Part 1-Traveling with Kids

I meant to publish this post this morning, but we woke up this morning to find out we had been exposed to head lice (YUCK!) and my mission became that of pro-active damage control. I vacuumed my ENTIRE house, stairs and basement included. Then changed every ones pillowcases and bedding. Not exactly what I thought Id be doing today, and my head has been itching, though there is nothing in my hair-Thank you God :) But on the up side, my house is VERY clean and that is never a bad thing.

ON OUR WAY: Our plane left at 10:30am but Joe's mom arrived at 6:15 to take us to the airport. We left with 5 carry on bags, 1 bag to check and 1 car seat bag. We had to check one because we had to bring along the only sunscreen that Joe can use without an allergic reaction and we needed a lot of it AND you can't carry that on. So we had 1 bag each and 1 backpack each.
Here are the kids with their stuff :) I had prepared them for what may happen at the Security checkpoint. Especially Cam. I needed him to be prepared to remove his shoes and put down his backpack etc.



As I said before I left I was totally petrified to fly, but didn't want to project that onto them. Keegan and Delaney were nervous themselves. We stopped and had breakfast after getting through security and I enjoyed a nice cheap-o bottle of champers :)
I told my friend that I was going to be really pissed if we crashed and Cook's was the last champagne I got to drink :)

I am REALLY glad we left early. I felt at ease to take our time getting through the airport, we finished our meal, had enough time to get the kids in the bathroom and situated.

SEATING ARRANGEMENTS ON THE PLANE:
We got to be part of the "pre-boarding" process because Maddie is only 2 :) Thank you! I knew Delaney and Cam could NOT sit together. We had almost the whole row. The seats were 2-3-2 so we had put Keegan and Cam together in the window-aisle. Then Maddie, Delaney and I sat in the 3. Joe got to sit by himself on the other side of the other aisle. We had activities and snacks in their packs. Coloring, video games and movies on our iPhones and my iPad. I'm glad that we ate right before we left they did NOT like the spinach manicotti on the plane :) They were definitely ready for a pre-dinner snack and WAY ready for dinner once we got to it. They ate EVERY BITE!

All the excitement and newness of the airplane overshadowed the anxiety and bad behavior I was fearing. We barely heard a peep out of the boys, Maddie and Delaney slept for a good majority of the flight and when they woke up, we were almost there. It was pretty windy coming into Maui. The kids "Oohed and Aahed" and laughed with excitement as we bounced onto the runway. When we came to a stop and I stopped praying,  Maddie yelled "Let's do that Agin!" And no I did not misspell again. That is how she said it :)

 We got to Maui, it was Hot, Hot, Hot! This is the kids with our "not a lot of bags." Remember its all about perspective :)

 We got our bags situated and got our rental car, got everyone in and we were on our way. The kids called the mini van their "dream car!" So sad :) It had a bench seat in the back and 2 captain seats in the middle so there was a fight every single day as to where everyone was sitting. Finally I assigned their seats. A little better.

NO ITINERARY:
Normal life for us is where we are constantly running here and there and everywhere most of the time scheduled days out. This trip we did not schedule anything! OK we did make a reservation for our luau, but only because my aunt is a travel agent and said it was a good idea. And actually it worked well because we kind of worked our days around knowing Monday night was that. Every morning Joe and I would wake up, look outside and say "What do we feel like doing today?" Then at dinner we would hash over ideas for the next day but never anything concrete. If we woke up and said hey let's go to Kaanapali Beach today and then go to Whalers village and then go out to dinner and half way to the beach we decided to stop and do something else, Oh well! It was so awesome to just go where we wanted, when we wanted and not be tied down to any plans. It was such a pleasant respite from our crazy every day lives. I will say this though. That is what worked for us and there were a couple things like our snorkel trip that we ended up deciding to do Tuesday and then we couldn't get all of us on it until Wednesday, so vacationing that way can bring its own difficulties, but if you are willing to roll with it, it doesn't matter :)

 EATING OUT:
One thing is for certain, we do not eat out a lot. As some of you know I actually don't prefer it. This is usually for 1 of a few reasons...

