Date Day!

Special day with my favourite person. Woke up usual time by my Amara... We fed the girls, put on a show and left when mom and dad came down the stairs. We started the day by heading to Whalers Village and walked around the gorgeous outdoor mall and stopped in to get me a hat and Steve some sunglasses as his disappeared somewhere on the trip. 

We then walked into the Westin for yummy breakfast. 

My hot date 

View from our table. So gorgeous! 

We then headed to the other side to check out a place called 'la Parouse'  

It was where the last lava flow happened... And at the very end of a road. We drove right over the lava field... Pretty cool experience. 

Where the explosion happened. The lava went on for miles and miles... Right into the ocean where it formed pools to snorkel in. 

The spot we jumped into to snorkel

Me and my man 

So much lava

Snorkelling was pretty unreal. The sun was out when we jumped in, but the wind was still around so there were some waves. We were both a bit nervous as the water was quite cloudy but people pointed us in the direction of amazing snorkelling. We ended up heading way out and were disappointed at first and freaked out, but as we got out further it got better and better. 

We ended up hiking over the lava to try and find the pools on the other side and hiked a long ways in our flippers 😁

Because the lava was hot and so jagged. 

We found one amazing pool the had a little water flow in and out and we jumped into the crystal clear water and felt transported to a new world. It was unreal! So sadly when we went to turn on the underwater camera it wouldn't work. . Turns out the seal broke and water got into. So sad! We had the best snorkelling and couldn't capture any of it. 

The way back the wind picked up and we were both feeling nauseous so hiked back over the lava... We were out for 3 hours! 

When we got back we panicked as the tide rose over where we put our stuff. Thankfully someone moved our towels and stuff but we hid our keys under a rock and it was covered. We panicked and Steve went running. But there was a sweet couple sitting that found our stuff and moved it! We were blown away and so thankful! They were our angels! 😜

On our drive out we stopped at a few beaches on the way home and explored a bit- but sadly the wind blew in and it got a little chilly. So after more exploring we drove back to Lahaina for dinner. We changed in the car and walked the streets. Such a fun little place to explore. We walked up and down and saw the most beautiful sunset. 

We ended the date by going to aloha mixed plate as we heard so much good about it. We waited a long time to eat and did not love it. But it was right on the beach. 

Waiting for dinner. 

Great date day all around! Sure love this man of mine and getting to have him all to myself! 

Wednesday

We don't want to go home! 

We are falling in love with Maui... Other then the cost of things! 

Yesterday was another adventure day. We started the day by Steve making us omelettes and mimosas. Then we packed up for the day and headed for Haleakala national park aka the volcano. It was another long windy road but Adessa did well this time. The weather was pretty foggy and cloudy on the way up and very cold but once we got to the peak it was amazing blue skies. It felt like we landed somewhere in space- a whole new world! We had lots of fun hiking and exploring and only saw the hike down into the crater when the girls were done. So sadly for me we packed up and headed down for a picnic. But definitely a highlight! We prayed for clear weather up to and got it. 

We then adventures to the other sid of Maui to Paia where we wanted to check out the surf beach "jaws" but unfortunately got separated from mom and dad and we didn't buy a cell phone plan so couldn't get ahold of them. We drove up and down the beaches and saw some amazing surfing beaches and then ended up asking some surfer guy for his cell phone to call mom and dad. He traded the call for the use of a towel! 😜

Ends up he is originally from Ontario and had a Canadian plan so we were able to reach mom and dad. The beach we stopped at was covered in turtles. So neat! He told us jaws wasn't being surfed today but told us about baby beach and we went there for the rest of the day. It was a bit tricky to find but unreal when we did. The rocks formed a wall to break the waves so there was a completely calm, teal blue pool of water- complete with turtles! It was gorgeous! We swam in there for awhile and mom, Danika and I walked the never ending white sandy beach. 

The boys took Adessa and Amara home and I drove our Cadillac (which I am going to miss terribly!) back to Ross to return a few things and Danika, mom and I had a little shopping and dinner date. 

Such a great day. Everyday there has been some sort of new highlight. 

Today, mom and dad are watching the girls all day and Steve and I are packing up for a day of exploring some other Beaches and snorkelling. I am super looking forward to it! 

