So I got to thinking....

Maybe my uploads and blog posts can be spread out.  Daily.  Maybe it's because today the sun in shining, it's Saturday morning, I feel like going on a long walk...because soon enough Chapter 16 girl will return from a prep class, and I must be ready to shoe shop for Promola. (Exact words: Mom, "like" can you seriously try to be "like" ready when I get home.....) HA!  I can walk you through our journey.  Each day.  Just going through each picture.  Each upload.  Each camera and phone is going to be quite the task.  I can already tell.  So....
How about I start with our first couple of days....and we'll move along like that.

Our flight left on a Sunday morning.  We had a driver pick us up, as it seems easier these days, all around.
We arrived in Kahalui Airport, peeking out any window we could.  Trying to find blue water, and green surroundings.  Just anything Maui.  Anything.
Our first stop was car rental.

I was cracking up with Bill's upgrade choice, I knew this car would soon be whirled off for our adventure...
Next up...  vrrrrrooooom.

Kmart.  We visited Maui's Kmart.  For what you might ask?  Well...Sunblocks, ice chest....Corona's...Wine....Fireball...Limes, and never to forget all of the munchies and little things we would soon stuff into the......Cha-Cha-Charger. Ha.

At this point I think we were both exhausted, kind of shocked, and beyond curious.  Pulling into Four Seasons Resorts, and our 7 bags, all of which felt like 100 pounds, and all of which were fault of mine.  I kept thinking...time to unload, and get our groove on.

But it was bliss. More than I can type out, just simple bliss.  As I exited the car, a sweet girl quickly approached me with a Lei.  I had kind of wondered where those come into play...as you'd see in the movies, people exiting the plane were quickly covered.  After we got Lei'd...(ha) we were quickly escorted inside.  As a Mom, my first instinct was to "grab all the stuff".  And as I turned to grab the back door, two gentlemen quickly stated "we have everything..."  And boy did they.  Bill and I walk inside to the counter where the sweet girl brings us AMAZING homemade lemonade (made fresh daily), in cute little cups, while another steps out of a room to hand us super cute rolled, and very cold Eucalyptus towels for our hands.
After check in...we headed to Ferraro's for lunch.  Waiting for our room and kind of taking it all in...

And on this day, it was gloomy.  Warm, humid and gloomy.  We sort of checked things out...walked the premises...sulked in jet lag...and "just took it all in".

Upon arriving into our rooms, there was this on the table...

 You know me, and the little things.  Isn't this little jar with tag the cutest thing ever? 

 At times we'd say....hmmm...funny, I wonder where the Maui Wowie is?  I mean we live by the ocean...it felt so....Laguna.  So Newport. 

 Until you stepped into the water.....

Where it was warm and refreshing....

The start of our adventure.  Day 1

This is where the hair starts to take a turn.  HA.  You know it's humid, wet and muggy if my hair gets into a hat that early.

That afternoon while walking the path between resorts, we take a turn, and a super sweet girl, while walking with her dude, says "hey guys, when you walk up a little more, to that big bush at the turn, check back at this exact area, and look at the tree, you will see an infinity in it..."   Again, cool people, sweet suggestions.  Little things in this big world.  #awesomegirl. (if you click on each picture through my blog, you can always get a better look. didn't know if you knew that.  oh boy. closeups. awkward. haha.)

Our first Sunset.  (And actually the weakest..ha)

Back into the resort for a cocktail before Spago's. 

And yes, I managed to flat iron my hair one. more. time. 

The next morning, and each morning, Bill would serve me coffee in bed.  Before he scooted us off to the gym.  To which some days I didn't like him that much.  Until I finished my workout.  Then we were friends.  ha. 

I will post each day, with more goodness in Maui.  Today the sun is shining. I have ants in my pants.  I want to go on a walk before the girl gets home.  I was woken by her this morning before she left because "someone threw away her sunflower seeds".  which was me.   
And she was storming around through the house in search of them.  When I knew where they were.
When I told her, she turned around and said..."Mom, seriously"?

Yea, seriously.  I tend to toss if something lays around too long.

My bad.

There are a couple of garage sale signs in my hood.  It's time to look for more little flower vases.

And maybe, just maybe I will swing into the store for some more seeds.

Happy Sweet Saturday Lover Beans.

Go play.  GET OUT in this beautiful California Sunshine.  I can tell you, there is no better
place than Cali.  That's for dang sure.  We do have the best of all the worlds.

May peace be with you, and yours.

Stay sweet.

Live well.

Eat better.

Leese

Simple sweet lessons from my daughter.

I am still out of it.  -weirdo-

I really can't explain the many emotions and feelings that come from a trip.  Maybe it's duration?  Maybe it's jet lag? Maybe I'm a sissy? 