A) I hate paying a lot of money for something I can usually make myself and sometimes I make it better

B) I don't usually like taking my kids out to eat, because
       a) they don't know how to act in public and
       b) they don't appreciate the experience or the food

I had actually planned on cooking for most of this trip. We had a kitchen in our room, a grocery market and a Farmer's Market nearby, and even access to grills on the resort property. The first night we got there, the kids were like I said, really hungry and they ate everything. They were excellent at the table despite being extremely tired and the whole meal was a blast. One thing we had done ahead was check out the menu while we were waiting for our table. This helped us be ready to order when we got our seat. I think that helped tremendously because it moved everything along quickly and smoothly.
For the rest of the trip we looked ahead at the menus. As the kids made their decision on a meal, I wrote it down and figured out what they wanted to drink. This made ordering very efficient. I would order for them all and wouldn't have to be waiting on them or questioning them while the wait staff waited. Several times we were told by other patrons "how well behaved our children were." We laughed and talked and even though a couple of our kids would fall asleep from time to time during meals, I looked forward to eating out every time, for the first time ever! This is also because of the beautiful food we got to choose from but that's another segment :)

 THE LONG WAY HOME:
Sweating...crying...Oh and Maddie crying...Screaming...A pitch SO loud and SO shrill, my ears fuzzed (Does that make sense to anyone but me ;)...Writhing...Flailing...OK let me back up.

 

 I knew it was going to be harder to get home. Nobody was ready to leave. who would want to leave that! I knew everyone would be tired. I knew everyone would probably be grouchy and testy. I felt grouchy. It took over an hour to get checked in and through security, by the time we got through and up to the terminal, Joe had gotten in the Starbuck's line, where as he was waiting he took a look at the departure screen and realized we were boarding in "5 MINUTES!!!" I grabbed the kids and the suitcases and ran down the terminal to our gate of course the furthest one away. It was a very Home Alone moment. Cam was crying and dragging his backpack on the floor screaming "It's TOO heavy!" Maddie wouldn't walk or run so I was carrying her and pulling 2 carry-ons and had Maddie's backpack, my bag, and Joe's backpack and I was running through an open air airport on a tropical island. I looked AWESOME! Not crazy at all :) A kid felt so bad for Cam he helped him carry his bag to...Oh yay...We had to get through another Agriculture scan. "OK kids bags on the belt here we go." We walked up to the gate JUST as they were calling for pre-boarding. THANK GOD Joe was right behind us with the boarding passes and COFFEE!!!!! A woman looked at me and said "Sweetie, you are a VERY brave woman." I said "Yes very brave or very stupid." At that moment I was leaning more on stupid. Regardless, we all got into our seats and situated. Phew!

We took off at 3:10pm Hawaii time which would put us in at 11:22pm Seattle time. If Maddie slept on the plane, there was going to be a really good chance she wouldn't sleep at home. She was fine to start, she ate, she was watching a movie, and then the switch flipped. She always gets really "vocal" when she gets tired. She started to fuss, then cry, then scream, then passed out. It was not too bad, I thought. We had a couple hours left in the flight and I felt like it was worth the risk of her not going to bed when we got home, that she nap then. Flash forward to 45 minutes till we land. Now it went me-Mad-Cam in the 3 middle seats and we had the arm rests up so she could lay out. Even Cam was being sweet enough to let her put her feet on him. When the pilot came on and said that we were preparing for decent, she started to stir. Then she started to cry, first softly then louder, and louder and LOUDER. Then she fell back asleep. 5 minutes later, she started to cry again, she was talking but not coherently, like she was still half asleep. Realizing this I tried to just rub her back or her legs and shhh her and it worked a couple times but pretty soon it didn't anymore. About 20 minutes until we land, she started to get more and more awake. She was now crying, screaming REALLY loud, hitting me, kicking the seats in front of us, basically my worst nightmare AND the nightmare of everyone who boards a plane and sees a toddler in a seat near them. Joe was looking at me so helplessly from across the aisle, like he wanted to help but didn't know what to do. There was nothing he could do. I knew that. She could not be consoled, She flailed and was so strong I could barely hold onto her. At one point she rolled off my lap and onto the floor, for a moment I considered leaving her there because she was quieting down, but then the pilot came on telling the flight attendants to take their seats for landing. I picked her back up. She kicked the seat in front of me SO hard, that I saw the man's head jerk forward. I tried to get out an apology, but I'm sure he couldn't hear me over the commotion. It felt like it was taking an hour to land, in reality it was 15 minutes. I had sweat rolling down my face as well as tears, I couldn't help myself and I didn't care who saw me. Cam was asking but actually yelling because his ears were plugged "MOM! WHY ARE YOU CRYING!?!!!" I felt awful. I felt horrible for everyone around me but honestly most horrible for her and MYSELF. Anyone who questioned whether I was trying to control the situation I'm sorry to say, could kiss my ass. It was obvious I was trying as hard as I could. Maybe she was just THAT tired or maybe the air pressure was hurting her poor little ears but either way... She was OUT OF CONTROL!

