Friday, May 14, 2010

Maui, oh Maui...

We had to get up at the crack of dawn to catch our plane, so we decided to pull an all nighter. By the time we reached our hotel we gorged ourselves on some delicious treats then slept for three hours. When we got up it was 6pm local time so we went down town to Lahina for some dinner. We enjoyed our meal at Bubba Gump's. We didn't eat there the last time we were in Maui so we wanted to give it a try, it was good.
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This picture, on the other hand, is not good. In fact it is very, very wrong. But Aric looks good and I wanted you to see the "real" picture. Aric has some pretty good photo shopping skills huh...
Sunday was fabulous, but I already told you all about that amazing experience.
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The best part of Maui...
Hanging with the Samp's!
Oh how we miss them! The good times were endless in paradise!
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Amy and I spent most of our time talking and reading. We were thrilled to be doing nothing. One day Amy was kind enough to run with me, but six miles in 85 degrees was torture. So after that I just ran in the gym and we spent the rest of our time together enjoying the sun and reading our books. (I read two books while I was there, "The Help"...so awesome...and "The Last Song"....eh, not so awesome.)
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On occasion we would watch Aric and Mike to make sure that they weren't being swallowed up by the ocean while they went boogie boarding. It was Aric's first time so I was a little worried at first.
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The first couple of days Amy and I just watched them.  We thought it was pretty lame. We would watch them for a little while and just laugh.
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We just didn't get how they could be out there for hours doing this...
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On the last day we found a spot where some locals were doing some crazy stuff. It was quite entertaining watching Aric and Mike try to mimic them. Mike even tried to make friends with one to see if he could learn some new tricks, like this...
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Mostly though, they were just doing this...
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After three days of watching and a little bit of prodding...
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...Amy and I decided to get in the water and give it a shot.
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I only caught one wave...IMG_7362 
...and then I knew why the guys had spent so many hours in the water. It was so much fun! It was still hard for me to get over my ocean issues...water creatures swimming around me and the sand that stays with you forever...but I will totally do it again.
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I definitely don't recommend a strapless swimming suit. Thankfully mine stayed put but I was incredibly paranoid about it. This suit actually had a strap but I was so sunburned it hurt to wear it. I promise you the next time I go boogie boarding I will dress appropriately. (BTW- if you are interested in renting a boogie board, do it down town in Lahina. They only charge $2.50 a day instead of $15 like the resorts charge) Our smart boys figured this out...
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We enjoyed some incredible food together. Aric and I love this place, Tepan-yaki Dan, the food is RIDICULOUS!
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We also ate at a Cheeseburger in Paradise, it was completely over priced, but I got a chocolate coke so it was totally worth it!
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We ate at another place that had amazing fish tacos (thanks Mike for all the bites), but I can't remember the name. All I remember is that while we were sitting there a bird pooped in my water.
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The other best thing about Maui is the fruit. It was to die for. Look at this gigantic apple Amy got...
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...and then ate the whole thing in like one minute.
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She wasn't feeling so good after that.

Our favorite things to do with the Samp's besides eat, is watch scary movies (thanks generic red box!) and make up stupid games, like who can do a hand stand under water the longest...and who can do the cheesiest "prom" pose.
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We drove around blaring our favorite tunes that include, Nelson, Sugar Ray, Deena Carter, Michael Buble and Michael Jackson. We made sure our windows were rolled down so everyone could hear us as we sang at the top of our lungs. You never know who you are going to pull up next to when you do such silly things...
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I bet you thought that was Hulk Hogan! We sure did. We even went super slow and made him pass us. It was only then that we realized it wasn't him. But honestly, who goes around copying that look! REALLY!  Hulk himself can't even do it!

We really did have the best time. It was so, SO, hard to say good bye to Mike and Amy again, harder than the first time. They aren't just friends, they are family and we loved sharing our vacation with them. We can't wait to do it again!
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*****
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING....THIS TIME TOMORROW, I WILL HAVE FINISHED MY MARATHON. SIXTEEN WEEKS OF TRAINING JUST FOR THIS DAY. I AM SO EXCITED! I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THOSE TWENTY SIX POINT TWO MILES BEHIND ME. I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW HOW IT GOES....WISH ME LUCK...OR BETTER YET, SAY A LITTLE PRAYER, HEAVEN KNOWS I COULD USE ALL THE PRAYERS I CAN GET!
*****

15 comments:

Penny said...

