Reagan's Choir Sings at the Festival of Trees

We were back at midnight, but had an early morning as Reagan's school choir - Chorus Vita - was performing the next day at the Festival of Trees.

The Festival of Trees is put on by Primary Children's Medical Center. It is an annual fundraiser. People donate the most elaborate Christmas trees and decorations (as well as wreaths, gingerbread houses, quilts and small trees) and they are all auctioned off for the hospital. I've seen baby grand pianos, jewels and all sorts of accessories to the themes the trees have.

It's a bit crazy at this thing because they continually have a singing group, dancing group or musical group up on that stage, but most people are walking around and making noise, there are announcements going on and all sorts of distractions. Oh well - I guess it helps you to focus after you perform there because you have to focus on your choir director.

After Chorum Vita performed, their director gave them 45 minutes to walk around and see the trees or shop or whatever (they have a cute gift shop). Reagan and some of her friends bought some gifts, picked up some food and then they headed back to school. Well, the vacation is over.... it's time to get ready for Christmas!!!!

I made a movie of clips from their songs:

Maui - Days 7 & 8

We got up around 6:30 this morning. I'm trying to get our crew up earlier so that we are more prepared to go home. By 7:40, I headed out to the pool to get seats saved. If this is our last day, I want to be front and center at the pool. I stayed there for a while and then Cole came down to swim. I came back to the room to get us checked in for our flight tomorrow and then grabbed a bite. Steve put on his swimsuit and headed down to join Cole at the pool. Reagan was doing homework and I showered up.

Reagan and I joined Steve and Cole at the pool. I guess Cole had been in a bad mood in the room earlier and Reagan claimed that it ruined her day. Eventually, they started to play together in the pool. Steve returned to the room to shower up and Cole wanted to hit the beach but Reagan wanted to go to the hot tub, so, she disappeared. Cole decided to return to the room to get some food and to do some homework. Reagan was hungry, so we both came back to the room.

After the kiddos got something to eat, the kiddos and I headed back down to the pool. Reagan and Cole swam while I read a magazine. Steve stayed in the room to get some reading done. After a while, Steve came down to the pool. The kiddos eventually came back and played with some little ones in the baby pool.

Around 3, I made them get out of the pool, head to the room and change. We cleaned up and headed over to Whaler's Village. We LOVE the Hula Grill. We only had about a 25 min wait and then we were front and center for the view of the ocean. Some musicians were finishing up and then, other musicians were setting up, but we must have eaten quickly or something because they hadn't started playing by the time we had paid our bill and headed out.

We stopped at the ABC Store for Reagan and Cole to get their trip gift and some gifts for their friends. One of Reagan's teachers has asked her to bring back some sand from the beach. We were given a Hawaii mug from the ABC Store for spending over $100 while we were here. We put some sand in the mug and put it in a ziplock bag to bring back for Reagan's teacher. We walked back to the hotel, packed up some things and then hit the sack - we need to be up early tomorrow morning to get to the hotel and fly back home.

Truth be told, I'm actually ready to go back. Yes, it is wonderful here, but it will be great to get back home and get decorated for Christmas. Plus, these kiddos have a LOT of stuff going on in December. Concerts, games, shows, parties, and recitals. Yep - we'd better get back home :)

Wednesday morning, I got up at 4 and Steve got up at 5. We headed out by 6:15 and were at the airport by 7:15. We caught our flight to Oakland and were supposed to fly from Oakland to LAX to SLC, but in Oakland, we inquired and they had a flight going straight to SLC. Plus, we would get in around 8 something instead of after midnight. DEAL!!!!

We went to our new gate, then were switched to another gate and then left about 40 minutes later than usual. We still arrived in SLC by 9:30, though, which was over 2 hours earlier than we would have with our original flights. Only problem was..... our luggage didn't make the change that we did. Our luggage went from Oakland to LAX and then to SLC. Oh well - it meant another trip to the airport, but we were still glad to have our kiddos home and in bed earlier than midnight or 1am. After all, they have to be up at 6 to get ready for school and their bodies will be fighting the time change. It will already be rough. I'm glad we got home earlier.

Yep - another great trip to Maui - I just love this island. I love that we know where to go and where to eat and where to stay. It was a great Thanksgiving and we may pay for our days off of school, but I say that it was worth it! Thanks Hawaii - you are awesome!!! We'll be back soon!!!!

Maui - Day 6

Up around 6 today - that's getting closer to Hawaii time and further away from Utah time. We'll try to get up as early as we can - especially the closer we get to the end of our trip. I received a bunch of phone calls and emails today from Reagan's school. I guess I was supposed to let the school know that she would be gone - not just each of her teachers. Ooops.

