eleanor laughing

Maui 2018: Kapalua Beach, Lahaina and Kaanapali

Since Maui was a few hours behind CA time, the kids were up at least an hour early everyday, until the very end when they finally acclimated! We took advantage of the early risers, to get up and out the door pretty early every day, which helped beat the crowds and the heat. Everyone was up bright and early with the intense Maui sun, so we headed to Kapalua beach for some tidepooling and playing at the beach.

This one has sensory issues… not sure how she feels about grass!

Island baby.

Everyone was screaming, “I WANT TO HOLD ELEANOR.”

We hiked along the rocks to reach the tidepools and found some colorful starfish, sea anemones, urchins, and an octopus.

Ouch! Amelia took a spill. Good thing I had the diaper backpack with me… another lady fell, and cut herself so badly there was blood everywhere. We helped her wrap it with an extra disposable baby changing pad I had on me until she could get help.

Sammy was excited about her colorful finds.

Meredith reflecting on the meaning of life.

After the tidepools, the girls played on Kapalua Beach for hours.

Kapaula beach was tiny, but picture perfect. It was packed by the time we left, but wasn’t bad while we were there, early in the morning.

I had packed a 12 month swimsuit for 5-month-old Eleanor, thinking it would fit her perfectly. But when I tried it on her in Maui, it wouldn’t even go past her legs! I had to buy a 24 month size swimsuit for her! Everywhere we went, we were flooded with comments about the chubby mermaid baby!

Eleanor was not sure how she felt about sand.

The girls made some new friends, and Meredith kept confusing the little girl for her friend, Maple, back home.

The boys declared war on the girls after Meredith kept dumping water into their sand hole.

That apparently wasn’t enough beach time for the girls, because they wanted to go back in the afternoon. We ate in Lahaina and walked to Kaanapali Beach for the evening.

Watching the crazy divers do back flips off of Black Rock was entertaining.

The twins were exhausted after all the swimming they did.

Even though the sun was setting, it was still incredibly hot, so Eleanor and I found a nice spot in the shade and observed from there.

Playing oopsy daisy with Daddy.

On island time, without a care in the world.

Lots of love,

September Photo Dump

Even though school had started, summer was still in full-swing during September (and often the hottest month of the year), so we still had some time to finish up our Summer Bucket List! September is usually the hottest month of the year, so we had plenty of opportunities to enjoy the beach and warm weather without all the tourists, who had gone home.

A life goal fulfilled! The twins were SO excited for their lemonade stand with Owen, Avery, Gavin and Lily! Lily sold slime, the twins sold lemonade and cookies, and the rest of the gang helped with advertising. All in all, the twins more than covered the cost of their supplies.

During the summer, we were spoiled by various teen babysitters helping me with the girls. Bri came a few times a week to take the girls to the splash pad, pool, or park if it wasn’t too hot, and Emily and Ana took the girls on outings a few times a month as well. The girls loved hanging out with everyone and it was a lifesaver for me not having to take Eleanor out in the hot weather. When our high school/college babysitters went back to school, it was a little harder to get out to the splash pad without it getting too hot. Once in a while, we had a rare afternoon where it wasn’t too bad and we could go out to the splash pad!

Eleanor became so interactive this month and had amazing head control for a 2/3 month old!

On a walk in her stroller bassinet.

Park morning.

After 4 weeks, Meredith’s knee was healed and she got her cast off! It was another 3-4 weeks until she was walking normally again, but she was a trooper.

Working on that head control.

Meredith loves nursery and isn’t afraid to dish it out to the boys who steal her toys. According to one of the dad nursery leaders, “We don’t need to worry about Meredith. She holds her own.”

Her friend, Greta, gets in her personal bubble a little too often!

Sheela held a little mom brunch one school morning and everyone clambered to be the next one to hold the celebrity baby.

Meredith with Mango the bunny.

Eleanor’s head control was good enough to plop her in the high chair with the back tilted, and life instantly got easier.

Sports Day at school!

Rock climbing and park day.

Hello there.

Teamwork!

Lounging.

sept

Goal setting: baby style. See toy. Raise arm in general direction. Swat toy. Goal accomplished.

Lunch and a walk in Dana Point.

The twins worked so hard memorizing their lines for the Primary Program at church, but somehow, the Primary leader got them mixed up, and in the wrong order! So they ended up saying each other’s lines!

Sister bear.

Jake likes to take random photos with me in them.

Samantha and Amelia are obsessed with climbing trees… foreshadowing! A few months later, Samantha ended up breaking a bone in her foot from this tree!