I think I held my breath until I finally felt the wheels touch down. I am not sure I took a deep breath until my feet were in the airport. As we waited to deplane the woman who sat next to Joe leaned over and smiled and said "You are a great mom! You handled that so well." I thanked her and then embarrassingly said out loud "I am so sorry everyone!" At that moment everyone around me gathered. The woman on my left said she felt so bad that I had to go through that, and then said her daughter was considering a trip to Ireland with her 3 and 1 year old. That was her greatest fear. Not sure if she'll be making the trip after that meltdown :) Then the guy behind me said "Either we have been there or we will be there. Anyone who doesn't get that, who cares. You kept your cool Mom. Way to Go!" They were so nice I felt a little bit better. But then because we always wait until everyone else has gotten off the plane. I could see everyone's eyes on me as they passed. I was red as a beet and Maddie, who was standing on the seat had eyes SO swollen and red, it was obvious WE were the ones making the ruckus. I never thought I would have been so happy to be back in Seattle. As per my mantra, Perspective :)

Despite our horrendous flight home, our trip was all in all awesome! I would say to anyone traveling with kids a few tips...

1. Prepare as best you can. Think ahead to where you are going, what you may be doing but don't over think it. Unless you are going to the middle of nowhere, you can almost always find a store that will have a replacement for that forgotten must have :)

2. Having a few tricks up your sleeves and a bag full of tricks can and will come in handy, but won't always save the day. So roll with it.


3. Hope for the best, but expect the worst. You never know what a trip is going to be like until you are on it.If you are somewhat prepared for the worst, then you will most likely be pleasantly surprised :)


4. Have fun! Let the kids get away with a little more then usual, it will make it more fun for them and you.


If you are like us hopefully you will get home from your next trip happily and excitedly awaiting your next, reveling in the new memories you've made, and so proud that your beautiful family came through it with such flying colors!

Happy Travels!

Hawaii in Stats!

We are home! Hawaii was AMAZING! We saw so much but really did so little. It was a great combination of relaxation and fun and we enjoyed every second. I know I didn't post much while I was gone and there is SO much to talk about. So...I am going to break it up into parts.

Part 1- Traveling with kids
Part 2- The Food!
Part 3- Fun in the Sun

Here's our trip in Stats-
Miles Traveled- 5,302
Bottles of Champagne- 3 (not bad for 10 days:)
Loads of Laundry- 4
Miles run/walk/hike- 13
Meals Cooked- 0!!!
Days of Sun- 10
Beaches visited- 4
Restaurants tried- 6
Arguments between kids- 10-20ish. At LEAST once a day, but what's new:)
Geckos caught- 1
Hibiscus picked- 30
Smiles- Hundreds
Pictures taken- 996!!!
Spa Treatments- Joe:1 Me:3
Pounds gained-Don't know-Don't care

Keep checking in to see how it all went :)


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Aloha style?!? :)

I apologize for the lapse between posts. It has been very exhausting over here :) The sun and heat really take it out of you. As well as the constant jumping into the ocean and ordering drinks with umbrellas in them and eating until you are so full you feel you may burst! What's that saying? "It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. I know, not a lot if ANY sympathy. I totally understand. But I have been trying to write this post for 3 days and I keep getting interrupted. Also I am typing it on my phone, because my iPad requires a wi-fi hot spot which I haven't had time to search for. So anyways, here it is. I have inserted a hundred :) because I can't help but smile as I type this, thinking of all the great Aloha Style I have seen. And I truly mean it when I say I love it! I really do! So Aloha!