Pictures!

We have been trying to take photos on our good camera but found a few good ones on Steve's cell phone... 

The drives were gorgeous and the island so unique everywhere we went! 

Fun at slappy cakes...

Steves orca with adessas half eaten person 

Danika's horse- talented little pancake artist

Very cool experience at the aquatic center. We stayed for quite some time and enjoyed the diver in the shark yak telling us all about the Sharks

We were loving the tunnel and sat in there for quite some time! 

Hammerhead

So mesmerizing!

Gorgeous view from our bedroom patio. Everyday we watch whales and turtles from here! 

Picture from the bamboo forest in Hana

The waterfall!!!

Moms birthday dinner at Kobes steakhouse... He made us an onion volcano...

Awesome name for a sushi store across the street from us! 

Luau!

Yesterday we had another hotel day. Woke up played some more tennis and then hung out at the pool. The wind finally died down.. Yay! Then we got ready for the drums of the pacific luau. 

It was pretty fun. So awesome watching the girls reactions to everything. Adessas eyes were huge as the men came out in their loin cloths and she commented more then once how it was "inappropriate" haha! 

Danika was loving it and went up on stage to learn the hula dancing she loves shaking her hips! Food was yummy and interesting. The Pork was super tasty that they pulled out of the ground... The girls were pretty grossed out watching them take it out of the ground so wouldn't eat it... But Steve sure enjoyed a few helpings! 

It was a perfect evening weather wise and we all had a great time. Very fun having mom and dad with us! 

Our cheesy picture! 

Sunday

Today was great. We woke at the crack of dawn again to Amara waking us up. Put her back to sleep but I couldn't sleep and was going to go for a run but Steve convinced me not too and instead we drank coffee and opened our doors to listen to the waves and watch the whales jump. When mom and dad woke up they told us they were heading to church which is across the road from us so we hurried and got ready and headed over. It was a beautiful little service put on by a school group visiting from Ohau so lots of hill song was sung and the girls really enjoyed it. Our girls are so awesome and went no problem to children's church when dismissed and were the only girls! 

After church grandma and grandpa treated us to McDonald's and then we had an awesome time just hanging out at the resort. Amara napped for a long time so Steve hung out and did some work and I went and read poolside. 

It is still insanely windy and so it was nice hiding from the beach so we wouldn't get sandblasted. 

We really enjoyed our day. The pool was sheltered from the wind and it was hot. It was our first "Mexico" feeling day. The girls were happily occupied all day in the pool and made new friends. Danika was a superstar and took care of Amara so Steve and I could just sit and visit and drink our ciders and beer! We loved it! Grandma and grandpa stayed at the big pool and had a little break from us. 

When the sun was about to set we took a walk down the beach and played in the waves. Then I sat and took pictures of the sunset while Steve played with the big girls and Amara made friends with little boys on the beach. 

After the amazing sunset we went back to the kids pool and played in the hot tub until grandpa came and got us and told us grandma had dinner ready for over an hour! 

We were outside all day! And didn't get upstairs until 7 pm! 

Currently all girls are happily tucked in bed and we are watching the passion as a musical on TV... Pretty neat show but I'm reminded how much I hate commercials! 

We are looking forward to another relaxing pool day tomorrow and then a luau in the evening! 

Everyday has been an absolute adventure but today the highlight for me was snorkelling with Danika. She has become an absolute superstar snorkler. 

The island weather has been extremely windy and so we have spent time in the car driving around. Mom and I did a day at Ross shopping which is always a highlight  for me! And then for moms birthday we played tennis and then hung Around the resort and went out for a fun dinner where the chef cooked at our table in Lahaina.  we also did the road to Hana which was an all day affair and was not worth it with kids. But was amazing to see the bamboo forest and waterfall... Which was a bit disappointing as there were no pools to jump into. And poor Adessa was sick on and off the whole way there... But wow were the views ever amazing! 

Yesterday we did the aquatic center which was very fun and then stopped off at a little beach to snorkel on the way home and found an awesome reef to snorkel on that was super calm even though it was very windy. And we saw all the amazing fish we had just paid a ton of money to see. Very cool experience! 

