Catch of the day

We decided to take the kids to dinner at the restaurant here in the hotel on Thursday night. Yes, we've been feeding them dinner the whole time we've been here...it's just been take-out in our room from some of our favorite places. But this time, we decided to join the grown ups (grandama M and auntie D) in the restaurant. It started off good enough, the kids were coloring and we ordered just fine. BUT then ... the waiting started. You see, when you're 3,5,7 and 9 a few minutes is apparently a really really long time! So Spencer, our brave explorer decides to go looking in the surrounding ponds for koi fish. And then one boy followed another and then another. So then I was chasing boys around the fish pond. And herding them back to the table to "wait some more". When the food came, Spencer yells out "I did NOT want a hot dog!". And then we begin negotiating.... He didn't want to particiate in the ordering process so this is what he got. I took the bun off and he ate it. (All of my children are naturally geared toward the Atkins approach and generally leave the bun off of everything!) So, when I offered up a bite of my delicious grilled MAHI MAHI, I never dreamed that I'd have any takers. I had plenty .... they all wanted some! (well, all of them except for my Vegetarian Shelby). And so, I ending up splitting the fish amongst them all. And it was gooooood, soooooo sooo good. Rather than feeling the pain of having to share it, I decided to celebrate the fact that 1) they were all sitting at the table 2) they were minding their manners and with full mouths, not saying much and 3) they were loving the FISH! I felt like one of those mothers with children that enjoy a broad horizon of food choices... who are travelers and adventurers.

Once the food was gone, we left the "real diners" alone for after dinner conversation so that we could get the children back to the room and on their own vacation agenda. (waiting, is NOT on that agenda!)

Next time, one grown-up will stay in the room and bring over the children once their food arrives! AND yes, they'll get their own fish!

Bad Weather in Paradise?

I never thought it was possible. How can you have bad weather in paradise! Especially on your vacation? Well yesterday, they closed schools and city offices because the winds were to be really bad. They were bad. For a minute. And the skies opened up and poured down some serious rain. For a little while. And then it was hot and sunny. Bad weather must not last long! Little Mason got to enjoy some special accommodations for the rain... they set up a coconut decorating station for the kids... Ain't he cute!? The coconut Mason is cute too!

POSTCARDS FROM MAUI

Worked on writing post cards yeseterday and was so touched when Maxwell, dictating to me what he wanted written on his post card, since he is on vacation feels that he shouldn't have to write!... He told his classmates that he is having so much fun in Maui...playing lots of catch with his dad. Now, seriously, you gotta love that! It came before the kids club and the swimming pool and the slide! And Shelby got to go shopping with Aunt Deborah and Grandma Maxine ... and came home with a new pair of shoes. Mason got to decorate a little coconut guy... Shelby, Maxwell and Spencer are all chillin' at the kids club and will go on a photo safari at a hotel with some very cool "pets"... birds of all kinds, swans and ducks... and frogs and gekkos. life is good on Maui! Aloooooha!

How Long Does it Take to Get to MAUI?

Technically, it should take about 5 hours from LA in the plane (plus the 2 hour drive from SD to LA) However, things don't always go like they should... We departed our house at 4:45 AM, boarded the plane when we were supposed to and then were told a minor maintenance issue would be fixed and we'd be on our way. So, we waited and kept the children busy enough with the back packs filled with stuff to do. The minor fix involved a little something called the AIRCONDITIONING. So, as you might imagine, the plane was almost uncomfortably warm. After the 15 minuts turned into an hour, we were pleasantly surprised with the bursts of air from the little vents. I was a little distracted when something flew into my eye but was thinking I'd blink it out and we'd be on our way soon. WRONG on both counts. I blinked and blinked and that little black spec resting on the outline of my sparkling blue eye (sorry, but it sounds good!) wouldn't budge. And, then we were told that when they fixed one problem, they found another...it would only be another 30 minutes. So while the 30 minutes were ticking, I was looking in my little compact mirror trying to figure out how I'd get this now very irritating little spec out. After a futile attempt in the bathroom at pouring some too-cold bottled water into my appauled eye, I decided it might be time to see if there was a doctor on board. So, the call was put out and the dutiful passengers sworn to help those in need rang their call lights. To the front of the plane came a young and eager nurse and right be behind her came a gentle woman with an accent not from the 50 states, announcing that she was the doctor in the house. The two of them looked at my eye, identified the spec as a spec and offered up some advice after conversing briefly between one another. I should fill the sink with water and splash the water constantly into my eye as I leaned over the sink. The idea is that the constant force would encourage it to move and that by continuing to splash, it would then be forced out of my eye. Knowing that the cold water wouldn't work out (since I have tried it already), I asked if I could get some warm water from the flight attendant and she served it up and I went to splashing. After about 4 or 5 minutes, I had success which was evident by the smile on my face when I came out of the bathroom. The maintenance crew however, did not have success. We would have to get off that plane and move to another which would arrive in about 2 hours. Thankfully, our new plane was not only fit for flying, it was equipped with never seen by my eyes before, seats that could fully recline and allow my tired for more than one reason eyes to get some sleep.

After all that it took us, about 12 - 13 hours to get here.

When we woke up the next day in our beach side hotel, we had already forgotten about the trip from hell. ALOHA MAUI!

Good Bye Christmas - Part 2 - We Decked the Halls

Until next year!

Good Bye Christmas

We like to make gingerbread houses for Santa... we don't use a kit..we use graham crackers, frosting and candy.

The key is to remember to put one out for Santa!

Not Me Monday

I'm new to this but just had to give it a try. I mean, there were a few times you might have thought you found me standing in the pantry eating a little mini banana nut muffin in ONE BITE. ... okay, maybe if it had been me, you might have noticed it more than a few times...say maybe 12 times. That's right, you might have thought it was me that eventually ate the ENTIRE package of banana nut mini muffins. But I'd have to say YOU were bananas or nuts yourself.... 'cause it's Monday and that was NOT ME!

Wait...I'm not done with Christmas yet!

My little monkey Mason, pleaded with me NOT to take the Christmas tree down yet. He is just not done with Christmas! I was thinking that maybe I'm not either... so forgive me for dragging it out just a little longer... A few more pictures and I promise...the tree will be packed up and I'll be movin' on....

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE DESERT!

We chimed in the new year out here in our home away from home... the River House! I'll post some pictures once we get back to the high speed internet to which I am accustomed! It's been a tradition to ring in the new year here and each year, we spend the whole week between Christmas and New Year's playing outside in the cool but not cold desert air.

We're only home for a week and then we pack up and head to Maui. This may not have been the best planning in the world, BUT, it's Maui! Who's gonna complain about that? NOT ME!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!