Maui (Part 4)..Road to Hana, or more like death!

Okay, this is my last post about Maui. :( 

Now that I'm posting this 5 months later, I'm so ready to go back!

We decided to brave THE ROAD TO HANA!  Which even if we return to Maui someday, we will NEVER do again.  Lets just call it the road to death, I'm amazed we survived.  It's a twisty, curvy two lane road, where some areas it is only one lane for all traffic.  And you can't always see if someone is coming around the corner when it's one lane, freaky!  The speed limit is around 25 or less, but the natives like to double that and cut around you when it is clearly too dangerous to do so.  And Shanda drove it all, so she wouldn't get sick.  She did great, even with all the pressure from her lovely co-captain! 

 Some of the views of the ocean on our drive.

 We stopped and took a stroll through some botanical gardens, can't remember all the names of these places, oh well.

 And we met a big frog along the way...

 See, it is the road to death. 

We looked down this cliff and there were two cars at the bottom.

Glad we didn't join them!

 Our gang with some Bagrass Trees, also called Painted trees (I think).

 This beach had all black sand & rocks.

 Jeremy, Brian & Shanda

Right after this picture Brian was taking video of the waves coming up and splashing on the rocks, when all of a sudden a huge wave came up and shot water high into the air and soaked Brian.  Haha!

 The hubs & I. 

I forgot to mention that this is the rain forest side of the island.

It would start misting/sprinkling every time we stopped!

 We stopped towards the end of the drive at the Seven Sacred Pools. 

Which I read you could swim in, but I guess they were contaminated or something and so we couldn't.  Bummer!

 Another Banyan tree on our hike.

 Headed into the Bamboo forest...

 More waterfalls & pools that we couldn't touch.

 The guys found a coconut and decided to dissect it...it took them FOREVER!

They had to Youtube how to open the little thing, then when they finally got it, it was nasty tasting. 

Probably over ripe.  They also stole some sugar cane from the field by our Condo and took that home for the kids.  It also was pretty gross.

 Last day of playing in the sand. :(

But my pedicure held up pretty well!

Oh I'm so ready to return to paradise!

Thanks again to Mom & Bill for taking great care of my girls so we could

enjoy this much needed vacation!!!!

Maui (Part 3)...Time to snorkle!

We decided to spend some money and do a fun snorkeling tour.  We were originally supposed to head out to Molokini Crater to snorkel, but the winds were making it to rough to snorkel.  Instead we headed to Turtle Town and the Coral Gardens. 



Trish, Shanda & Brian

Whole group of turtles in Turtle Town!  So cool to see them up close.

Some would just swim right around us.  We were not allowed to touch or chase them,

but they didn't seem to care that we were there.



The hubby practicing some diving.

We wanted to make sure we got some good under water pics,

so we rented an expensive camera to capture it all.  Though I don't think I downloaded all the good ones. 



Time to get out!  After the 1st stop a few of us got a little queasy from the ride. 

Shanda decided to stay on the boat for the 2nd stop.  A few people lost their breakfast over the side of the boat.  I was okay once back in the water. 

Haha!  Dumb picture of me & Jeremy, I couldn't keep myself down long enough

for Brian to shoot the picture.  Too funny.

Shanda & Brian!  The noodles really come in handy so you could just float

around and not have to keep moving your legs.  

Jeremy & Brian.  They had to perfect this shot multiple times!

Goodbye little turtle, it's been fun! 

Actually at one of the beaches we were swimming at towards the end of the week, I saw this big black thing coming towards me in the shallow water.  Then I noticed it was a turtle and it swam right by my legs!  It spent most the day swimming back and forth in the cove we were swimming in. 

Oh I love Hawaii!!!

Maui (Part 2)

It's about time I finish posting about Maui....

 Me & the hubby eating at Captain Jacks in Lahaina. 

 Lahaina is home to a huge  Banyan tree.  These trees are pretty neat, with branches going everywhere.

 In front of the Banyan tree.  Jeremy toting around his new stash of cheap Hawaii t-shirts. 

He bought a bunch in Oahu 12 years ago, and he probably still wears some of them.

Time to clean out his drawers!

 Lahiana has a bunch of fun shops and places to eat.

Bananas growing outside of one of the condos near us. 

Wonder who gets to eat them?



MAUI..HERE I COME!!!! (Part 1)

My husband finally came through and took me on a big trip!  Our last big adventure was on a Cruise in 2004 and since we didn't do anything too crazy for our 10 year anniversary in 2010, I begged and pleaded for a trip without kids this year.  And he delivered.  We invited my brother Brian and his wife Shanda to go with us.  First we thought about a cruise, but August is hurricane season for the areas we looked out.  So Maui it was!  And thanks again to my Mom & stepdad who took on my kids and Shanda's parents who flew to WA to watch their 3, we needed this break.

 At the airport, so ready to depart!  Shanda, Trish & Jeremy

 Shanda & Brian

 Brian got this great picture of Maui from the plane!

 It was a nice 80ish degrees, with a little more humidity than I was ready for and lots of wind!

But PERFECT! 

This is the view from our condo, not shabby, except the beach is inaccesible around the Condo.

 Sun is going down.

 We thought there was some fire somewhere, the sun was glowing orange.  We think it was some power plant nearby letting off all that smoke.

 1st day at the Beach, not sure which because we tried out new ones everyday and they were all amazing!  That's Jeremy sitting at the shoreline and my pink manicured toes.

 We could just sit there all day and the water was wonderfully warm!

 Kicking back, enjoying the peace and quiet!

These little birds would land on Jeremy's hand and eat whatever he was giving them. 

 

I can't remember what we did everyday or what beach we were at...but this is not the end

To be continued...

 

 

Trip to WA (to drop off kids!!!)

At the beginning of August we drove up to my Mom's house...to drop off our kids so we could skip off to HAWAII!!!  My sister Melissa and hubby Andy came to visit for a few days before we headed out. 

We got my Mom a kiddie pool for her backyard, to help entertain my girls and their cousins.

Liam, Kael & Kiera (yes, she ended up shirtless!)

 Mom getting Liam warmed up, his lips were blue!

 Mya was not liking the splashing, plus the water was chilly!

 We drove up to Snoquamie Falls to do some walking around.

Mom and Ava

 Andy & Melissa- It was nice of them to come all the way from UT for only a couple days to visit!

 Jeremy, Mya & I

 Beautiful Blondie!

 Cute little Mya!

 Ava trying on hats with Aunt Lissa

And of course they got treats!

It was a fun little trip....but the real FUN trip is next!!!!

Be good for Grandma & Grandpa kids, we are outta here..... :)