Maui

Okay, so I've only been home for a week and a half. Sorry I didn't write sooner. I just haven't been spending any time on the computer. It actually took a bit to get over the 2 hour time difference. I think it's just enough to throw you off. Next time we stay longer!

Flight - this was what I was worried about the most. How would both kids do on the flight, and how would Cordie be if we didn't get a seat for her to use? Well Westjet stepped up and got us an extra seat - yay! They both did awesome. I brought a big selection of snacks, movies and other activities and they did really well. We landed at I think 4 PM and got into the resort around 6. Everyone else stopped at Costco to buy groceries but we figured with the kids it would just be best to get to our place and settle down. Oma brought us some breakfast chicken and veggies and stuff, and that was perfect.

The next day we had to go grocery shopping, but Duncan really wanted to go swimming at the Pirate Pool outside.

Well we had other stuff to do first, so thank goodness the Lord provided us with a downpour to put him off for a bit. We got lots of use out of the pirate pool though, which was just for little kids. In fact even Erik and Katie only managed to sneak in after it was dark out.

Anyhow, off to Safeway. Yeah, everything is expensive there. Actually we found lots of the prices are comparable to home, but just expensive compared to the rest of the US. Oh, and the booze was cheap, so we had enough wine and other stuff to do just fine.

Sleeping arrangements:
This was the other thing I was worried about was how sleep was going to work out. We actually thought we were going to need to sleep on the sofa bed and let Duncan have our bed. But the 1st night of laying on that thing I said forget it and climbed into bed with Duncan - you know the king sized gorgeously plush bed in the other room? Oh that felt nice. Oh, and Cordie had a crib, which worked fine for her. Anyhow, the 2nd night we said to Duncan do you want to sleep on the sofa bed? And he thought that was pretty cool. I was worried that he would wake up too much if we moved him - nope, not a problem. So that worked great, and we got the nice bed :)

Daily routine was some variation of this:
Get up, give the kids snacks, sit on the balcony and have some coffeem, have a nice leisurely breakfast, go play in a pool - the pirate pool or the shallow pool on side over. There was another one with a slide, but Duncan wasn't big enough for that one, and we didn't want to tease him that he couldn't go, so we just didn't swim there. Back to the room for lunch, naps for the kids while we napped/read/had a drink, and two times my Mom watched them while we went into Lahaina once and for a drive up Island once. After naps down to the beach for sand train building,

jumping in the waves, hanging with Oma and Opa,
and whale watching. Back to the room, clean up, dinner with the family. Most nights we all brought our own thing down to BBQ - the resort had BBQs all over which was really great, but we'd all hang out while we ate. Uncle Sean learned how much work it was to chase a Cordie. LOL! Then up to my brother's place (next door - we were all in a row) for drinks and hanging out on the balcony, which was nice b/c we could put Cordie to bed and use the monitor and still go hang out.

We also went to the Aquarium one rainy day - which was cool, but expensive, and perhaps the kids weren't old enough for it yet.

Bill took Duncan on the Sugar Cane Train - which Duncan just loved.

 (on the Sugar Cane Train)




We were supposed to use the round trip another day, but the day we were going to a Kona storm rolled in and it was closed down. I also took the kids to a local playground one morning while Bill was watching football. That was fun b/c it was a park local people use and I got to chat with some local Moms and Grandmoms while the kids played together.

Mom and Dad took us out for a family dinner one night. Cordie was a little owly at that one, but it was nice! And we also all went to a Luau one night, which was a hoot.

Again, Cordie didn't like to sit still - but she was just wiggly, not fussy, so I'm good if she is not screaming *grin*.


Final thoughts? How soon can we save up to go back? We loved it. I had been to Maui before, and Bill and I had been to Waikiki a few years ago, but seeing that the kids were so easy to travel with, and knowing how kid friendly Maui is, we want to go back - and for longer!! It will take a few years, but we'll swing it.

Thanks again to Oma and Opa for this wonderful trip.

Because I said So

Aloha!! Blog post about our trip to Maui coming soon, but 1st this:

Do you read Because I Said So by Dawn Meehan? Well Dawn is in a really, really tight spot right now, and so I am adding this in, in case you feel like helping. 

Happy New Year!

Quick note to wish you all a Happy New Year. Just getting ready for our little trip. No, potential thieves, our house will not be empty in our absence. We won't be gone long. See you on the flip side!

Merry Christmas!

Hello friends! Merry Christmas to you! I wish you all a blessed and wonderful Christmas Day.

It has been a long time to say the least. Life just keeps us all busy and I get normally maybe 20 minutes on the computer in the morning and maybe a bit at night before bed - but not always.

We're all doing good. Duncan of course is very excited about Christmas. We are also looking forward tomorrow. It's going to be a lot of fun. Tonight, Christmas Eve, we are having my parents over for dinner after the Christmas Eve service. Tomorrow morning we'll unwrap presents with the kids, go to church, home again after probably after naps, go to Mom and Dad's for the rest of the day. It should be fun.

And of course in a week and a half we're off to Hawaii! That too is going to be wonderful!