Hawaii is an interesting place when it comes to the definition of suitable attire. I feel that being here gives everyone a get out of jail free card from the fashion police. People watching is an all day event here and you can't help but make mental checks of the "way to go's" and the "oh no's" :) where certain "looks" are concerned :)

In a matter of an hour you will see some hot 20 year old rocking a bikini like you NEVER could and then a 50ish man in a "mankini" and think "yikes! That is REALLY tight in all the wrong places :)" I've seen beautiful pregnant women flaunting their beautiful round bellies in bikinis and I couldn't help but feel so jealous I didn't have an excuse for my beautiful round belly:) I loved the 6 foot, model looking gal, killing herself trying to walk through the sand with her 5 inch stiletto heels, hello it's a beach?!? 2 guys from Minnesota or Wisconsin (Mid-West for sure) with red streaks across their backs and chest where they MISSED with the sunscreen :/ Ouch!

People- and I'm guilty of this as well, think this is the time to pull out your boldest print shirt, pants, or dress and wear without fear. I looked at all of us leaving for dinner and thought to myself "Wow! I'm probably going to want to print any photos from tonight in black and white! We've got A LOT going on" :) but then I thought, who cares! We are island style tonight! Hello giant hibiscus in my hair :)

I love it! I love checking out everyone's ensembles! It's like a
wonderful melting pot of style and lack there of but nobody seems to care! I saw a woman dressed to the nines in a sequence "sun dress" with 6 inch platform wedge sandals and her husband walking with her in the loudest aloha shirt I've EVER seen, shorts and flip flops, he looked about 8 inches shorter then her, but was looking at her like she was the hottest thing around! It was so sweet and hilarious all at the same time.

Sunday the beaches were extra full of people. This meant an extra large group of people watching prospects. You may think I'm terrible for admitting my voyeur ways but guess what in my peripheral vision I have caught many a points and whispers in our direction. Every single place we go, we get the "WOW! Are these all your kids!?!" Yes, yes they are :) Then people proceed to watch and talk amongst themselves about how busy we must be and then they just stare. I know we are somewhat a spectacle but come on people! I've seen a dozen families with 4 or FIVE teenagers and no one seems to notice!

Any ways, I'm was on a tangent. I'm back :) Tonight is like the Senior Prom of our Hawaiian Vacation! Luau time! I can't wait to see everyone in their Aloha Best! I may even go buy the boys some crazy shirts to wear! When else can you do that! I'm taking full advantage! I bought a swimsuit cover up/shirt/evening gown/skirt that is all the rage here! I wanted to wear it tonight, but I don't want to look like everyone else, but then again when else will I be able to wear something like that?!? Maybe in my backyard, but where's the fun in that! I'll probably go for it! I myself have sported a bikini-NOT tankini! Have mercy! My apologies to all around me:) It's been a LONG time since this tummy saw the sun:) But hey! Who care's. It's my Aloha Style?!?!

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45 dollars for 2 packs of diapers. Ouch!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

What a day

I promised I wouldn't sit and blog all day. I'll make this one quick so please excuse my typos. Im not proofreading :)




We made it in one piece yesterday. All my preparing mentally for a flight from Hell was for nothing. The kids did great. I did great. We didn't crash, all in all a success!

We arrived at 1:30 local time, 4:30 home time. By the time we got our car and stopped at the store. Yes my first order of business was to check out the grocery options and let's just say this: they were expensive (minus) they had alcohol in the store and on sale (plus) they had salami, cheese and crackers (a must and plus) but no Corbett Canyon (a minus for Joe) But again all in all a success.

By the time we arrived it was 3ish local time and I was ready to be organized and enjoying this beautiful place. For anyone looking for a great place in Maui for a couple or for a family, Napili Kai, AMAZING! Old Aloha at it's best.
And well just look. This is from our lanai.





The kids were itching to see the sights and so were we, but we knuckled down and got everything unpacked and put away. Finally we headed out to explore our resort. The grounds are amazing and although older I feel so happy and comfortable here.

