Road to Hana

The kids, Aunt Sharon and I took the Road to Hana while she was here visiting. Terry wasn't too interested since he drives three hours a day for his commute up to the top of Haleakala. Aunt Sharon got us a CD to listen to as our tour guide and we were off down the road with plenty of water and a picnic lunch. Our first stop was by one of the first bridges we came to. It was so quite and we took a little walk to find part of the irrigation system on the island. The road is full of turns and one lane bridges (37 to be exact) and we drove 25 miles per hour most of the way. You have to watch out for local drivers since they know the road and will be going much faster. We just got over quickly so they could pass us and we were fine. The views were spectacular. That side of the island is much greener even though Maui is in a drought right now, I hear.

We saw many waterfalls and many different types of plants/flowers: bamboo, helaconia, African tulip trees, white and yellow ginger and many more different plants. Our picnic lunch was eaten at a little state park overlooking a bay. It took us about four hours to get to Hana. The trip is definitely about the journey and not about the destination. The kids were a bit disappointed...and honestly I think so were Aunt Sharon and I. It was funny, before we left we told RJ Hana was a magical place and Abbie elaborated on that idea during the trip. I have always wanted to see Hana but knew I really wanted to see the seven pools and those were another 10 miles or so from Hana. We knew the kids wouldn't make it any further we resolved to see what there was in Hana and go home. We ended up hanging at the black sand beach of Hana Bay. That was very cool! The kids were so happy to get out and enjoy the sand and water for awhile. Then we headed up to "town" to see Hasagawa's General Store which has been there for 100 years or something. That was about it! We couldn't even find ice cream anywhere! So we headed home before it got too dark and found a cute little ice cream hut outside of Hana and got homemade smoothies and ice cream to go! The mosquitos were eating RJ and I up. On the way home, we took a little side trip and found this amazing little place called Kaenae. It was amazing! The view of Haleakala, the little stone church, the waves crashing on the rocks. It is one of the most beautiful places I've seen since I've been here. On the way home, Abbie ended up getting a little car sick and RJ fell asleep (finally) and all-in-all I think we were happy we did it! However, I still haven't seen the seven pools! We found there is another (shorter) way to get there from where we live on the island and will try that next time when Terry can go. So, at the end of the trip when RJ was able to tell Daddy about it this is what he said...."well, it wasn't magical at all, there weren't even any unicorns!" Bummer...I think we all would've liked to see that!

Visitors...Already!

We were so blessed to have our friend, Bryce, help us pack up and get ready to move. Terry told him if he helped, we would bring him to Maui for a week! What a deal! He had such a good time and spent time with Terry before the kids and I got here. He had never been much out of Washington State before let alone paradise!

It is so amazing that we have had many people around us from home already! Before we even got here I connected with some people from Forks whom I haven't seen in 20 years! The Moulton's and McIrvin's were here on vacation when Abbie, RJ and I got here AND we could see where they were staying from our condo! When they left, they were so generous and gave us all of their leftover goodies including boogie boards that we use ALL the time! Thank you guys! We still have lots of blueberry jam :)

Soon after we were here, I also got a call from a good friend of mine from Sedro Woolley who was staying on Maui for a couple of weeks with her family right down the way. That was great fun! We got to visit with them a couple of times and it was great for the kids to see some of their old friends! After everyone had left to go home, we were VERY, VERY blessed to have my Aunt Sharon from Oklahoma come to stay with us for a bit. When I called her to tell her we were moving to Maui, she was so supportive and offered to come and help us transition and take care of the kids while we started our new jobs. That was such a relief not to have to worry about childcare as soon as we got here. She spoiled the kids rotten and we had a great time with her! She is amazing! She really spoiled me too because she did my laundry, dishes, cooked and took care of my kids! All I did when I got home from work was play with the kids! What a life! We spent time going to the beach for sunsets and picnics, playing at the pool, on the road to Hana and back and just having some great bonding time. After she left, I got a call from a friend from Mount Vernon who said her and her husband would be here for a week on vacation! What a treat! We met them a few times while they were here too and had a great visit! So far, all of this has helped me not to be too homesick! Of course, I am still but life here is good and we are glad we didn't pass up the opportunity to try it!