Ok, so have I already told you how jealous I am? I believe that I have- only like a million times! I am so happy for you that you had such a great time with the Sampson's. And I love all the pictures.

I could be wrong but the place where the bird pooped in your water looks like The Hula Grill. We LOVED that place!

Anyways, can't wait to see more pictures. And you both had super cute suits too.

Good luck on your marathon. That is one thing I am NOT jealous of. But what an accomplishment it will be... Good luck! ;)

Lauren in GA said...

I will say a prayer for you, and Jessica tonight...I seriously think you are amazing! BEST OF LUCK!!

I laughed at the fact that you said, "a little bit of prodding"...because Aric totally has Amy by the wrist and it looked like he was about to drag her to the water. You people look like so much fun to be around!

Those Prom pictures are utterly fabulous. I like your, "pretty pageant feet" in the first prom picture.

It looks like it was completely amazing. Thanks for all of the details.

Oh, and not to sound like a perv...but you look awesome in a bathing suit. Uh, don't be scared of me, okay?

Leah said...

Dreamy. Dreamy. Sooo dreamy.

I can't believe you are marathoning!! Ev told me. I am in awe.

calibosmom said...

That looks like an amazing trip! I love your swimsuits by the way and you are looking fantastic-it's all that running for YOUR MARATHON!!! WOOHOO! I can't wait to hear all about it. Bird poop in water=yuck!

Ilene said...

I don't know which I am more in awe of: the marathon or the fact that you are willing to put pictures of yourself in a bathing suit (not that you don't have reason to feel great, btw).

Good luck tomorrow Crazy Lady!

AMY said...

Maui was definitely a good time... maybe a once a year vacay?

Thanks for trying not to make me look too pasty next to your beautiful bronzed skin.

The apple was good... I was sooo thirsty I needed the juice. Guess I learned the hard way :)

Guess what? We saw The Hulk on our snorkel cruise too. He's totally a look a like... don't know what he's trying to pull... but I guess he was doing it since I took more pics of him.

Good luck tomorrow.

mrsmonje said...

Oh how I love Hawaii!! Eric and I went last year before he deployed and spent 11 days just being you and in love. It was fantastic and we cant wait to go back! As always thanks for the pictures, makes me feel like I was there with you! I am so jealous and sad I couldnt be stuffed into your suite case! A HUGE good luck tomorrow in the marathon! I cant wait to read about it! THanks for blogging :)

Mrs Ana said...

I'm so jealous! I love Maui it was my favorite Island. Next time we will try the boogie boards! Maybe not I think we are too old for that. Love all the pictures especially of the guys.

Jenny Erazo said...

JEALOUS! It looks like you had a wonderful time!


GOOD LUCK! You are going to do GREAT!

Jean McKendrick said...

Sounds like a glorious vacation!! I've never been to Hawaii. Good luck on your marathon!

Anonymous said...

Looks like a really wonderful vacation! We have had a lot of wonderful vacations, but didn't have the luxury of having any of them minus children until our kids were much older than yours - so while I am not jealous of the vaction, I am of that!

Jessica said...

You guys look so good in your suits! All that marathoning, right?

That sounds perfect: food, books, relaxing and easy to be with friends. SO FUN. Loved the recap.

Can the Sampsons PLEASE move back?

Erin said...

Love the pics and the recapp.

Not loving waiting to hear about your marathon!! :) Hope it went great!

Susie Jensen said...

Hello to our Maui friends...

It was fun meeting you at church in Lahaina. Hopefully I'll be blogging our pictures soon. Looks like you guys had a fabulous and fun week.

Did you eat at Cool Cats Cafe across from Banyan Tree Park near Front Street? Just another thought where the bird might have pooped in your drink. =)

I've had fun catching up with you on your blog. Aahhh..we'll always have Maui. =)

Christie said...

I have major thigh envy going on. You look fabulous in a swim suit, my dear.