Maui {monster post after being gone way too long!}

I've had a few good friends (Ashely, Brooke, Allison and a couple more) told me how much they love my blog and miss it dearly. First of all, thank you, second of all, I'm back! We just returned from Maui Hawaii and in the last week both kids have started school, so I'll blog about that next.

But, HAWAII.

There is no way to not love Hawaii, okay sure, you might not love warm sun and gentle waves lapping at your toes, perfect crystal clear water and rainbows every day, rainforests so dense they take your breath away, and waterfalls around every corner. It's pretty hard not to adore. Our family LOVES Hawaii. No other vacation holds the magic that Hawaii seems to capture in a single breath.

My parents bought a Mariott timeshare years and years ago, and kind of outgrew the 'all inclusive resort' vacation. That works wonderfully for us, however, because a beachside room with a kitchen and two bedrooms is exactly what we're after. We'd wake up early, get coffee and hang out on the beach all morning. 

Both kids absolutely loved playing in the waves, and it was easy enough to get past where they break to calmer and deeper waters beyond. Maui's Ka'anapali beaches are some of the nicest in the world. The sand is powder soft and clean, and the waves perfect for kids. The water is so clear you could look down and see fish swimming near your toes. In some areas the beach was wide and sandy, in other areas it was narrow and pristine.

Our hair was always tangled with salt and wind, and within minutes our swimsuits were full of sand. Many days we'd underestimate the reach of the waves, so our towels were wet and heavy with sea water and sand. The kids loved building castles, digging holes, and sculpting support walls to protect their masterpieces. Our favorite part was when a big wave came up, surprised us all, and swept away all our hard work. We'd laugh and laugh and start again.

How many beach pictures is too much? We will soon find out!

In addition to the beach that was only steps away, the kids loved the hotel pools. Many pools were interconnected with waterfalls and slides, so while E and I took turns watching the kids in the pools, we'd relax here, on one of the dozens of lounge chairs set up looking out to sea. There's really nothing better than texting friends, reading books or looking out to see in the perfect and never too hot Maui sunshine.

After hours of swimming (usually paired with fresh mango, icy water and hot beignets) we'd break for lunch. Luckily the poolside bar had the best fish tacos, crab sliders, pork nachos and pina coladas known to man. One hundred dollars later, and we were all fed. ;)

Seriously they must have blended these pina coladas with magic. I have NO idea what made them so good at the hotel bar, but they were the best on the island. 

Not every day we stayed at the hotel, many days we'd pack a lunch and venture off to explore. Maui has so many hidden gems and miles and miles of quiet stretches of road and coastline. On the day we drove the North Shore, we stopped at Nakalele Blowhole, just like last time. James and I wanted to hike down and E and Juliet wanted to stay on the bluff at the top. James is always thrilled to go on an adventure, and I'm one to never pass up something I can't see at home. We hiked and saw the blowhole up close and it was SO COOL. We were loving it, huge geysers of water shot straight to the sky.

Shortly after we arrived it started to rain, hard. James and I watched the blowhole a bit more until we were both fairly soaked, but then scrambled up the lava rocks to a small cave to watch it some more. We were wet and cold and having the best time, he and I.

And then the rain stopped as quickly as it began!

Another favorite North Shore stop is Honolua-Mokuleia Bay, just the walk through the forest feels like you've dropped into a fairy garden, and you're the fairy. It's hard to show how huge these trees are, how enormous the leaves are, but honestly it feels like magic.

Pictures don't even begin to show how absolutely enchanting this forest is.

OMG are you guys getting sick of this post yet? I'm getting sick of writing it. I'll split here and continue in a second post, because really, how many vacation photos from someone else's vacation can you really stand in one sitting?