Maui & H's First Christmas!

We started December still in the land where palm trees sway, and man was it a crazy change when we came home to cold weather and Christmas in full swing! But we spent a glorious week in Maui before starting the holiday festivities!

Saturday
We got to the airport and it was a really quick, easy flight to Maui. Henry spent some time with Mom and Dad behind me and Rusty and they were showing him a magazine. He would give kisses to all of the girls in the magazine! But only the brunettes haha. We got to the airport in Maui and went to get our rental car and Rusty saw one Charger left. A couple was looking at it and then kept walking so Rusty ran across the lot, jumped in, and drove away with it haha. We had about an hour and a half drive to the hotel and on our way we saw whale spouts off of the coast! What?! I love this place. We settled into the condo and then my parents and I went to the grocery store to do some shopping while Rusty stayed home and put H to bed. It was so expensive I about died. We brought back some Ahi Poke to try, it was something that Rusty really wanted to try. It was tasty, but really, really strong of sesame oil. 

Sunday
Today Rusty and I tried to go snorkeling in Hanalua Bay, but the waves were way too big (we knew it might be because it is winter, but it was about ten minutes from the house so we thought we'd try it anyways). When we got there we did see that they were having a surfing competition there though! So we stayed and watched it for a little while before driving back home to make new plans.

We decided to do some of our other "To Do" items and drove along the coast to the North side of the island. We were going to go down to the Olivine Pools (some natural pools right on the edge of the coast), but the hike was a little sketchier than we thought and it wasn't a good place to take Henry. And the waves were so big down in the pools that nobody was actually getting in anyways, so we decided to just look around and then get back in the car. It sure is beautiful though!

Olivine Pools

We kept driving and did some of the sketchiest parts on the Road to Hana. We made it to Julia's and got some delicious banana bread and dried mango before turning around. The road got so narrow it was crazy! Mom was yelling the whole time, certain that we were going to die haha. It's a pretty crazy road. 

On the way back towards our hotel we stopped at the Nakelele Blowhole, which is a big spout of water that comes shooting through a little hole in the top of a cavern at high tide. We could see it from the top but Rusty and I wanted to get a closer look so my parents took Henry back to the car while we hiked down to the bottom. It was huge and so intimidating when you got closer to it. It was definitely worth the hike down there. There were rainbows in the water spray, the sound was impressive, and just seeing all of the waves crashing around was amazing too. Mom and Dad got some coconut candy and coconut cashews to eat on the drive back where we stopped at some viewpoints along the way. 

Once we got back we all went to the pool (we wore our swimming suits for the Olivine Pools) and played in the pool and hot tub. The pool water was FREEZING and the hot tub was too hot for Henry, so Mom and I took him back to the hotel for a bath and bedtime while the two old men stayed in the hot tub. :)

Monday

In the morning Rusty, Henry and I went to the beach across from our hotel to give my parents some time in the hotel by themselves. The beach is absolutely beautiful; it is a bay lined with palm trees and it was a little walkway along the side of the beach. We loved walking along the path and just being at the beach while the day was starting. 

Then we got in the car and drove a little south of Lahaina to see some petroglyphs. There were just a few of them, but it was really cool to see markings and drawings made by people so long ago! 

After seeing the petroglyphs we went to Lahaina and walked around downtown. We saw the giant banyan tree that takes up the whole park, saw some shops, walked along the wharf, got treats, and saw the prison. The coolest thing about the prison was that the outer walls were all made from blocks of coral! How cool is that?! Inside the prison yard there were lots of fruit trees. 

The banyan tree

Getting treats!

Some blocks made of coral that were a wall around the city

At the old prison

Banana tree!

State flower of Hawaii

After Lahaina we went home for a little while and then went back out for a luau! Rusty had never been to a luau so this was exciting! Mom and I got leis and Dad, Rusty and Henry got turtle necklaces. We had a great table on the side and had good food, saw lots of dancing and even some fire dancing! Rusty and I went up when they called for couples to come and dance below the stage (I couldn't get him to volunteer for anything else haha). We saw the sun set on Ka'anapali Beach, which was just beautiful. 

H loved his turtle necklace

Beautiful sunset!

Yummy kalua pork

A feast!

H loved the sweet potatoes and poi,

but his most favorite thing was the dancers.

He just stared at them!

Rusty and I went up to dance

Fire dancer!