To me it was a long time.  Well, to me it was a gooooood long time.

Yesterday afternoon I sat down to load the many pictures.  And while uploading, it's only natural to crack up at "The Ones".   You know the ones that are almost freakish.  Well, to me they were.  Like some that eyes are closed.  Or my nose looks super huge.  Or my hair that was in a bun for it's 8th day.
Or that bathing suit that was so "Grammie-ish".  Or....I can go on and on.  Like we all can.  Well maybe not the perfect people out there.  But for me?  I found myself cracking up out loud, and groaning...with complaints. 

As my sweet daughter was sitting next to me on the floor putting together her pictures for her "slide show" for Prom Princess stuff, she quietly said, "Mom, come watch this video....no, seriously Mom, come watch this"....and...."You HAVE to watch the whole thing..."   And so I did.

I ask you to watch this too.  A little enlightening to me.  Maybe it's the reason this girl is my girl.  Preaching to her about life's little moments, and appreciating who we are.  Like maybe, just maybe some others view us.

Beauty Sketches...

Don't get much of it the first time?  Watch again.  I beg you.  Listen.
It was an interesting moment for me.  From daughter to Mommy. This is true.  I hope you get something out of it.  Very true way of looking at this life.  Right?  We all have something in us that someone else admires.  Or notices.  Or believes in.  It's in us.  Be our authentic self.  Even if we didn't get the emotional support as children, as women and men..

Do you think you are more beautiful than you say?  Wouldn't life be better if we didn't spend so much time trying to fix the things we don't like, and maybe just appreciate the things we do like about us. 

Life is hard.  Sometimes we tend to be hard.  Because life was hard to us.  Maybe some of us. 

My daughter was nominated for Prom Princess this year.  It's truly amazing to me.  I think she deserves it. I think both of them deserve it.
Today, just today, she was also nominated for the honors of Junior Student for the Graduating Class- Which is an honor as well.

It's these moments that I realize that my work in her does pay off.  I believe that my kind, understanding and very patient ways with her have paid off. That little moments of accomplishments and achievements over ride the tougher Chapter Sixteen, very soon Seventeen days.

I am proud.  Of both K and K.

These are the days.

I received this text on my birthday.  They surprise the candidates in class.  So cute.

When hugs were long and precious.

This silly one always cracks me up.

I received this, a couple days later.

These two.  Gio is the sweetest of sweetest boyfriends.  Love him.  Like alot.


And the sweet simple lessons from my daughter.


Kris is at Desert Storm this weekend in Havasu.  It's a poker run we do every year.  Except for this one.

I hope those little birdies are enjoying themselves.  I pray for their safety and lots of warm sunshine.

P.S. Now go listen to that sketch story, one. more. time.


Stay beautiful you kids, because you are.  No matter what road you traveled. You are.

I promise to post something, anything...everything, maybe about Maui over the weekend.

I am yearning for a sweet cup o' joe, some clouds in the morning, while my Norah Jones plays in my ear.
So I can share that slice of life in Maui.

With lots of love from,

The Hula Girl.

Get out and enjoy the sunshine kids.  And smile. Even if you don't feel like it. Try it.  It feels better.

We have arrived to a place we call home...

10 nights in paradise. A long day of travel. Confirming the love between a Mama and her children is deep, especially when days become harder and harder to be apart.

We missed eachother. Badly.

Bill and I covered Maui in wild, fun and adventurous ways.
We again, made more memories that will hold stories between us for many years to come.
Bill, if and when you read this, thank you, I love you and love you more with each passing year.
You sincerely make my days brighter.

Who's ready to look at hundreds of pictures?  Snorkeling off of Molokini Crater, while anchored in an amazing boat and super awesome crew.

A helicopter ride that brought serious tears down my cheeks. While soaring above this beautiful Earth, and staring at breath taking falls, the music that played in our ears was everything perfect. "Somewhere over the rainbow"....played...it was literally surreal. Tears fell. Quietly. Amazed. They fell.  Mr. Pilot guy...that was bad ass. And I thank you.

We watched more sunsets in complete silence...and others reminiscing..while Mr. Sun said "goodnight".

We experienced the ever popular "Luau"....

The rest of my week will indeed be full. Work, groceries and stocking up the way Mama stocks up. Going through a huge stack of mail, along with birthday cards.  Preparing the final steps for Kali and SAT'S and Prom.  Her dress hangs in her room tonight, and we didn't or couldn't go there tonight. We spent an hour sharing stories, "some" pictures, souveniers, and we all hugged just a little tighter tonight. I praised them for their awesome responsibilities of taking care of themselves, and keeping priorities in check. Everyone has tucked away for the night. I'm awake. Almost like shock.  Where were we? What did we just experience? How blessed in so many ways I am. How very thankful I am too.