We headed towards the Sea House the amazing restaurant here at Napili Kai. I looked over to see the kids flirting with the ocean's edge. Fully dressed for dinner, Keegan gets surprised by an incoming wave. "I got wet!" "That happens!" I tell him :) "So you don't care?" they all ask. "Nope" I say thinking they only mean about Keegan's shorts. In they went. Oh well!









They were in Heaven! It was hilarious and everyone walking down the beach stopped to watch the spectacle :) I was in Heaven watching them. A little nervous, but knowing Joe and I were right there to rescue them in an instant, I relaxed, a little :) Plus the view made it a little easier.





After showering and RE-dressing. We headed to dinner. I tried to take pictures of the beautiful Caesar salad wedge with pomegranate seeds and Parmesan crisps but it didn't do it justice. It was amazing.





I dove so quickly into my Paniolo Ribeye with smashed Maui onion potatoes that I did not get a picture at all :) It was incredible. A little rare even for me but delicious.

The kids were on their best behavior. Like the kind of behavior where people are looking at us smiling and whispering and we know it's because they are being awesome not because they are being such little you know what's. I love those dining experiences. Every once in a blue moon when they happen :)

We went to bed at 9:30 local time which was 12:30 home time. Everyone was exhausted. They woke up at 6:30am Local. I actually got dressed and for the first time EVER went to the resorts fitness center. Not because I got lost and accidentally entered it but because I meant to!!!! :) There was a newlywed couple that was in there. Seriously 6:30am on MY honeymoon, I had WAY better things to do :)

I ran 2 miles on the treadmill because I hadn't had a chance to drive around and find a good road or trail yet. I would have done 1 more mile but the new husband guy was stalking my treadmill, I was next to the new wife lady.

I got back we got ready and were on the beach by 8am. When I talked to my mom at 11am local 2pm home time. She asked if we had been on the beach ALL DAY. She's all messed up because we are 3 hours behind home time and my sisters who are in Europe, are 9 hours ahead! I am so thankful to she and my dad and little sis Kelsey for doggie sitting our beloved Jagger boy-at our house! He is old and can't move well and needs them there. We are so appreciative! They said he's actually eating, not always the case when we leave, and happy!


But today is my 10th wedding Anniversary! 10 years ago right now we were just married and throwing one Hell of a party! I am so blessed to be sitting here right now. 10 years later, more in love then ever. So happy with my life. Of course there have been rough days, that's reality. What I love the most is that even on the roughest days there's nowhere else I'd rather be. My dad has always said, "When you find that there is NO ONE in this world you'd trade places with, that's when you realize how lucky you are... and then choosing to be happy is easy!"

I wouldn't trade places with anyone, especially not right now! To you Joe. The amount of luck, fun and love we've had over these 10 years seems unfairly proportioned in our favor." :) I can't wait for 50 more! I love you So much! :) So Happy Anniversary to you Joe- My incredible husband.

And Aloha to you all!

Pre-Flight Jitters

Not sure why I can't just get excited to go on a plane and fly off on an amazing vacation, but I can't. Pretty sure I am having a panic attack. The worst part is that I don't want my kids to know that I am scared. I do NOT want to project my anxiety on them. I want them to be as excited as I should be for tomorrows departure to Hawaii. I won't do that to them.

This all goes back to my first time on an airplane when I was 7. We were flying from California to Seattle and I had my blankie, my Rosary, and a lucky rabbits foot. My nerves were getting the best of me and I thought I should read something to get my mind off of things. I reached into the seat pocket in front of me, grappled around and grabbed the first thing I could, pulled it out opened up and OH! Are you SERIOUS! It was the pamphlet on what to do in case of a crash water landing. SUPER! That was it for me. I was never excited again or wanting to fly. I still have gone, mostly just with Joe, only with my kids three or four times. That brings a whole new set of worries, flying with kids. I worry about their behavior, their well being with the air pressure (ears popping and such) and the sick, freaked out side worries about In Case of Emergency SH#*! I Hate this feeling!!!!! I just want to go have fun.

