Sunday, December 14, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Maui Thanksgiving 2008: Our Westin Ocean Villa Vacation!
It was pretty kozy, but such a delight to have everyone with us: Ray and I in the master bedroom, Jeff stretched out on the pullout in the living room and Blaise and Laura and Will and Derek and Hillary and Jocelyn in the second bedroom: a queen bed, a pullout, a roll away and two cribs. (A bit crazy.) But more family made for some wonderful card games, car trips, dinners out and casual conversations. Fun to just hang out together and spend TIME. Grandma Christy (or “Grandpa,” as Will calls me), watched videos with Will (Walleeeeeee) and bussed baby Jocelyn, who beams and makes wonderful noises.
Family dinners included a spectacular view overlooking the golf course and the Pacific from the Plantation; a scrumptious chicken fajitas night, hosted by Laura with special cooking assistance from Jeff; a just-pulled-out-of-the-ocean Mahi Mahi barbeque hosted by Jeff, who did both the deep sea fishing and the cooking, with special assistance on sides by Derek and Hillary; and an all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving buffet at the Sheraton.
Other highlights: warm ocean breezes and sunny skies; Ka’anapali beaches with soft, golden sand; pods of porpoises; snorkeling (some went); enormously competitive pool basketball; a gloriously beautiful car trip and hike up the coast; the spectacular Iao Valley—lush valley and verdant, jagged peaks rising up out of a thick mist that miraculously lightened into sunshine; and a day’s drive past humongous waves, dense jungle and the Road to Hana. On the last adventure, Ray drove slowly for an hour on twisting, winding roads so some of us could avoid motion sickness until we pulled into a garden-of-Eden-like botanical garden. This was actually the name of it. The man at the gate said, “Welcome to the Garden of Eden!” We saw lush landscapes that were part of the filming of Jurassic Park and a hundred-year-old mango tree. Will ran everywhere, picking up huge leaves and giant seed pods. A man at the gate had 12 enormous macaws, brilliant in colors and noises. He had trained the birds to sit on people’s head, shoulders and hands so he could snap a $20 picture with their camera. A family was there from Alaska and he talked them into it!
Other sweet memories: Will looking up at Laura and Hillary, who were behind the kitchen counter together, and saying, “Two mommies!”; Derek hugging, squeezing, kissing, tickling his baby girl; the pic of Jeff holding a 40 pound fish; Jocelyn happy in her tent on the beach; spectacular fish tacos at the Hula Grill; the exquisite last sunset over the Ka’anapali Westin Ocean Villas North; sacrament meeting at the little chapel in Lahaina with Laura and Blaise and Will; and Will running across the concourse at full speed at the airport, entertaining other travelers. Ah, Maui. So varied and sunny and green. Wonderful to think we have this bit of paradise now forever!We missed Natalie and family!! Ray and I look forward to future times with all of you.
Family dinners included a spectacular view overlooking the golf course and the Pacific from the Plantation; a scrumptious chicken fajitas night, hosted by Laura with special cooking assistance from Jeff; a just-pulled-out-of-the-ocean Mahi Mahi barbeque hosted by Jeff, who did both the deep sea fishing and the cooking, with special assistance on sides by Derek and Hillary; and an all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving buffet at the Sheraton.
Other highlights: warm ocean breezes and sunny skies; Ka’anapali beaches with soft, golden sand; pods of porpoises; snorkeling (some went); enormously competitive pool basketball; a gloriously beautiful car trip and hike up the coast; the spectacular Iao Valley—lush valley and verdant, jagged peaks rising up out of a thick mist that miraculously lightened into sunshine; and a day’s drive past humongous waves, dense jungle and the Road to Hana. On the last adventure, Ray drove slowly for an hour on twisting, winding roads so some of us could avoid motion sickness until we pulled into a garden-of-Eden-like botanical garden. This was actually the name of it. The man at the gate said, “Welcome to the Garden of Eden!” We saw lush landscapes that were part of the filming of Jurassic Park and a hundred-year-old mango tree. Will ran everywhere, picking up huge leaves and giant seed pods. A man at the gate had 12 enormous macaws, brilliant in colors and noises. He had trained the birds to sit on people’s head, shoulders and hands so he could snap a $20 picture with their camera. A family was there from Alaska and he talked them into it!
Other sweet memories: Will looking up at Laura and Hillary, who were behind the kitchen counter together, and saying, “Two mommies!”; Derek hugging, squeezing, kissing, tickling his baby girl; the pic of Jeff holding a 40 pound fish; Jocelyn happy in her tent on the beach; spectacular fish tacos at the Hula Grill; the exquisite last sunset over the Ka’anapali Westin Ocean Villas North; sacrament meeting at the little chapel in Lahaina with Laura and Blaise and Will; and Will running across the concourse at full speed at the airport, entertaining other travelers. Ah, Maui. So varied and sunny and green. Wonderful to think we have this bit of paradise now forever!We missed Natalie and family!! Ray and I look forward to future times with all of you.
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