We ate breakfast and showered. Reagan did homework. Cole had pain under his eye and close to his nose. I assumed that it is sinus pain. Perhaps he got some ocean water in his sinus cavity or even some sand as he rolled around in the waves yesterday. I tried to get him to drink water and I called our pharmacist and she suggested a decongestant. I gave him one and hoped that it would ease up. He was really moaning and groaning. I guess he has never had sinus pressure before - poor guy.

We needed to do some laundry, so, I headed up to put in a couple of loads. Then, I showered. We gave Cole some tylenol for the pain (it had moved to his tooth by then) and we continued to try to divert his attention from his pounding head and mouth. I really was pretty sure it was just sinus pressure.

After a while, he said the pain was lessening. I made him take another sudafed on schedule, just in case. We got our car and drove to Wailea. It's funny - so many of our friends love the Wailea area. We have stayed there twice and just didn't like it. 

We drove to Makena Beach and looked around. No offense, but I don't know what everyone raves about when talking about this beach. It was "meh". I much prefer Ka'anapali beach. However, we did see several turtles that we thought were fake, but then they started to move. They were REAL!!!! There were 7 turtles just hanging out on the beach. Love it!!!

After that, we hit the Shops at Wailea. Cole asked if they have Gucci there and - wham - right where we pulled in was Gucci. We went in and looked around. I think a bunch of his friends and the YouTubers that he follows have been talking about Gucci lately. He thinks it is the highest class thing. I told him that Louis Vuitton was probably nicer than that, but he is stuck on Gucci. We saw a ball cap for $430 and a card holder for $165. Nope - out of his price range :) (Maybe I'll have to go on Ebay and see if I can find some cheap, used Gucci thing for him for Christmas.)

After that, we headed toward Paia. We knew we wanted to go to Mama's Fish House for dinner. We decided to call and see what reservations they had available. Ugh - only 3:15 or 8:45. Oh goodness!! Our GPS said we could get there by 3:15 on the nose. Ok - guess we are eating at 3:15.

We LOVE the ambiance of that place. Reagan and I shared a filet mignon and Cole had one too. Steve had macadamia nut encrusted mahi mahi. It was awesome.

We took some pics outside. I had to get one of Reagan and Cole in the canoe outside - I have other pics of them in that same boat years and years ago. I'll have to compare them. Yep - same boat .... look how little they are!!!! I totally don't remember what caught their eye in this pic... maybe a whale or a big wave. ???

Then, we drove a bit further down the highway to this lookout where we've been before. There were wind surfers and kite surfers in the huge waves. There were great views of the ocean and a rainbow. We had a great time.

We drove back to the hotel and stopped at the Safeway to get some more milk and some ice cream. Then, we came back to the hotel and relaxed until it was time for bed.

I had to love that Cole found this plant that had leaves that looked like hearts. He asked me to come over to see it. He was so cute - he knew I would love that!

It was another great day in paradise. Tomorrow is our last day and then we head home on Wednesday.

I'm SO not ready to go home, but with the kiddos missing school this week, it's probably best that we get home.

What a nice day - a drive part way around the island and a wonderful meal. We even saw turtles!!!!

Maui - Day 5

We were up before 6 this morning - mostly because we were getting texts from home (group texts and such). Oh well - might as well get up and get going, right? If we could stay on Utah time, it would certainly make for an easier transition for Reagan and Cole when we return home.

We got ready and went to church. This ward - Lahaina 1st Ward - has all of the hotels on Kaanapali Beach in its ward boundaries. Almost every time we have gone there, we are sitting in the cultural hall. This time, we were just late enough to be sitting in the Relief Society room. It was fast and testimony meeting, but we could only hear the speakers - we couldn't see them.

After Sacrament Meeting (and after fasting), we hit the McDonalds drive through on our way back to the hotel. We sat in our room and ate breakfast and then got changed to head out to the beach. It was a really windy day and, as we checked in at the pool to get our towels, the towel guy said that there were big waves breaking right on the beach and that he didn't recommend we use the boogey boards because it could be dangerous. Well, Cole didn't want to hear that at all. He complained that the waves haven't been very big until this point in our trip and now that the waves were finally big, he couldn't ride them? He was having none of that.

So, Cole and Reagan hit the waves. I took pics and boy - there were some waves that crushed them. Reagan came out of the ocean with mascara streaming down her face. She had wiped out and the waves had popped her tube she was in. Then, Cole lost his boogey board and then lost it again. Eventually, the string on the board just broke. Both of them came limping out of the ocean and said they were done. Good thing I got some pics.

