Maui 2019

Two years ago we took an amazing trip to Maui to celebrate my parents' 40th wedding anniversary and both of their 70th birthdays.  It was such a good trip--one that we couldn't stop talking about even a couple years later.  So when my parents suggested that we travel there together again, of course we jumped at the idea!  Plus, we were excited about the idea of doing a trip all together again so our boys might remember it better since they're older.  I don't think Cameron remembered the first trip because he was only 2 years old.

It was such a wonderful trip again. In fact it was one of the best trips to Hawaii I've ever had.  Of course we did such fun activities and made wonderful memories.  But one of the reasons it was one of the best trips for me was because I was able to be much more present, relaxed and intentional about my time on the trip.  I really focused on soaking up time with my kids, slowing down, and doing what I really wanted to do in the moment--not thinking about what activity was next. The result was a really rejuvenating week and a half.  And really great quality time with my family. The only bummer of the week was that Ryan, Carly and Laila weren't able to join us.  When we planned the trip, they weren't sure if they'd be ready or able to travel that far with Laila yet.  We missed them and we're already talking about doing a trip again in a couple years if possible.

Here are some of our favorite activities and moments from the trip:

Traditional first night meal at Hula Grill

Beautiful view from our room

Yummy dinner at Leilani's

Pops had hula pie twice on the trip!

Kid yoga session while waiting for dinner

Another pretty view

Lots of fun pool time

Nathan swam without floaties!

Cam got much more comfortable in the water too!

Nathan finally rode the water slide!

Fun day at the aquarium and the beach in Kihei

Jungle walk to Honolua Bay

Largest avocado we've ever eaten!

Lots of Go Fish card playing

Lots of beautiful beach time

And sandcastle building

The huge banyan tree in Lahaina

Date night to our most favorite restaurant Lahaina Grill

Lots of fun brother time

Lots of incredible sunsets

Our last night and wonderful dinner at Duke's

Favorite photo from the trip

Aloha!  Can we go back??

Snowpocalypse

February was the craziest, weirdest winter weather we've ever had.  In fact it snowed more at our house than we've ever seen before in all our years growing up and living here!

The first round came on Super Bowl Sunday.  A snow storm came through that ended up giving us 8 inches of snow!  School was cancelled on Monday and Tuesday.  Even Seattle University was closed on that Monday.  James braved the snow (thanks to our 4Runner!) and made it to work.  I was actually happy to be home because I felt like I needed a couple days off.  Plus we hadn't had snow all season so we were excited!  It was fun to have a break in the routine.  The boys and I went sledding and played in the snow a lot.  I had some really great quality time with them.

Then the weather reporters started predicting a huge storm coming our way at the end of that week.  The storm was supposed to start Friday night.  We got a few more inches that night, but it wasn't too bad.  We were still able to go up skiing the next day and had Cameron's friends over for a little playdate on Sunday.  

Then Sunday night the flurries started and it just felt like they were never going to stop!  The next day we measured and we had gotten about 24 inches in 24 hours.  Granted some of the snow that had previously fallen hadn't melted yet.  But I have never seen so much snow in this area.  James couldn't even get our 4Runner out of the driveway which means it was major.  

The snow came all the way up to our doorstep!

Look at the size of those icicles!

We finally dug out and found our driveway!  

Although it was fun to have more time off and snuggle in the house with my family (thank goodness our furnace held out the whole time and never gave out!), by this point I was starting to feel done with the snow.  We had so much snow that we couldn't sled or really go anywhere.  We made the best of it doing puzzles, shoveling together, trying to take walks, watching movies, etc.  But it was crazy.  Obviously our area just isn't prepared or equipped to deal with that much snow.  In fact, Snoqualmie had to declare a state of emergency in order to get help from other cities and areas!  They brought in front loaders and transported snow to this open area in town that has piles and piles of snow now that probably won't melt until July.  All in all Nathan missed 7 days of school!  School was closed all that week.  

I'm writing this in early March and that snowstorm happened in mid-February.  We still have snow from that storm on the ground!  It's going to take forever for it to melt.  Plus it's still really cold.  Winter just doesn't want to let go.  This snowpocalyse was definitely one for the books and one we'll be talking about for a long time.  But spring can come anytime now.  I'm ready!!