This morning we woke up and headed to slappy cakes for a delicious but extremely overpriced (seems to be the theme here!) breakfast. It was so fun for the girls as they got to create their own pancakes on the built in griddle on our table! 

The weather was again windy and a bit rainy so we asked our waiter for cool stops and he gave us a list heading past our resort to more unknown spots. We hit them all up and saw some amazing surfers and watched for quite some time surfing huge waves. Then we drove on and saw the blowhole which was pretty cool. Then kept driving on crazy windy roads to another spot that has pools in the rocks which you can apparently jump into and they have their own ecosystems below but was far too windy and wavy to do which was sad. 

As we were heading back to the resort the sun came back out so we went back to the snorkelling beach we found yesterday to eat our picnic. 

It was soooooo windy but no waves in the water so we headed out snorkelling again for an amazing experience and went quite far out and saw so many cool fishes. Danika kept up the whole time and loved every moment. We were so proud of her- she never panicked once and was pointing out fish to us. I think she was braver then me! So very cool. 

It has been fantastic having mom and dad with us so we can have some one on one with the girls with built in babysitters. 

Steve and I have been woken up each morning at 5:30 or 6 am from Amara which is actually fine because we pass out so early. But yesterday we woke up, put a show on for the girls and took off... Went through McDonald's drive thru and then explored some areas and cool beaches around us. We haven't had a date day yet but are hoping for one when the wind dies down... Hopefully it does! 

We were feeling pretty thankful for another week here as my burn was so bad I haven't enjoyed the sun too much and it has been so windy... So here is hoping for some nice weather this last week! 

Hawaii!!!

Our trip to Hawaii was a long 15 hour trip... From the time we left our house. We drove up to Sidney to Amelia's and Nathan's house to drop off meeko for the two weeks we are gone and then are having them take the van... Soooo fantastic having friends live minutes from the airport! And meeko will be in paradise for the next couple of weeks! 

Flight was delayed by about an hour which was crazy stressful because as we arrived in Vancouver they told us that the next terminal was on the exact opposite side of the airport! But they grabbed us a cart and shot us through the airport and we made it just in time for their last call. But sadly did not get to eat dinner that we were banking on! 

Riding in style through the airport! 

My seat buddies. The girls did so good but we're sick of fruit snacks and granola bars so we caved and bought the ridiculously overpriced sandwiches that tasted awful and cost us $30! 

Steve and Danika having a good time watching shows. 

Amara slept pretty good as I gave her a gravol and it knocked her right out! 😁👍

The rest of us slept on and off... But not very comfortable! 

We pulled into the airport at 12:45 am and then had to wait for a long time to wait for our car seats to come through and had to rent a 5$ luggage cart to carry our car seats and luggage to the shuttle line for our rental car which was a joke! 

It was crazy windy and raining and we waited about an hour as the line was so huge! Our girls were superstars though and did so well. 

Once we got Taken to budget the line up was out the doors So we waited about an hour and half to go through and ended up with a sweet Cadillac! 😜

By the time we got to our hotel it was about 3:30 am. We were spent! 

We slept until about 8 am but were then itching to head out to the pool and explore. 

After another ridiculously overpriced breakfast we headed out. 

Breakfast at our first hotel. 

Girls swam like little fishes all morning while I sat and drank coffee and read my book. 

We were waiting for my mom and dad to arrive before we met them at Costco to load up and head to our condo in kahana.  

We put Amara down for a nap in the condo and then adessa and I went lizard Hunting! 

We found soooo many... This guy was our favourite though. 

Costco was a nuthouse... But so many cool things. We loaded up and headed out. It has been crazy windy! 

We got to our hotel and were feeling quite sick at how much we paid for it... It is nice and the view is absolutely unreal but it is a sick feeling knowing how much we spent and that we won't be in it very long! 

But we are very thankful to have this opportunity and kept seeing signs to be thankful for! Beautiful rainbows... Giant sea turtle on the beach and the gorgeous sunsets. 

Our first full day we went between the beach and pool. We body surfed and boogie boarded and it was amazing. I went up for lunch and Steve had put Amara down and I got on more sunscreen. I wasn't burnt at all. End of the day after being in the ocean I came in and my whole body looks like it has been coloured red. And it hurts! 😞

Horrible!!