Tuesday
So, I had heard about a special beach near Wailea but the directions I had been given were actually really terrible. So we were driving around and had no idea where we were supposed to go. The only real clue was that there was a gate and a sidewalk with sea turtles on it... and the only real reason we wanted to go to this beach was because I was told that there were always sea turtles there! My main goal for Hawaii was to swim with sea turtles (a definite bucket list item for me) and so I was so excited about this place. And my mom really wanted to see some as well, and she hadn't seen any of the ones that I had up unto this point. So, while we were driving around aimlessly we passed a taco truck. My husband is THE best ever and after begging for a little while he agreed to go and ask the taco guy about this crazy, elusive beach. He told Rusty that he had no idea what he was talking about, but that if we went to Makena Landing we would definitely see sea turtles. So we decided to do that and I am so glad we did! Rusty and I went in first and about seven feet from shore there was a big rock and there was a sea turtle just hanging out there! We got to swim around him and watch him eating algae off the rocks for as long as we wanted! Then after that we went and explored some other places and saw lots of schools of fish, red sea urchins, a flounder, lots of coral, some trumpet fish and eels. 

Then my mom and dad went out to take a turn and they had such a great time swimming with that same sea turtle! I was so glad to have Mom and Dad so happy! While they were out Rusty and I took H into the water and it was such a perfect little bay that it was like a swimming pool. He was in absolute heaven and I had just as much fun playing with Henry in that water as I did seeing a sea turtle. One of my favorite parts was that while I was playing with Henry and Rusty was laying on the beach that turtle that was right by the rocks came towards us and swam in between us and the shore. So cool!We could take h out and swim like a pool and he was so happy. Later Rusty and Dad went out together and they saw six sea turtles! And one of them was huge! Mom and I were pretty bummed we missed all of them so we went back out but didn't see any :( But after we got out we were told about a little rocky part of the beach where they like to sun bathe. We went and saw that and there were five of them just laying there. It was really cool! We stopped and got dinner at Maui Taco on the way home. 

Wednesday

Rusty and I got up really early this morning and went to Maalaea for scuba diving! My parents kept Henry with them and went and walked around after he woke up. On our drive we stopped at McDonalds for breakfast where they had a local breakfast choice of rice, spam and eggs. Yum. Although we didn't get that, we had learned from a local to ask for the haupia (coconut) pie, and it was so tasty! Good call. We made it to Maalaea and got checked in and on our way, but the waves were too big so we couldn't  go to Molokini. :( I was pretty bummed about this because this was such an incredible place to snorkel when I came as a teenager and I really wanted Rusty to see it. But we were still scuba diving in Maui, so I couldn't be too sad. :) Our first dive was called Stone Wall. We saw so many amazing things and my only regret about this day (and the day scuba diving in Kauai) is that we didn't have any underwater cameras to take pictures of these incredible things! There were big, puffy star fish, black puff sea urchins, and a huge frog fish! On our way back to the boat we were swimming up to a reef to go over the top of it and a sea turtle same over the ledge right at me! It took all of my control not to just leave the group and go follow it. I loved it. Our guide was really funny and very knowledgeable. 

The second dive was at Ben Gunn. Rusty and I saw a huge sea turtle that nobody else saw because they were looking at something else in a cave. We also saw these fish that were swimming and then disappeared into the sand! I looked at the guide and pointed at where the fish were and he wrote on his board that they are called Razor Fish and they can swim through the sand! It was crazy! There was a big spiral snail shell (like what I picked up in Kauai and showed Rusty and the guide there) and the guide here wrote on his board that it is extremely venemous. Whoops. We saw tons of box fish, eels, and got to hold pencil urchin and a piece of red urchin. Highlights from this dive were definitely that we heard humpback whales while under the water (SO cool!) and saw a little red octopus! I loved him! And, we saw this HUGE snail shell called Triton's Trumpet. It was HUGE.

After our dive we drove back and traded Mom and Dad, who then went to the aquarium right by where the boat dock was in Maalaea where we went diving! Rusty, Henry and I stayed home and relaxed and then went and watched the sun set at our beach. I loved seeing Rusty and Henry play in the sunset like that. We put Henry to bed and then after Mom and Dad got home Rusty and I went to eat at the Sea House, restaurant right on our beach. It was super expensive so we split a dish but it was really, really delicious! There was mahi mahi, steak, shrimp, mashed potatoes and veggies. It was fun to get out just the two of us and have some relaxing conversation. Fantastic day.

Thursday
Today Rusty and I got up early and went snorkeling at the beach by our house.  It was great!  We saw 4 sea turtles! My dreams were definitely coming true! One just popped up out of a little canyon and scared me to death haha. It was so neat because I got to just follow them around and dive down next to them. I loved every minute of that. We saw a big puffer fish, some more box fish, small spotted fish, some eels, and lots of surgeon fish. 

SEA TURTLE!

Puffer!

