When I started this blog I thought it was such a good idea, and it is when you keep up with it! I've actually had people ask me why I haven't updated it in FOREVER...and I thought nobody cared! So, much has taken place in the past 3 months, yet I sit here and can't think of what all to say, figures! I guess I'll start with our 1 year anniversary!
What an amazing week! We decided (like 3 weeks before we left) to spend the week in Maui! I had never been to Hawaii and I had ALWAYS wanted to go since I was little. It was the only place I had dreamed of going, so needless to say I was REALLY excited. We decided to ask my parents and see if they wanted to go, it was also somewhere they had never been. Joe took the liberty of researching a private estate to stay for the week, found flights for my parents and figured out all the details for their trip...this made it much easier for them to say yes :) This made the trip even more exciting, it was our anniversary, my 32nd birthday AND I got to spend a week with my parents, it was great! Our estate was beautiful in Maui. We had an amazing view right on the water, an outdoor kitchen, our own private bungalows, pool and spa...if it wasn't for the rain it would have been perfect!! We seemed to pick a week where it rained more than it had EVER rained before! We made sure to see and do as much as we could while we were there. We flew to Honolulu and visited Pearl Harbor, toured the USS Missouri and spent a few hours in Waikiki Beach, we experienced a traditional LuAu, we went snorkeling with the turtles and whale watching, went hiking to see waterfalls, drank Mai Tai's at Mama's Fish House, did an AMAZING helicopter ride of Maui, shopping in Lahina and relaxed with mimosa's at the pool. It doesn't get much better! Although, let me share a little story with you in case you are ever in Maui and this happens to you...
So, I didn't know that gecko's were EVERYWHERE in Hawaii. Joe and I for the first 2 days in our bungalow thought we had birds living outside our windows because the "birdlike noises" were constant, yet we never saw the birds. Just so you understand how quaint this place was, the bungalows didn't have cable so we either watched movies, read or played on our blackberries :) This night in particular I was sleeping, the lights were on because Joe was on his phone, I woke to a thump on my chest and Joe screaming, "A lizard fell on you from the ceiling!!!!" Yep, just my luck, a creepy lizard landed right on my chest! Joe says he's never seen me move so fast in my life as I did that night. I somehow slipped out the top of the blankets, behind Joe's head and onto the floor before I took a breath. We realized that those were not birds, but the family of geckos we were hearing. Pretty much the rest of the week was spent laying in bed staring at the ceiling watching them scurry down the walls. The owner told us that these geckos are a symbol of good luck and every time you hear them make that noise whatever was said at that moment was the "truth" This made for an interesting week...
Here is a picture of my little friend, he is hanging out on my side of the bed...lucky ME!
Here are some of our pictures that highlight our trip for those of you who haven't seen any of them.
View from our kitchen
Looking down from where we stayed, so beautiful.
The bungalow, my parent's bungalow was matching and we had a bungalow between us that was the "movie room"
The middle and last bungalow
Our outdoor kitchen, so cool!
A day at the beach!!
Mom and Dad hoping to get some sun to take back to Ohio!
The water was cool, but warmer than Cali!
Mama's Fish House, best place in Maui to eat!!
Trying to be romantic, but can't stop laughing, typical :)
With my parents!
Our pool and spa. Quick funny story...when my mom was in the spa by herself, Joe yelled at her and said a monkey was behind her swinging from the trees! She jumped out of the spa and frantically looked for the monkey...Joe would randomly yell. "it's over there" and mom would get all excited and run around to see it. This went on for quite some time and it got pretty sad, I finally told her we didn't see a monkey...she was so bummed :(
Mom+Dad+Me+Mimosa=FUNNY TIMES!!
Really funny times!!
View from the spa
Hiking to see some waterfalls!! It was VERY muddy!
I told them to walk down the path so I could take their picture, they acted like fools and then ran away...can't take them anywhere!
USS Missouri, very cool!
Remembering...
Joe and dad loved all the gadgets...especially Joe. Mom was amazing at how fast Joe can push all the buttons and turn all the knobs!!
Amazing!
The Arizona, it was closed when we went there...of course. But, we got a pretty good look at it anyway!
This was one happy boy when we got here!
Mom and dad, it was a beautiful day to pay our respects!
In Lahina, having a Mai Tai before we go to our LuAu!
Two peas in a pod I tell ya!
Posing for pictures at one of the hottest spots for surfers, can't remember the name of this beach.
My hubby :)
On the boat and getting ready for snorkeling!!
After snorkeling, Joe didn't want to stop! Him and all the 5 year olds were the last on the boat!
Bright and early, hoping to see some whales!
They had probably been up since 4am! They just loved the time change :)
We saw whales, lots of them!!
This was very cool! Almost as cool as snorkeling with the turtles!
Mama's Fish House for dinner!
Cheers!
Such a beautiful place for pictures!
Helicopter ride around the islands! I was so excited, very nervous too that I would throw up! I got the best seat in the house, it was my anniversary present from Joe...however I think it was more for him!
Happy campers, I didn't vomit!
Momma didn't vomit either!
View from the helicopter.
We saw tons and tons of beautiful waterfalls! Also, flew through the jungle area where Jarasic Park was filmed.
More pool fun!
So in love! :)
I loved all the flowers and trees.
LuAu! If you are a taken woman you wear your flower in you left ear, if you are available you wear it in the right...in case you ever need to know!
Cute!
Amazing sunset!!
The beautiful Hawaiian women!
Our boat...
This is a very attractive picture of me, but it shows that the water was SO COLD! If it wasn't for all the people that had to get off the boat I would have probably sat there for at least 10 minutes.
Some colorful fish
I think this was Joe going back in for more while me, mom and dad all watched. We were so cold.
Mom and Hilter, I mean dad...
Mom :)
Dad, told ya it was cold!
This guy didn't think so though...he could have done this all day!
Turtles! I was so excited!
John Boy and Gloria Jean
Puffer Fish, My favorite!
Not sure why I am scrunched up like this...but right after this picture was taken mom kicked me hard in the leg with her flipper, ouch!