They hung out in the hot tub and pool for a while - both of them aching and in pain. Reagan actually asked for some ibuprofen (which she almost never does) and they weren't swimming and playing in the pool - they were just sitting. Perhaps this could be a life lesson to listen to the people around you that know more than you do.

Steve went back to the room and I sat by the pool and read a magazine. Reagan and Cole were hungry, so, I gave them some money and they went back to Nikki's pizza for some cheesy rolls. They brought me a diet coke, so, I was good. Eventually, they were done swimming and we headed back to the room.

Steve and Cole went on a walk to check out the fitness center and a game room that we can see from our lanai, but couldn't actually find. Turns out, it was "under construction". Bummer. Reagan and I worked on Personal Progress. She has aimed to complete it by the end of the year when it goes away and the new program starts. We have several still to complete, but checked a few off.

Then, we all got ready for bed and hit the sack. Steve's shoulder has been hurting him for weeks and so he can't turn on his side to sleep. Well, if he doesn't turn on his side, he snores. That's a bummer for him and for us. It was a long night. Reagan and I are in one bed, Steve is in the other and Cole is on the fold out chair that turns into a little bed. Oh well - such are the accommodations if you want to be here.

Tomorrow, we are going to drive up to Haleakala and maybe hit Mama's Fish House - fun! Unfortunately, we still have lots of homework to do. Oh well - that's the price we pay to miss school.

Maui - Day 4

I was up at 1:30 this morning and noticed that our alarm clock was blinking. Also, the nightlight that I brought was blinking between the different colors. That means that the electricity must have gone out in the middle of the night. I re-set the alarm clock and chose a color on the night light. It didn't affect us because we had no specific time to have to get up or get anywhere, but some other people might. I can only imagine the problems that little outage may have caused.

We got up around 7 and the kiddos needed to do some homework. Darn that homework, but I guess it's better to do it here in paradise than being at home in the blizzard. Reagan puts off doing her math and it is just a battle every day. I hope that, eventually, she will make herself do it. For now, I am the one who has to make her do it.

Cole sat down and did all of his spelling for the week and one math lesson. Meanwhile, Reagan was still fighting and didn't want to do math. I suggested other homework, so she worked on Latin. Then, Steve wanted to move the car (it was still in valet from when we checked in and they charge more for valet each day). Plus, we wanted to pick up some groceries and a rash guard for Reagan (she left hers at home).

With a promise from Reagan that she would get half of a math lesson done by 5pm, we headed out to the car. We went to the Lahaina Cannery Mall. We haven't been there in years and it hasn't changed much at all. There are no recognizable stores - just random stores and some storefronts were empty. It looked like they were set up for a show of some sort - there was a stage and rows of chairs lined up facing the stage, but there were no people and no signs to say what that was for. We looked in a few stores and then found one that had rash guards. Luckily, they were having a Black Friday sale and we were able to score 25% off of a rash guard. Yay! Steve also picked up a swimsuit for himself.

Next, we headed to the grocery store. After today, we are half way through our trip, so, we didn't want to get too many groceries. Plus, with only a mini fridge in the room, you are quite limited in what you can get that needs to be refrigerated. We grabbed some bread and pb & j as well as milk and cereal and bowls and plates and utensils. We got some chips and snacks and some bagels and cream cheese. Sometimes, you just need a nosh and you are good, rather than paying $20 for a hamburger by the pool (not that it isn't nice sometimes).

Then, we stopped by Subway to pick up some lunch. The University of Utah game is showing on ABC at 2:30 today and you'd better believe that we will be watching that. They've had a great year and we are excited to see how far they can go!

We went back to the room and ate our lunch. The kiddos did homework and watched the iPads until the game started. Then, Cole, Steve and I watched the game. Reagan delayed somewhat, but eventually did do 15 problems of math and then actually worked on an essay she needs to complete while she is here.

Cole lamented that he didn't get any pool time today, but I was just fine with that. They were in the sun way too much yesterday and although we applied sunscreen, we clearly didn't apply enough of it or apply it often enough because both of them were red. A day OUT of the sun may be just what they needed.

I went out to talk to Reagan who was on the lanai and I was texting with my ladies in Primary to coordinate Sunday's activities since I won't be there. Then, the hotel had the nightly ceremony where the "Hawaiian Warrior" blows the conch shell and lights all the tiki torches and goes up on Black Rock and does a little ceremony and dives into the ocean. We could see it perfectly from our 3rd floor lanai. We were luckily upgraded to an ocean view room which is beautiful.

