Maui: First days

The 15 year anniversary Hawaii trip we have been planning and dreaming about for two years finally happened. It was amazing, wonderful, exciting, relaxing, and just about everything we could have hoped! We had a blast with our friends and did some really fun things together. Lots of memories made and lots of photos that captured them.

I (Andrea) was a nervous wreck the week before we left. I was worried about something happening to us, worried about how the kids were going to do, worried about forgetting something important, etc. I had put together a binder with the kids' schedules and all the necessary (and some unnecessary) information for the grandparents, and I had freezer, frig, and pantry all stuffed with food. I was a bundle of nerves. Grant had expressed some anxiety about us leaving in the weeks before our trip. He asked if he could have a photo of us taped by his bed, so he "wouldn't forget us." (Dagger to my heart!) Then he asked if we would still be his mommy and daddy when we came back. (Another dagger!) Once I taped up those pictures, though, he was totally fine. Our goodbyes were happy and smooth, and we were off! It was pretty surreal, sitting in the airport, eating breakfast, waiting for our flight, with nothing else to do. It had all been done.Time to relax and have fun!

This is our strategy board from our planning meeting last summer. We did a lot of planning. We did it right. ;-)

breakfast at the airport, getting ready to board our plane

The flight was LONG! It was supposed to be a direct flight, but due to strong headwinds, we had to make a stop in Oakland to refuel. We ended up being on that airplane for 9 1/2 hours. By the time we got to our condo, it was after dark.

the view from our condo the first morning

The first day was a bit overcast. We started out thinking we would find some places to snorkel as we explored the northwest part of the island, but it ended up being more of a hiking/exploring/sightseeing day. It turned out to be great weather for that. Full sun would have been too hot.

Nakele blow hole

fish tacos and banana bread on the side of the road

breakfast at Aloha Mixed Plate

The famous Banyan Tree

before Warren and Annabelle's 

first Ulalani's shaved ice

dinner at Kimo's

relaxing by our condo

on our lanai--to show the kids

souvenir shoes