I do weird things before we go on vacation, cleaning out things like drawers and closets, so that In Case of Emergency I am not judged for not keeping up on my filing. I know, sick right?!?! Even with that type of stuff having been done, we are still ready to go already. Joe and I are sitting here thinking we must be forgetting something because the bags are packed and in the van. The kids are asleep and my house is cleaned up for my mom and dad's arrival in the morning. I had even thought I wouldn't have time for a blog post, yet here I am. I should be ecstatic. I should be in my bed, cuddled up awaiting my alarm to sound tomorrow morning.

I feel like a crazy person. I wish it could just be like Star Trek "Beam me Up" and I am there! Unfortunately that is not the case so off I will go! I really am SO excited! Or at least I will be when we get there. I will definitely be enjoying a pre-flight mimosa, nothing major, just enough to take the edge off, but not so much I don't have my wits about me on the plane...you know...just in case.

If you are headed to Hawaii tomorrow, I'll be the one in the middle of 2 kids, with my blankie around my neck, holding my rabbits foot and rosary with crossed fingers, saying an Our Father, NOT checking out the pamphlets in the seat in front of me. OK just kidding, my blankie, or at least a piece of it will be in my carry on, not on me.

p.s. I am not sure about the internet connection from where we are staying but I will be sending what posts I can from Maui! ALOHA everybody!

100 MILES- I reached the finish line!

This morning I woke up early and decided to get my run done and over with, not normal for me :) I am more of an afternoon runner. But I knew I had to get 5.5 miles in and I had a lot of other things to do. I got on the treadmill, walked 2 miles, started running 3.5 later, walk the last .5.  6 DONE! Only 3.5 miles to go and my challenge is done. I get off and start my day feeling great that I am SO close! I went and ran my errands, not feeling like I was accomplishing all I should. Have I mentioned I am a procrastinator? Just checking :)

I got home from dropping my kids off with their Gram, she is having them overnight so I can get my stuff done. I arrive home, ALONE, weird. I do NOT like it when any of my kids are gone, even just one at a time, I REALLY don't like it when they are all gone. It feels wrong and unnatural and usually I have a hard time figuring out what to do with myself. I sit in the driveway for a moment, just realizing that I drove the whole way home with no radio. It is eerily quiet.

What to do, what to do? Pack, well I am still waiting on laundry. Clean...not now. I walk up the stairs spot my running clothes. It had occurred to me a little earlier, while I was talking my plans over with my friend, that I COULD just get my challenge over with today. I had time, I had no kids to hate it while I was on the treadmill AGAIN, should I or shouldn't I? Oh what the Hell! I can do it. No worries that I have already completed 6 miles not but a few hours ago. Let's get this over with.

I jump on the treadmill, 25 days later then I started this journey. It seems a lot longer ago then that. I walk 1/2 a mile and then start to run, I feel very tired again thinking of the 6 miles I have already run today. I keep going. 1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles! I run as fast as my legs will carry me. Watching the lights blink closer and closer to my finish line. I look straight ahead, and I can't help but smile as I inch nearer and nearer to that last light. I cross it. The lights disappear. I slow the treadmill to a stop. I stand there alone. No fanfare, no cheering crowd, no kids to be my cheerleaders, just me.

For an instant I feel sad and anti-climatic. But in the next moment I realized it is as it should be. I didn't do this for anyone but myself. I didn't do it for the applause or for the recognition though so much support from so many has been amazing. I did it for me. To prove to me that it could be done. To show myself I am what I choose to be. I am a mother, and a wife, and a daughter, and a friend. I am a volunteer and a carpool driver, and a cook and today I am a runner. It is mind blowing to me how much I feel I have transformed in such a short amount of dates on the calendar. It gives me a sense of hope that I think I will look upon things differently because of this experience. I think when I am feeling like time is too short and questioning what I can do in a short amount of time, instead of giving up on something, or putting something off until there is more time, I think I will push ahead and try to prove to myself that it isn't the amount of time that is important but how we utilize it.

I could have said "Oh we are going on vacation and I'll start running after that." That's what I would have said a few months ago. But for some reason, that night I wanted more. More from myself and of myself. I have to say it may sound silly, but I am proud of me. Only I really know how many times I have truthfully started things and not finished them, and I am going to sleep good tonight knowing that this was not one of those times. That I wanted this, I did it, I earned respect from myself. I look forward to a new challenge and for the first time I believe that whatever it is, I CAN and WILL do it!