and didn't cry or run for me (like last time). 

So, she is glad to be back in dance and I am glad her ballet and tap shoes still fit. She takes the class at the Treehouse so she is with some other little girls that she plays with every day in the Nest - thank goodness for friends. 

Cole just ran around the "Kid's Club" and tried to work on the computer - crazy boy. 

Have a look at this little video of their class (2 and 3 year olds).  Don't you just love little girls in dance outfits? We'll now need to stock up on cute leotards, tights and tutus. Like I have said before, I love having my own little dress up doll.

  

Nice Coincidence

Steve went ice skating with the YM & YW of our ward this week. He received a nice surprise when he found that his daughter Rachel had taken her YW skating at the same place at the same time. They had a great time skating as daddy and daughter while they also skated with (and looked after) their youth. 

We've had the pleasure of meeting many of Rachel's YW and other YW leaders - they have had some activities in our yard. So fun to see them again.

What a nice coincidence - it's always great to see Rach.

Bouncy Bounce

Our son-in-law Matt's sister and her family are in town from the Netherlands so, we took all the kids (their 2, our 2 and our 2 grandchildren) to Bounce U. If you remember, we went there once before with Shannon and Matt and, of course, Reagan loved it. The difference this time was in Cole. Last time, he wanted nothing to do with going in the bounce houses and he was scared to bounce or hit the slides. This time, he was loving it, although he was still scared on the huge slides. 

There were many races on the obstacle course - Rachel and Kevin, Shannon and Matt, Rachel and Shannon, Steve and Rachel, Shannon and John. Matt and Kevin hit the boxing bouncy bounce and then Steve and Kevin boxed. What fun! Reagan was all over that place. We had a great night and the kids had a blast playing with each other and hitting every bounce house in the building. 

It was so good to see Rachel and John and their kids as well as Matt's parents. We always have a great time hanging with Shannon and Matt and Rachel and Kevin and their kids. What a fun Family Night at the bouncy bounce!!!

What a Ride!

With the fresh layer of snow we received last night, and the new sled that Santa brought for Steve (uhh, I mean for Cole), we decided to head out for some sledding. Kevin and Anistyn met us at their favorite sledding park and we had a ball. The kids had red noses, red cheeks and frozen toes, but I believe it is a sledding rule that you cannot leave the park until someone cries. After an hour of sledding (with Cole taking periodic breaks in the car to warm up), Reagan bit it on the snow and had her mittens filled with snow. That was it, the tears started, and it was time to call it a night. Even though she was cold, she talked about it the whole way home and the rest of the night. Check out our little mosaic of our sledding trip (just put your cursor over the pic you want to see and it will enlarge to let the entire pic show). Thanks Kevin and Annie for meeting us and thanks to Big, Strong Daddy for hauling Reagan and Cole up the hill for each new slide. What a ride!!!!