Then, the most beautiful sunset started to appear. At first, there was a bit of pink in the sky and then some yellow. Then, the purple appeared and it was GORGEOUS! We kept snapping pics and then we would wait for a few minutes and it would get even better. We would snap a few more pics and then wait... even better. Eventually, it was dark. We sent several pics to family back home who commented that it looked like a postcard. It did - it was so pretty!!! (I have showed the progression of the sunset through the pics in this post. We kept taking pics thinking that it wouldn't get any better..... then it did.... it got better and better and better!!!!)

We got ready for bed and hit the sack. We want to take a drive around the island, but with the kiddos missing out on pool time today, they want nothing more tomorrow than to be in the pool. So, we'll go to church in the morning and come back and swim.

We are officially half way through our trip now. We are having a wonderful time, especially as we hear from family and friends how much snow is on the ground at home and as we look at our Ring doorbell and see the piled up snow and the flurries blowing around. Yep - we're good to be here now :)

Maui - Day 3

We had a rough night last night. Cole woke up around 1am and thought he would throw up. I'm not sure if he ate too much at our Thanksgiving dinner, ate things he hadn't eaten before (crab, benei, etc) or what. I sat with him for a while in the bathroom and then he wanted to lay down on the floor in the hotel room. Problem was... he was right in the middle of the hotel room. Anyone getting up to use the restroom in the middle of the night would literally trip over him. I finally moved him over a bit, but he refused to get up onto a bed or couch. I covered him with a couple of blankets and, finally, he fell asleep, so, I went back to sleep. When we all got up at 5, he said his stomach felt just fine. Alrighty then.

Cole and Steve decided to head out for a walk this morning while I stayed with Reagan who was working on Algebra II. It didn't go so well. I think she gets to a hard problem and then just stops and she convinces herself that it is too hard or not worth the effort or whatever. So, she only completed 6 problems yesterday and I insisted that she do another 15 today (each lesson is 30 problems). She hemmed and hawed and just wouldn't do it. Steve and Cole kept sending pics from the beach, from other resorts, and from Whaler's Village. They actually met up with some people that gave them three tubes and two boogie boards. One of the tubes was a baby one, so, they found a family with a baby and gave that one away.

I showered and updated the blog and just hung around the hotel room, but Reagan couldn't seem to get herself going. Then, she decided taking a shower would help. It didn't. Then, she decided to do her makeup and get into her swim suit. I told her that until she did her 15 problems, she didn't need a swimsuit since we weren't going anywhere. 

Eventually, Cole came up and got his swimsuit and headed back down to the pool. Later, Steve came up and showered while I went down to the pool with Cole. I don't know what Steve did, but she did her 15 problems and more. She got the entire lesson done and offered to do more. Steve declined the offer and sent her down to me at the pool.

Reagan and Cole played in the pool and then Steve got in with them. This resort has these cool water bean bags. Steve relaxed on one (with another holding his feet) while Reagan pulled him around the pool. Cole found some friends to play with and they threw a ball around and played some pool games. 

I ordered burgers and chips and salsa to eat by the pool and we took a little break. Then, Reagan and Cole were back in the pool. Steve went up to the room to shower and change. I stayed with the kiddos. They played with friends in the pool. 

Eventually, they wanted to hit the beach with their boogie boards. Unfortunately, there weren't many waves. After a while, I joined them at the beach to take some pics of them. Not much going on. Cole was searching for pieces of coral. Reagan was mostly just relaxing. 

After a while of prodding, I talked them into going up to the room. I was worried that they had gotten too much sun. We went back to the pool and I started to gather up our things, only to have them see their friends and disappear around the river part of the pool. I yelled that they needed to stay in the shady part of the pool.

After another long while, I went to find them and they were playing in the open part of the deep pool. Ugh!!! They are going to be SO burned! Why wouldn't they listen to me???? We headed up to the room and each of them showered and had to put on a lot of lotion on their sunburn. Each of them spent some time on the iPad and then we walked down to Whaler's Village for dinner. There is a place in the food court there called Nikki's pizza that Cole loves. They have these cheesy rolls that he thinks are the bomb. We got pizza and cheesy rolls and drinks and sat outside on the food court patio and ate. Then, we walked around the shops for a while. I was looking for a rash guard for Reagan. She forgot to bring hers and will need it on those shoulders. Then, we hit the ABC Store and stopped for yogurt.

We walked back to the hotel room and the kiddos watched their iPads for a while. We got ready for bed and we hit the sack. Another great day in paradise. Although.... the kiddos may not be able to swim tomorrow if the weather is as sunny as it was today. They may need a break from the sun. We'll see.