Jen has been doing an awesome job of updating the blog but I thought I would weigh in with a couple thoughts of my own. Many of you know that Jen and I have a favorite restaurant in Kansas City by the name of El Patron (plug: hands down voted best margaritas in Kansas City and the best mexican food). Our weekly Friday or Saturday night trips there inevitably lead to us driving home singing to our favorite tunes and in general having an awesome time.

We think we may have found our El Patron replacement here in Maui. Jen blogged about it earlier but the name is Aloha Mixed Plate. Great food, great drinks, very reasonably priced and the view… we’ll see the picture of Max standing on the wall between the restaurant and the ocean. Simply amazing.

As kids, we use to take an old surf board we found at the beach in California, line it up at one end of the pool, run as fast as we could, junp on and try and ride the length of the pool. This led to countless hours of fun (not to mention many crash and burns on the concrete). We’ll traditions live on and I started teaching Mara and Max to jump on the wakeskate off the back of the swim platform of our boat when we go to the lake and we have now adapted it to the boogey board across the pool here in Maui. Earlier post had Max going. Below is my attempt.

I tend to drive everywhere in a rush. Even when I am not late. Slow people drive me nuts! The drives in Hawaii remind to slow down and enjoy the ride. It’s only a 2-3 miles to Lahaina (grocery store, Starbucks, etc.) and 26 to the airport but the each time I reminded of simply how beautiful it is here.

Wow. Simply wow.

Closing thought… we have been in Hawaii just short of three weeks. I have been working long days and most weekends. I committed this weekend that during our remaining weeks here I will surf at least twice a week, enjoy the pool and sunshine and a good book at least a small portion of everyday and remind myself daily how lucky I am.

Thanks for letting us share this journey with you. You, our friends and family, are what make our lives full and awesome.

Aloha.

This is Max.
I think “Work can be too” is a total lie [depends on your job].

This is Jennifer…that’s what we get for letting the kids loose in Office Max with the camera…

The place we are staying at is a ‘cottage’ which is located a couple of minutes from the Kaanapali beach. Picture below is the entry area. In the Midwest we would call this the mud room! I believe here they call it the lanai ;->

Dining and living room.

Kitchen. Check out the cool wood sculpture. Those are swimming dolphins.

View from the front door. Pool directly below and Pacific Ocean further out.

Sitting area w/ queen pull out bed.

End of an awesome day. View from our front door.

Sun continuing to set.

Jen, Mara, & Max at the top of Twin Falls

Me & the kids at the top of the Win Falls

Mara in the water fall at Twin Falls

Under the waterfall at Twin Falls

Trip to Twin Falls – First set of falls.

Second set of falls!

More of second set of falls

Max & Mara at second set of falls.

‘

Walking the bridge to the second falls. Again, Mara & Max being Mara and Max.

The trip started with a 6.20A flight out of Kansas City connecting through Denver to Los Angeles then to Maui. 4600 miles, 21 hours. Special thanks to Jen’s mom JoAnn for getting up at 3A to swing by the house to jump in the Pilot to go drop us off at the airport. We about freaked out when we walked in and saw 100 plus Liberty, Missouri high school students on a special road trip to China in front of us. Gratefully we were able to go to the front of the United line thanks to frequent traveler status. Picture below is right before we were getting ready to jup in the car and head to the airport (~ 4.40A Wed).
Hanging at the Kansas City airport before our flight.

The kids crashed out on the plane.
Sixteen hours later and we were in Maui. Think they look a little tired?