Yesterday we had Matilda’s Party, the weather was outstanding – perfect for the slip n slide extravaganza.  It was quite a lot of running around and is a big clean up today which doesn’t suit me very well this morning as I’m the victim of too much alcohol.

Jason and I have decided to follow in Josh and Amy’s footsteps and lay off the booze.  Today is Superbowl Sunday and we’ll be visiting our friends in Makawao for a bit of a party so I think the house will remain “trashed” for the weekend.

The weather is beautiful. Mum arrived yesterday and she was glowing as she walked off the plane carrying her big Kangaroo with a full mouth of teeth.

We went straight to the beach for a walk the hit the mall to shop.  Afterwards we picked up the kids and went to visit the rest of our Maui family.  Jason was busy at work so wasn’t able to meet us for dinner at Flatbread, Julie, Ryan Vann and Jett joined us – it was a great dinner.

Today we did a big Costco shop preparing for Matilda’s Birthday Party on Saturday – Champagne and cake for the morning slip n slide extravaganza!  I’m back at work tomorrow while Mum will show the kids at Aloha Kai Preschool how to brush their teeth using “Roo” the Kangaroo.

Mum and I are getting along really well, she has her own space in a unit this trip which is exciting for us all.  The kids are excited about a sleep over with her tomorrow night, Jason and I will get to go out to dinner and have the house to ourselves!!!

I love Paia – I love life!  Today was my second day, well third real shift at Flatbread and I can honestly say I do feel like a part of the family.  It’s an exhilarating feeling being verbally rewarded for doing your job, by both customers and fellow staff. One particular  family said their lunch was phenomenal – that’s right!

I left Flatbread feeling like my smile was contagious, as I walked into the cafe and saw all my old fellow staff members and friends it only made it bigger – I’m so lucky.

I’m having so much fun being unemployed at the moment, it really feels like I am on a holiday.  My orientation is tomorrow – I’m excited for my new Flatbread adventure. Roger arrived today, he’s staying for a week on his way to Canada.

We went to Baldwin with the body board which was awesome, the beach was splendid. The kids are so happy to have Roger here – Darwin woke up with a croup cough this morning and I had to pick him up early with a fever.  It’s sad to see him like that but we’re just glad it wasn’t a day earlier when he had his Kamehameha School interview.  It was his second attempt – when he whet with me he wasn’t into leaving the office with a strange lady so this time Jason took him and all week we prepared him for the moment.

Turns out all he needed was the preparation, with a high 5 he was off and did really well in his interview.  We wont hear back until the end of Feb, with 250 applicants and only 40 spots available – 20 girls and 20 boys.  It’s quite the elimination.

It almost feels like it’s still Christmas!  The weather has been terrific, it’s like a gift that keeps giving.  We’ve been at Mama’s a lot, it’s been great for the kids building their confidence in the ocean and for Darwin on a surfboard.  Jason’s been surfing more in the last week than I can remember him doing so in a year – even I made it out this morning with Tina and Sensi which was not all time conditions but it still made me feel like a million bucks.

With Darwin and Matilda not napping during the day anymore it feels like we have much more time on the weekend, it’s great. Lazy mornings, adventurous days and early nights for the kids.  Last night Adrienne’s Mum Jane baby st the kids while Jason and I went to Tina’s for dinner, it was such a treat having a real social engagement where we could actually have a few different conversations with awesome people as well as delicious food, tasty beverages and in a relaxed environment.

Last Friday was my last shift at Cafe Des Amis – I can’t believe I haven’t blurted this out sooner!  I start work at Flatbread next week – the hours are going to suit my life as a Mother with kids in school a little better – shame but life throws us hard balls!  At the moment I’m enjoying my week of unemployment and looking forward to visiting family!

Roger is her on Wednesday then Mum arrives on Feb 1st and leaves the day Tom and Adrienne return home on Feb 11th!

Talk about fun!  This morning we packed up and hit the beach – we are super into bringing nothing and going on beach adventure, today we walked from Baldwin to Baby Beach with a body board to catch some sliding action on the dunes.  It was so much fun, a beautiful day, got lots of exercise and nobody got too tired – we are done with naps!!! YES, bring on the next “stage”.

This morning we enjoyed a sleep in after a week back on the early morning wake ups in the dark preparing for school and work.  After a delicious omelet breakfast we hit the beach – parking at Josh and Amy’s house we casually walked down with the rest of the Stone Ohana to perch ourselves on the hot black rocks at Kuau Point.  Before we knew it hours had passed.

We left Darwin with Josh, Amy and Savanna they all went out for an afternoon sunset cruise on Amy Blue, Darwin was so stoked to use the little hand real fishing line we found between the rocks.  He also saw a few whales which we haven’t been so lucky to see yet this year.  Good ol weekends!

Here are some shots from our Cafe Des Amis Staff Christmas Party at Flatbread. It was such a great night – I was really proud of myself limiting my alcohol intake which is not what I can say for most…

I’ve happily been back at work for 2 days now and it’s been crazy – so busy.

Wow can you believe it – yes.

Today I was back at work. Last night I ate a pedialyte icy pole during the night after Jason and I topped off a wonderful Birthday with Sushi in Makawao.  We spend Monday night at the Grand Wailea which was amazing.  I was treated to a couple of hours at the spa then a Massage which was transcending.  Jason and I toasted with Champagne and nibbled on Cheese and crackers as the sun set, after a short walk the kids were in bed ad we carried on on the deck to see the day through.

On My Birthday morning we had a buffet breakfast and spend hours in the pool and riding the waterslides which was so much fun – I squealed like a 4 year old girl.   We had a wonderful stay cation, it truly felt like we were gone for a few days.

Now the kids are back at school and I’m at work which is mental with the swell being like 40ft, every man and his dog is in town and all want to eat at Cafe Des Amis – good for them, entertaining for me…I feel like I’m really showing my age. I am pooped.

I was able to clean after taking a few Advil with a kids pedialyte icy pole and the kids watched a movie with Jason.  By 11am we were starving so all went out to a great big breakfast at Colleens.  The sun was shining and we still had energy to burn so went to Mama’s Beach, our new favorite thing to do is rock walk at the beach and since the water was a bit chilly we hiked over the rocks to Kuau Point where we ran into the Stone Family!

We hang out with Josh Amy Harley and Savanna for the rest of the day at the beach then back at their house, just cruising.  Jason and Josh talked about everything it was really nice to see them together in such a relaxed environment.  Amy and I did our toes as Savanna and Matilda did each others and Darwin hung out with the big guys, Harley and his friend Monty.  Darwin was having so much fun he stayed for a sleep over!

Jason Matilda and I went to the Cafe for an early dinner which was perfect and fun with just the 3 of us and then we headed home to tuck our little pooped princess into her bed.  I had to clean up the rest of the kitchen from the night before and then we all said goodnight to the first day of the year.

What a good start!