Starting 2007 off right in Maui!

Well, after that snowboarding and seafood fest, Mike and I made our way north to our place and preceded to spend New Year's Eve at home, quiet-like, and SORE. Well, Mike actually wasn't all that sore, but I could barely even lie down! I hurt everywhere, but especially my push-myself-up-off-of-the-ground muscles in my upper body. Yah, well I used them a lot! =+)

After New Years we had just two short weeks (ie less than five days of work in each) before we flew off to Hawaii to meet with the Klein/Dueker/Hall/Vardaman clan. It was glorious. The Duekers, Julie, Mike, and I got there a couple days earlier than the entire crew and were able to get our beach on immediately. The kids were in heaven and we were all just indescribably glad to be away from freezing weather and insane traffic. Julie signed herself up for some running fun for EARLY Sunday morning so we all piled in the car with Scooby-Do videos (he was fighting the Tiki Monster in Hawaii!!) and drove to Lahaina for the afternoon on Sat. to get her registered. We also managed to find Cheeseburger in Paradise for lunch and a lovely little beach, sans waves, where we sat in the sun and built sand castles. Don't mind the odd, naked, clepto baby that ran amok on the shore, or his little brother that we don't like to remember...

"Cheese" at Cheeseburger in Paradise!

We got to try out all sorts of room locations those first couple nights and Lance managed to wrangle us awesome rooms towards the front of the complex, right near the beach. Late Saturday night, Granty and Gruncle, Jeff and Jeanette, and Dick had all arrived making us complete. Mike and Gruncle Royce got up early to cheer Julie on in person, while the rest of us cheered from afar (in bed still) with all our might! It was great to return to a place we'd been in the past, where we could just relax and not feel the urge to run around exploring and experiencing all Kihei had to offer. Instead the week took on a more leisurely feeling and we all soaked in lots of family time along with the all important sand, sun, and water. Little Miss Ally has us all happily wrapped around that little finger of hers! We love being Aunt Meghan and Uncle Mike to these two, and can't wait for the next two coming summer of '07! (one from Erin and one from Tracey=+)

Who has their cool sunglasses on??

Ally and Aunt Meghan

When Monday came around some side trips began happening, a quick run up Haleakala for the Halls, the aquarium for the Duekers, but it was back to the beach for the rest of us bums. We packed a cooler with sandwiches, chips, salsa, oranges, and of course beer. Well, as we focused so hard on making sure we had enough beer, we forgot some sort of salsa recepticle. No matter, Julie to the rescue. She peeled the orange with exceptional skill to create mini salsa bowl for our dining pleasure. Sure was an odd sight, but it worked and we were quite proud of Julie's ingenuity.

It works! Well done Julie.

A group of adventurers flew to Pearl Harbor one of the days we were there to see the historical sights, but the only time Mike and I ever really got out and about was Wed. Mike and Jeff kindly accompanied Jeanette and I to the end of the Hana Highway. We found out about an awesome horseback riding tour of the jungle with waterfalls and the like, but of course it was about as far down this twisty, turny, one-lane-bridgy, road as possible. Mike and Jeff were up to the challenge though, and while we were riding to see a huge waterfall from above, they spent the time hiking along the valley to see it from below. Fun times, even though my horse was being a punk and brushed me off under some tree branches. 'Ass over tea kettle' is, I believe, the appropriate saying. Wish I could have seen myself! Glad I had a helmet on, and I came home with a great bruise on my elbow to show for the effort. The drive out there was actually even better than we had expected. Yes it was slow, and long, and there were some seriously scary drivers, but it was lush, green, huge rainforest and truly amazing to see. Gorgeous!

As the week moved past the half-way point, and we could all begin to see the end, we spent lots of time brushing up our tans, went on a whale watching trip where we saw one breach!!!, and enjoyed dinners and games with everyone close by. Our last night we went to Lulu's, a second story restaurant/bar with a fun outdoor atmosphere and a great view of the sunset. We all dressed up a little (no one wore their bathing suit) and made a party of it all!

All tan and spuzzy

The whole fam

After coming back we've taken it easy, gotten back into the swing of things at work, and begun looking forward to spring. I've seen a couple brave daffodils and one or two trees with flowers peeking out, even though I'm sure we're in for a little more cold stuff before spring really blooms. For President's Day weekend, Leigh came up from Boise to check out some hospitals and neighborhoods here in our area, and we did our level best to convince her that she should move here when she's finished with her ultrasound program this summer. We'll see how successful we were...Leigh! Move here!...couldn't resist in a few months when she decides. We both drank too much Mac and Jack's at the Kangaroo and Kiwi in Green Lake (thanks for driving our butts home, Mike) but we laughed a lot and didn't feel too hung over the next morning, in fact, Mac and Jack's cured Leigh's cold! The stuff of gods. It was great to see her and we got to catch up on, and do, girly stuff when we drove up to Bellingham (shopping etc) on Sun. Mike was happy to escape and go skiing with some friends. =+)

And that's us for the moment. Looking forward to keeping busy with work and SPRING just around the corner. Ta for now!