I pray you are all well, enjoying time with your families and friends, and will hopefully speak with you in a few days.

Hi hi!

Hey friends! Yes its me, your non-blogger friend Carole. As you can tell I have not been blogging much. I just don't have time. I am totally behind on my blog roll, in fact I just clear it out unread more often that not. I haven't been on facebook much, and emails get deleted too. Just busy with life and taking less computer time.

But we're all doing well. Having fun ramping up for Christmas. We decorated the tree this week and Duncan had a blast helping with that. Of course, as would happen when a 4 year old decorates a tree, all the ornaments are all in one section. I moved a few of them b/c they were falling off the branches where he put 2 or 3 on the same branch, but otherwise I left it alone b/c I love how it looks. Cordie is also fascinated with the tree but so far has not knocked it over.

Tomorrow I am leaving for Seattle very early in the morning and am going to visit Laura for the morning. It's the only day we could make it work for me to come and visit. Mom wanted to tag along, so the two of us are going to go and hope to be home by 3 PM or so. Bill has the kids home today, and tomorrow. Not that he can't handle them, but I don't want to be gone all day!

Duncan's birthday was a week ago. Our little boy is 4! We had fun with a little party for him at our house. 4 of his friends came over, but with parents and siblings etc, we had a good crowd, and it was lots of fun.

Let's see what else... both kids are good. Bill transfered to the Abbotsford office which was effective this week. The hope was that he'd have a shorter commute, be able to leave later in the morning, and get to see the kids in the morning. Well let me tell you - it worked! His commute is now 35 minutes, he doesn't have to leave the house until 7:20, and is home around 4:50. I'm home with the kids around 4:30, so it all works out great. As a result we're also taking turns working out in the morning before the kids are up. This is good b/c to say I am a bit huggable would be an understatement :) But I'm working on it.

Alright, I told Bill I would make pancakes for everyone this AM as we're out of bread. I already made the batter, but should now go and actually make the pancakes. Everyone is still sleeping, which is not horrible.

Take care everyone!

Snack Pack Share a Smile

What are things that make you smile? Without a doubt my kids make me smile. They make me laugh - a lot! My husband makes me smile. He often claims he's the funniest person he knows. :) On the same note, I also make myself smile. I'm the second funniest person he knows :)  My morning cup of coffee makes me smile. Taking a minute to sit down with my book makes me smile. Getting a purr from my cat makes me smile. My friends make me smile. They are also funny people. :)

I also like to make people smile. I try very hard to greet my children with a smile each morning, so hopefully set them off on the right foot for the day. I try to walk around the office smiling. It makes people wonder what you've been up to. 

Snack Packs - the fine people who bring us pudding in a cup and Juicy Jels - are trying to spread a few smiles.

Visit Snack Packs' Facebook Page, hit the like Button, and then hit the smile tab. Every day you share a smile Snack Pack will donate $1 to Canadian Food Banks, up to $20,000.00. Not only that, but you're given a reason to smile, and a chance to win some really great prizes. Do this once a day and you can earn smile badges. Hey, who doesn't like to share a smile?


To find out more about Snack Pack products (including Juicy Gels and low-fat puddings), visit them at
http://www.snackpackcanada.ca/


Disclosure - I am participating in the
Snack Pack program by Mom Central on behalf of Conagra Foods Canada. I received a gift card as a
thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Checking for a pulse

Hi friends! I'm writing before you start checking for my pulse! Not much on facebook, not much blogging. You know, work is so crazy all the time by the time I get home and sit at the computer for a few minutes I'm ready for bed. Don't feel like doing much at all. The kids have been waking up earlier (the time change didn't help that) so I don't even really get my morning 30 minutes email and a coffee time. And b/c work is so insane, I don't have time to check things there.

But we're all doing well!! Bill is sick again... he had strep throat a few weekends ago and it has now apparently moved into his chest and he has bronchitis. He has Friday off, and was going to send the kids to daycare, but I'd already told her they were staying home, so she made other plans... so he'll have to rest another day :)

The kids are good. Duncan is doing awesome in his second year of preschool. I am loving how much he is learning both academically (pre-K program) and with going to the Christian school the things he comes home with wanting to talk about God and sing Bible songs etc... I love it!

Cordie is just growing by leaps and bounds. She is such a funny girl. Loving the world of walking. She loves books "Book! Book!". She loves Bubbles "bubble? bubble!!" for bath time. She loves cookies "cookie? cookie?" That's my girl!!

Like I said work is busy, but I'm doing well with my new team and all. Picking up the pace. But the pace is so fast the days fly and the weeks fly. Not too long until Hawaii now! Woo hoo!! So who is all in favour of drugging children for a flight? What worked for you? I'm not so concerned about Duncan, but Cordie, who won't have her own seat will be the challenge. She is not going to want to sit on laps for 5 hours. We'll figure it out.

Books - finished the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and enjoyed it. Now finally reading World Without End by Ken Follett, sequel to the Pillars of the Earth. I loved Pillars, and am really enjoying this one now. Nice thick 1000 page novel with small print.

Alright, and as a large yawn just over took me, I need to head to bed. Good night!