Hawaii 2012 - Mahalo Grandma and Grandpa!

It's hard to believe we've already been back from Hawaii for 3 weeks.  How time keeps ticking faster and faster I will never understand.  Our trip to Maui rounded out our sabbatical vacation fun and it was nice to go out with a bang (although facing reality has not been near as much fun).  I know Mark has had it especially hard after spending 2 full months with us and then having to go back to work.  But, we are thankful we had that time at all -- and are counting down the 2,190 days until the next one!  (ACK, that sounds like a LONG time!)

We love the Marriott Ocean Club where we stay every year.  It's staring to feel like "our vacation home".  And the even more fun part of this trip was that Paige, Frank and Tori joined us this year.  We did lots more dinners out this year which just proved that our kiddos are getting older and can tolerate an "adult dinner" every now and then (as long as there is an iPad and iPhone available for entertainment.)

Jacob was swimming all over that pool and spent less and less time near the pirate ship.  I'm already looking forward to the years to come when they can go swimming (real swimming) together!!

Not to downplay some awesome moments that were had on the trip, but I have to say the highlight for me was on the 2nd to last day we were there.  Maddie was in the bathroom and started screaming "Mommy, Daddy!  I went poo poo in the potty!".  If you didn't already know, Maddie has been "potty trained" since January.  But she never did figure out pooping in the potty.  In the beginning, she pooped in her pants every. single. day.  After a couple of months, she figured out how to time her poops with when she had a pull up on, so she'd just wait for that darn pull up an go then.  After a zillion bribes and endless talking about it with Maddie, our pediatrician told me to back off.  So I did.  Fast forward FIVE MONTHS LATER and she's screaming she went poo poo in the potty in Hawaii.  I of course didn't believe her because she's done this before when in fact nothing has materialized.  I go in, look in the toilet, and lo and behold, there is a POOP!  I kid you not, I screamed to Jacob "DID YOU DO THIS?!"  To which he responded "NO!" The girl has not looked back and literally TRIES to produce some poop each time she's on the toilet now.  She is so proud -- as are we -- and thankful that this stage is FINALLY behind us!!  FIVE MONTHS PEOPLE!!

As always, THANK YOU Grandma and Grandpa for letting us tag along for the third year in a row.  I keep saying we don't deserve it, but as long as you invite us, we will be there!

As always, this isn't even a fraction of all of the pictures. Click here to see the full album of our Hawaii trip!

They are so cute when they show each other love

Daddy showed Jacob this trick and he LOVED it

So of course Maddie had to give it a shot

This was taken right after a rogue wave hit us while we were waiting to get on the boat to go parasailing.  Seriously, nobody saw this wave coming.  All of a sudden we all just got nailed.  Including my fully clothed mom.  Dad was trying to make sure she didn't fall down!

Maddie wasn't crazy about the whole parasailing adventure.  I guess when you watch your parents fly away, it can be a little disconcerting.

 

In Lahaina, there is a "bird man".  He has lots of parrots that he puts all over you and then takes pictures.  This man must make a fortune.  We decided to do it as a family and by the time he had us all arranged with parrots, we had a crowd of 20 people watching us!  Jacob was awesome and stood still the whole time with a smile glued to his face.  Maddie was a little more timid and while she held the bird, she refused to crack a smile.  In my head I know she was thinking "what the HELL are these people making me DO THIS FOR?!"

These brave souls went first.  I love that my Dad asked my Mom if she would do it and she said "No WAY" but then when Tori said "Come on, Grandma, do it with us", my Mom jumped up to pose.

Please take a moment to look at the parrot on my Dad's shoulder.  He was EATING his EYEBROW.  Dad, your expression is priceless!

 


This was the first pose we tried but Maddie wouldn't smile to save her life.  So the bird man switched things up a bit.

He thought if Mark held her, it would help. No such luck. 


















This particular parrot will give you kisses.  If you look closely, Jacob was going for tongue!

She will be swimming in no time!

Maddie won't let me do ANYthing to her hair except put a bow on the side.  I begged her to let Tori braid her hair.  Look how beautiful it came out!  Too bad she pulled that sucker out after 2 minutes.

Hunting for pirate treasure!

Feeding the pink flamingos is also a highlight

Can't wait until 2013!