Then we went to Lahaina to go whale watching.  As soon as we were heading out we saw a whale breach! It was pretty far away so it was more just seeing a big form up in the air and a big splash, but I have never seen a breach before so I was still pretty excited! We also saw it slap it's tail a few times  and saw the fluke of another whale.  We saw lots of spouts, and I got to hear it breathing, which I know sounds creepy but I just love being able to hear these marine mammals breathe. I found this out in Charleston when I got to hear dolphins right next to my kayak, and then again this summer when I heard Orca whales breathing as they were swimming by the boat. And this was so great too! On the way back we saw a ton of spinner dolphins which was really cool. Lots of them were swimming right by the boat. A huge airplane flew overhead (some military type) and they must not have like the sound of it because when it was over us they all jumped out of the water at the same time and then never came back up. I got seasick on the way back so I was happy to get off haha. Then we went to Pizza Hut for lunch and got a meatlovers and a Hawaiian pizza! Henry was flirting with every girl there and my parents loved watching him squeeze and turn his hands and toes showing that he wants more food. He's a cutie.

We had brought our swimming suits with us so we went to Black Rock Beach (on Ka'anapali Beach) and set up the tent and changed inside. I had heard so many great things about this beach because the black rock just goes straight down into the water, creating a vertical reef wall. You can also cliff jump from the rock which is fun. We didn't do it, but it looked fun haha. I went out with Dad first and we saw huge eels, surgeon fish, cornet fish, and 3 sea turtles! One of these sea turtles was giant, and Dad said it was even bigger than the one he and Rusty saw. We also saw some box fish and tons and tons of the Hawaiian state fish, humuhumunukunukuapuaa. Dad and Rusty went out together again and saw a white tipped reef shark! I was so, so, SO bummed that I missed it. Mom wasn't feeling that great so she didn't want to go out. We watched the sun set here again and watched a diving show that was put on by the hotel. This beach was pretty strong (nothing like Polihale though haha) but I definitely was knocked over and ran into Dad like bowling ball and knocked him over too while trying to get my flippers off haha. Then we came home and the boys grilled up some steaks and we had a delicious dinner and a nice talk just the four of us. 

Humuhumunukunukuapuaa!

Reef wall at Black Rock Beach

Big white spotted eel!

Sea turtles!

This was a big one at the bottom!

Friday

Today we woke up and went to I'ao State Park. We saw the I'ao Needle and went for the little walk to a different view point and then walked down a cool path on the way back to the car. Legend has it that Maui had a beautiful daughter named I'ao who had a secret love affair with a merman. When Maui found out she was furious and wanted to kill the merman, but I'ao pleaded with her mother and said that she could not live without seeing him. So, Maui turned him into a stone pillar, the I'ao Needle. That seems kind of rude to me. But truly, one of the most bitter and important battles in Hawaiian history was fought here. The I'ao Needle was used as a lookout point, but it did not save the people. So many people were killed that the river was damned up with their bodies. Pretty gruesome. In sticking with this historical theme we drove a few miles and saw two temples, or the remains of the temples. They used to do human sacrifices there. Although there is really  nothing left of the temples it was really interesting to see that part of history and something that is so important to their culture. 

Ready to go!

The Iao Needle

Ruins of a temple

...where they did human sacrifice

A second temple

Then we went to Mama's Fish House. It was so incredibly delicious!  We got sashimi, crab cakes, and won ton shrimp as appetizers (any of which I could have had for my full meal and been pleased as punch, especially those splendid crab cakes). And we all got fancy, non alcoholic drinks! That was really fun because we never do that. Then they brought out complimentary curry bisque and poppyseed bread (again, would have been perfect as my entree). Mom and I ordered mahimahi that was stuffed with lobster and crab and I think I was in heaven. Dad got a traditional Hawaiian feast (much like what we ate at the luau) and Rusty got mahimahi curry. It was all to die for. And Henry loved the poi! All of the waitresses loved Henry and he shamelessly flirted with them and loved them back. Haha. For dessert we got chocolate caramel pie and banana macadamia crisp. None of us have ever eaten anything so delicious or so fancy. The location of the restaurant is just excellent as well. It's right on a secluded beach so you can watch the waves from the restaurant. After we were done Mom and Dad went to look at the hotel here and Rusty, H and I hung out on the beach. Great location and food! 

Curry bisque

Poppyseed bread

Crab cakes

Won ton shrimp

Sashimi

Traditional platter

Mahimahi curry

Stuffed mahimahi

Banana macadamia crisp

Chocolate caramel pie

Then we drove a little further on the Hana Highway. We stopped and watched kite and wind surfers for a while before driving back home. Our final stop was at Ululani's for shave ice. We had heard it was the best on the island and IT WAS! Oh my goodness! Just go here. Every day. Once we were home we went back out to our beach and watched the sun set while swimming in the ocean!

On Rusty's shoulders

Saturday

Today we packed up, headed to the airport, and flew home. Things went great and our flights were on time. Henry did great and we were happy to get back home!