So be ready kids, or don't be ready..however you've been warned....haha just know I managed to take hundreds of pictures on my Ipad..(total geek I must have looked like..ha)...my little camera until it died on day 5. Bills iPhone,  and an under water digital disc to view too...and of course my phone too. I will take a day or so to upload..be patient. I will be back.

For now I will soak up these days with my babies...get back into reality mode. And close my eyes tonight with 100% amazement.  THAT was amazing.

Hang tight kids, or Hang Loose. Whichever you choose, do it, plan it.

Because were not guaranteed tomorrow.  Right?

Aloha,

L

So far...

Have you missed me?

I have missed you. Seriously.  I realize my element of comfort is writing. Blogging is a little therapeutic I guess...well, for me. So I miss you guys.

I have no pictures to post...because I CAN'T UPLOAD....(remember my dilemma...eh em no lap-top..and battery charger "sitch"..ha)

Anyway..moving on...so far my accomplishments in Maui have been narrowed down to this..

I have snorkeled. (Do you all know I am super clumsy, and certain things like this can be a challenge?)  So when you have flippers on, with a mask and snorkle...and parked on the beach...it can create laughter. Lots and lots of clumsy Lisa laughter. (My entertainment)
I have relaxed more this week then all the years of "being at home" in Havasu.
The Four Seasons Resort is sincerely the place to stay. A place where a glass of wine will cost you 20.00 a pop and each spot for dinner is no less than a hundred buckaroos. But my partner in crime insists on "whatever Mama wants"..so I have worked the rule. And it is awesome.

This mornings adventure was "rescheduled" because after getting a phone call that our helicopter "was being serviced"...ha! It indeed caused a little hesitancy. On my behalf. I believe in signs.

I have seen the cutest biggest turtles...beautiful fishes and lots of beautiful water. It took Bill and I a couple of days to really appreciate this island for all its offerings, because we reside by the ocean. We breathe, hang and live by the ocean.

We have enjoyed amazing food. Spago's is the restaurant below our room. It's over the top. I eat rather healthy at home, and small, frequent meals that therefore have created a couple of lil tummy aches for me. Rich food, poor girl = tummy ache. Ha. ( now I'm just rambling)...

Any-hoo...thought I would touch base with you, as I've touched base in...Napili, Lahaina, Kihea, Makena, and a few other cute spots here.  Can't wait to get back and share the pictures I have been able to capture...

Mahalo and much PEACE and LOVE to you, and you.

PS....Got word that our girl was nominated for Prom Princess along with her stud Gianni as Prince...Congrats you two!

Happy Friday!

You can follow my journey on Instagram @ thismamalisa

Now go play, you deserve it.

No charger. No laptop. Houston is that a problem?

We arrived in Maui....it's a beautiful place. This resort is fantabulously supercalafragalistic ....you know the rest. I have snorkled for the first time. I have been catered to on the beach by young sweet "fellers"...and of course Bill does everything and anything to make this an extra special birthday. Guess what? The charger I brought for the camera I brought ....is the wrong one.  We forgot our laptop....and my good DSLR broke before I left.  I don't know what this all means....but it might be for a reason.  We are a little detached from our normal world...(except our texting back and forth with the kids)...and I guess this is meant to be. All of it. Chargers...laptops...detachment.

Maui. We are here for you.

I will be back soon kids. For now. Wish us good wishes.....

I do know Boston needs extra prayer. Why the evil in this world. Why.

Mahalo,

This hula girl that is so very thankful for my iPad.

Old pictures+music = Lump in throat.

When you are a blogger, you have folders.  Folders full of pictures.  Packs full of pictures.  Frames around your house full of memories.  A computer overflowing with memories.  I tend to peek back every once in a while.  Just because.   Ready to take a journey back in time with me?
Be sure and hit play on my playlist.  But don't listen to "Remember When" by Alan Jackson, because you might just get a lump in your throat.  Or maybe not.

Woodruff Christian.  Honor Roll.  Toothless.

Campfire Girls.  Caroling...

Mexico

Some of our funnest memories in Mexico.

My baby boy

Kris and Chase Circa 2005-  Mexico

Eighth Grade Graduation....Tori was filled with tears and emotion.

The days before sassy teen days.

Celebrating with family....

Easter picnics.....

When she'd match pedicures with me.  (and I think I am scrunching my toes to make them look smaller. ha)

Catalina memories.

Always a fav picture....

Prop check.  With a Dragon Fly on my hand. 

That should hold you all over until I can get up and running on an island.


Cheers to you and you and you.

Take tons of pictures, store em. View em.  Cherish them.

Because we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  It could be the greatest gift to leave behind for your children.

Snap away.

Chow for now.

Me.