Ellen: "Uh, we're going to Maui."
Friend: "Wow, how fun!"
Ellen: "Uh, really?"
Suffice it to say that in the weeks leading up Spring Break, I was not particularly excited about our trip to Maui. I can't swim and dislike being in the sun, and Griffin is Mr. "I-don't-want-to-get-wet".The good news is that we had a great vacation. We went with our close friends, the Chius. A+G had a blast playing with Ian. And Edward and I really enjoyed hanging out and experiencing Maui together with Anthony and Elaine.
Some highlights:
- Good Eats -- We enjoyed several great meals, ranging from local food (deep fried musubi and loco moco at Da Kitchen) to shave ice to ritzy (excellent meal at Banyan Tree in the Ritz).
- Hiking -- Yes, yes, it's true. We actually went on a *gasp* hike.
This guided waterfall hike actually turned out to be pretty hard-core. It was rainy and slippery, and we had to walk single file so as not to slide down the mountain. Pretty hard-core. But the kids did great, and it was really quite beautiful.
- Snorkeling -- Believe it or not, I snorkeled! It was pretty crazy, being way out in the ocean and not knowing how to swim. But I had an awesome guide who pulled me around on a boogie board, and it was really a fantastic experience. Except after I got back to land, I was totally nauseated and sat with my head in my lap for half an hour. Ally was super brave and snorkeled too, and she will proudly tell you that she saw 2 goat fish and a butterfly fish.
- Surfing -- No, not me. My studly hubby Edward took a surfing class and did awesome. Does he look like a surfer or what? (You should see the action shots of him wiping out, hehe.)- Swimming -- Griffin had a real breakthrough. 
The first day, he freaked out when I dipped him into the ocean. He kept yelling, "You got me wet!!!" Then, the first day at the kiddie pool, he got as far as putting his feet in the water, and that was only after I bribed him with letting him watch Cars. 
The next day, he agreed to go in the pool if I bought him a floatie. He picked a fish shaped boat that had no hole in it, so he was pretty confident he wouldn't get wet. Once in the pool, he had fun and was more ok with getting wet. Ally and Ian tried to coax him into the water, but he still refused. Finally, I bribed him again with Cars -- he could watch the whole movie if he sat in my lap in the pool. I said, "It's the same as the tub at home. You like being wet there!" 
To which he replied, "I only like being wet with no clothes on." Hmm, that's a pretty good response. Still, I pulled him into the water, and once he realized he could simply stand up in the water, he smiled and started walking around in the water. Breakthrough!!!
The first day, he freaked out when I dipped him into the ocean. He kept yelling, "You got me wet!!!" Then, the first day at the kiddie pool, he got as far as putting his feet in the water, and that was only after I bribed him with letting him watch Cars. The next day, he agreed to go in the pool if I bought him a floatie. He picked a fish shaped boat that had no hole in it, so he was pretty confident he wouldn't get wet. Once in the pool, he had fun and was more ok with getting wet. Ally and Ian tried to coax him into the water, but he still refused. Finally, I bribed him again with Cars -- he could watch the whole movie if he sat in my lap in the pool. I said, "It's the same as the tub at home. You like being wet there!" To which he replied, "I only like being wet with no clothes on." Hmm, that's a pretty good response. Still, I pulled him into the water, and once he realized he could simply stand up in the water, he smiled and started walking around in the water. Breakthrough!!!It was a great trip, and the kids have been asking to go back already. So I made a deal with Ally -- after she learns how to swim, we'll go back. Is that good motivation or what?
More Maui pix here.