So, Hawaii was absolutely unreal. It was just fantastic! And then by the time that we got home it was CHRISTMAS! I love Christmas, and it was Henry's first so it was so exciting to experience everything with him! We went and cut down a Christmas tree at a tree farm (our first time doing that, but they just don't have the kinds of trees you want for a Christmas tree here in the wild! They are all cedars.) and it was really fun! I took full advantage of the cute trees and my adorable baby to take some pictures of my little angel for his first Christmas.

We had the ward Christmas party and Henry got to meet Santa for the first time! Sweet little guy had just woken up from a nap so he was a little unsure about life haha.

For the rest of the month, we stayed in quite a bit because Henry got sick for the first time! He had a pretty bad cough, but after going to the doctor everything all checked out great. We did make Christmas cookies, watch lots of Christmas movies, and drove around to see some Christmas lights!  It was interesting to have a little guy around for the decorating part because we had to put all of the ornaments high up on the tree. He loved to get them down haha. And he loved helping me wrap things and trying to unwrap them when I was done  haha.

A craft I made with H

He loved helping me wrap presents

He loved biting these ornaments haha

Little Henry was a good sport and let me play around with taking even more Christmas pictures of him! This time we just stayed home, but man this little guy did not want to sit still! It used to be so easy; you set him in the perfect position and he stayed there! Now I am just trying to follow this little guy around to snap some quick shots!

Originally, we were planning on staying home for Christmas because we have been so busy lately. But, as it got closer we decided to go to Boise. It was Henry's first Christmas and we thought it would be a lot more fun to be around everyone. And then we got to see everyone too! Sadly, we got stuck on Snoqualmie Pass for FOUR HOURS. Ahhhhh. But Henry just was super happy to be able to play in the car. He loved driving and would blink every time the wipers came on haha. 

                                      

                                      

We finally made it and it was so worth it! We had the Christmas Eve talent show, where Henry played the piano and crawled, Jessica and I did an upside down puppet show thing, and Rusty and I frog leaped around the room haha. Oh the talent show.

Then we opened up one present each for Christmas Eve, and Henry opened up his first ever Christmas present!! Woohoo!!

Finally, we read the Christmas story in Luke and then the Cajun Night Before Christmas. 

Christmas morning! Both Rusty and I took a while before we even looked at our presents because it was so much fun to watch Henry with his presents. He crawled across the room to get to the table and walker that we got him. I bought these giant red bows because I had heard that babies like the bows better than the presents, but Henry LOVED the table!!

Rusty and I did homemade presents for Christmas and it was so great. I made him a faux leather wallet because he kept saying that his was falling apart. He made me a beautiful bench out of pallets and gave me some pillows to go on it. So wonderful!

Henry kept opening his mouth and letting Ande eat his yogurt right out of his mouth haha.

Colton got his mission call to Colorado Springs, so we went over there to see him and the boys. We made pizza and played Mario Kart, just like we did with them when they came to stay with us! It was so fun to see them.

Love these crazy people!

Sisters, just missing Angie!

While in Boise we hung out, ate a lot, saw a movie, and we also went snowmobiling! There was too much snow on some of the trails we wanted to do, which was just crazy! But we found a cool place and had a ton of fun.

Henry having fun with Grandma at home!

Then it was time for us to go home, and unbelievably we got stuck on a different pass in Oregon. We had to wait two hours, and then after we started going again and it got dark we got a flat tire. Seriously?! Yes, needless to say I don't think we will be going to Boise ever again in the winter. Remind me of that next Christmas.

                                     

Stuck in the car, AGAIN! At least we have this guy :)

Henry had some Christmas presents from the Pollards waiting at home for him!

There was an impressionist exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum and that is both Rusty and my favorite kind of art so we really wanted to go see it. We had to get there before the end of the year so we squeezed it in really quick. :) It was absolutely WONDERFUL! Oh my goodness, I just love that art so much.

                                                  

Henry's Highlights

• Started crawling! He started going for it and then took a few crawls on 12/10. After that he just took off and was all over the place.
• He recognizes who are and will look around to find us when he is asked "Where's Mama?" or "Where's Dada?" 
• He absolutely loved the Christmas tree and all of the ornaments. He would chew on them and bite them.
• His favorite Christmas song is Silent Night
• Henry is moving around so much now! To change his diaper I have to pin his arms with  my feet, and to brush his teeth or give him his Vitamin D I have to pin his arms with my legs

• He finally got some hair! I am in love with it as it is coming in! He is looking so old.
• He got some more teeth, now he has four. 
• He sits up in his crib now which has made it a little harder to put him to bed. :)

Extra pictures:

I love snuggling my little guy

Daddy took him to Scouts and this is how he came back...