So far, so good...

It has been relaxing... I mean REALLY relaxing!  For over 2 months I stressed over all the unfinished work.  We stayed up late -- REALLY late!  We had perhaps 2-3 hours of sleep each night for over 2 straight weeks leading up to our vacation.  I was so stressed out I wanted to cancel our trip.  Don't get me wrong, I wanted to go on vacation.  I  needed some time off.  But we were on a roll and working so hard that I did not want to stop the flow.  We are not totally caught up, but as I said, we are on a roll.  Our editors are working so hard to continue the flow.  While here in Maui we are trying to get some work done as well -- which explains why I have access to our laptop.  Yes, we brought work with us, but we are also enjoying our family and friends on this beautiful island.  So what have we been doing?

Let's see...
We went for a drive on the road to Hana where we picked a few guavas.  He had 2 on his own!

climbed a few trees:

took a family photo:

finished the drive early because it was raining so hard!  So we enjoyed the beautiful weather back at our rental... and Vince took a few amazing (and fun) pictures:

(we picture them dating one day... heehee.. but we shouldn't get our hopes up, right Uyen?)

this little one was very busy... while his big bro is always goofy!

this cutie pie is always a cutie (and so sweet!  I think MG wants another sibling because of him!  I don't think it's in the plans right now!)

And check out his 2 handsome big brothers:

Vince and Ed were eying these coconuts in the backyard the day we arrived.  Ed asked our neighbors who gave him permission to pick them.  So, that's what they did!  Here's brave Ed clipping away.... he was able to cut down 9 coconuts altogether!  YUM!!!!

The children were very "helpful."

Vince gave us all a lesson on how to crack them open.  Ed was a very quick learner.  He is now an expert!

Finally he was able to enjoy his first fresh Maui island young coconut!  The "juice" was not very sweet, but the meat was the best... soft and sweet!

The next day everyone spent the entire day snorkeling:

Not everyone... just MD and Vince:

Uyen was brave enough to battle the waves.  I sat back and watched... and relaxed under the shade!  :)

We did not pack sand toys because the rental website stated sand toys would be provided... well, they were not!  So we improvised by raiding the kitchen!  Hey, the children did not care.  They had a blast!  See Ryan and E?

And MG enjoyed the "toys" as well....( whoops, their work was just swept away!!!!)

After a long day at the beach, we went to visit Marines, a person Vince had been communicating with via email.  He apparently met her while searching for our rental place.  Her rental somehow did not meet our needs, but she invited us to visit anyway while we were in Hawaii.  She owns 14 acres in Paia - yes, you read that right!  On her 14 acres she has 3 rentals and a whole lot of fruit trees!  She built the homes for her 4 children but they all decided to live elsewhere... so now she rents them out.  Here are a few photos from our visit:

apple bananas:

star fruits:

Marines is helping E enjoy the starfruit -- oh, my, they were SOOOOO sweet!

MG was drooling over these lycees.  Unfortunately, they were not ripe yet and she desperately wanted to pick one... just one!  But they were too high up on the tree. Marines says that she and her children will just cut the branches down when she harvests them.  Wish we could be around then!

After our visit we ate dinner in Macawao, drove home, and had a brief celebration... for James who turned 5 on July 30, 2010!  We had purchased cake mix to bake him a cake but we were so busy today that we didn't make it home in time to bake!  So Ed had to pick up something quick on the way home.  Happy 5th Birthday James!

Today - July 31, 2010

Saturday morning was very relaxing... we did not leave the house until 10:30 AM!  By the time we arrived in Lahaina it was lunch time!  By looking at the next 4 pictures -- can you guess where we ate lunch?  Don't cheat... only the next 4 pictures!

1) MG and Alex -- so cute!  :)

2) E and Daddy -- Vince is trying to teach him the "hang loose" gesture:

3) Our favorite "got poi?" shirts -- the little shirt has been with us since MG.  They've all had the opportunity to wear it.  MG and Vince had this matching outfit when I bought Vince his shirt for Father's Day in 2006.

4) last chance... can you guess where we ate lunch?  Here they come with ice cream sundaes for all the children to celebrate James' birthday!

5) So... have you figured it out?  If you haven't, look in this photo for the clue -- this is where we ate at lunch- delicious!  So while we waited for our lunch, we met the  manager who came by and asked, what's his shirt say?  We said, got poi?  He asked what's poi?  What?!  You live in Hawaii and you don't know what poi is?  Apparently, he is a manager in training from Oklahoma!  Okay -- that explains it!  We excused him!

James is sure enjoying that sundae!  :)

Then off to walk around Lahaina.  At the courthouse we enjoyed some face painting and crafts:

He asked for Mario -- I made him that shirt and the girl used it as a sample to paint his face.  :)

She wanted a fairy but the girl said she is not that great with painting people, so MG asked for a dolphin.  It is great isn't it?!

Excuse her red lips, we ate shaved ice -- strawberry, watermelon, and coconut.  They did not like the coconut though!