What we've been doing....

It has been six weeks since we moved to Maui. The time has flown by so fast. I hear from the locals that weeks go by so quickly here. It is so true! I have been at my new job now for a month. It has been a good transition from working with children to working with adults. I am the Therapy Program Manager and Speech Therapist for Hale Makua (a long term care facility) in Wailuku. Terry is loving his new job as a civilian police officer working for the Air Force. He works four-ten hour shifts and every shift he drives up to 10,000 feet to work at the top of Haleakala (the crater) to "protect the telescopes." I love saying that! The kids, Aunt Sharon and I even got to go up and see the big one! It was amazing!

My last post was done very late so I shortened it up a bit at the end. I was saying that Abbie had to start school on Aug. 2 which was a month sooner than she would normally start. It has worked out well though and good to be back on a schedule. She is going to a public school called Kamali'i Elementary and started the fourth grade this year. I had heard some bad things about the public schools here but I think so far, so good. There have been a couple of things I didn't like but all in all it is fine. RJ started preschool at the Kihei Baptist Preschool this past week. He is loving it! It is a very small class and they are teaching him manners :) and how to pick up after himself. Yeah!

We met a wonderful family here just as soon as we got here really. We think it was fate. I was looking at schools for RJ and went to visit the Montessori School here and met the head of the school who just so happened to have moved here at the same time AND has a girl who is 9 and a boy who is 5! Perfect! We were all fast friends! We have spent a lot of fun time on the beach together and even got to go out on a date night with them! What a treat!

How our adventure began...

Terry and I started talking about his new job/career in November when he resigned from the PD. At that time, we thought it would be a good idea to look at government service positions however, it takes a long time to get those positions. So, 7 months later the offers were rolling in but nothing really seemed quite right...Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Arizona, Minnesota, and Oklahoma, were all options.
In the past, when Terry and I talked about new adventures and wondering what was in store for us we had always talked about living in Hawaii for a couple of years. He always would ask me, "would you ever live in Hawaii?" and I always would say "well, if it were Maui I would." Well, guess what! In the end of May, Terry got the offer from the Air Force to work on Maui. I remember him saying, "well, just check and see what is out there for you." I searched the school district website and found some leads but ended up finding a position for a manager/speech therapist on craigslist of all places! I called, had the interview and was on a plane to check out the job the next weekend! It was such a different position that I really wanted to check it out in person and we wanted to see if all would work out for the family.
We kept telling ourselves that if anything got in our way we just wouldn't do it. Easy as that! I think that helped me to stay less stressed! Terry thought at any moment I would say forget it but things were working out too well...I couldn't ignore the fact that we might be destined to be on the island.
So in four days pre-moving trip, we checked out our jobs, mapped out commutes, found a furnished condo, found a school for Abbie and had it all planned out! We just needed to finalize the job situation.
The next week, Terry had the house packed up and was on his way to Maui to start his new job. The kids and I stayed for another week and visited family and friends and then headed to the island. We left the majority of our belongings in storage and in the house on Big Lake where we are vacation rentaling it for as long as we can (www.vrbo.com/307555) I had a few weeks off with the kids and we settled in . Then I started my job and my Aunt Sharon came out to help us with the kids and transition into school. Abbie started school on Aug. 2 and RJ Aug. 9.
Things are going well and we are all enjoying being outside as much as possible! I'll post more of our outdoor adventures soon...

Our New Blog!

I got the idea of a blog from a new friend of mine. She had started a blog for her family's new move to Maui and I thought it was a great idea! I have never blogged before but assume it will be just like journaling! I will be looking forward to sharing with everyone what is happening with us and posting pictures (yeah!) Love to all and enjoy!