Sharing our life - all our adventures and bumpy rides. Family of four with two young boys - moved back home to allow them the similar experiences and opportunities we had living in North Carolina. Come explore with us!
On our second full day in Hawaii, we had planned a ziplining adventure in the valley. Our excursion was located inside the Maui Tropical Plantation and it was gorgeous walking around and zipping above!
The boys were poking fun at how I put my arm on my hip when I take pictures - the stinkers!
Oh - and we found more ducks and chickens!
Hanging out waiting for our tour guides and to get harnessed in. Alas, no pictures because I didn't want my phone to fall out of my pocket!
We did get some awesome GoPro videos! Here is Brock's point of view on one zipline!
The Eason Family did great! Kade was a little apprehensive to let go of the very first line, thankfully the guides were very patient with him and coaxed him through his worries. By the third zipline, he was raising his hand to go first!! There may have been a bit of bribing of Chick-Fil-A for lunch if he completes it! Ha - Chick-Fil-A in Maui - with Hawaii prices! (fast food lunch was over $55 for the four of us)
Monday evening was very special for Brent and I. We were resolute in our returning to Maui with our children for a very special vow renewal ceremony. We were able to book the very same photographer as our wedding and reserve a permit for a spot on the very same beach!
Alas, we could not get the same officiant, as he had retired, but we were honored with Minister Charles Nahale and his amazing way to incorporate Hawaiian customs into our special day.
He blew the conch shell and Brock and Kade were instructed to walk me down the beach to start the ceremony.
We placed ti leaf and plumeria leis over each of the boys as a sign of our caring and love.
After we placed leis on each other, Brent and I worked our hardest to stay focused on each other and the moment - truly listening to the powerful words of our marriage journey, our recommitment to each other, and our love.
Kade and Brock really dug deep in self-control to not get into that water!
Such a juxtaposition! (The boys were busy burying a yellow jacket they discovered on the beach - ultimately saving us and themselves from attack!)
Some family photos!
After our time with Cassie (our photographer), we walked back up to the front of the park to wash our feet for dinner. We were off to Spago at the Four Seasons in Wailea - also where we dined on our wedding night 13 years ago!
Last time we were here, we watched the sunset on the beach while finishing up our pictures. This time, we had dinner a bit earlier so we were at Spago to watch the sunset!
It was a gorgeous restaurant with a beautiful view - my boys were hungry though (one was a bit sleepy)!
Upon Brent's recommendation, I thoroughly enjoyed my Bigeye Tuna - Tataki method (seared at a scorching temperature, then cooled down rapidly leaving the center completely rare)! It was delicious.
After TWO flights over 6 hours EACH we finally arrived in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday, July 27th for our most epic family vacation to date!
After picking up our 4-door hardtop Jeep Sahara, we arrived at our Airbnb condo in Kihei and unpacked. It was a great little 2-bedroom Condo with an amazing lanai facing the ocean! We settled in, then headed out for our 5:45 dinner reservations at Monkeypod in Wailea. Cute burger joint serving local fare, but we were exhausted from the flight - poor Kade was falling asleep in my lap. (5:45pm Hawaii time felt like 11:45pm Eastern time!)
Made a quick stop at the local Safeway to pick up groceries for breakfast and then it was off to bed for all of us before 9pm! .....because we were up BRIGHT and EARLY the following day!
I was initially worried as we didn't have anything specifically planned that Sunday, but we were so very glad that's how it worked out - we took our time getting up and Brent suggested a family workout - stretches, pushups and situps for all in the house.
And then closing it out with a nice run/walk!
This was our view from the corridor side of our condo when we headed out that morning. Haleakalā Crater is a dormant volcano, rising 10,023 feet above sea level - you cannot see it in the afternoon/evening as it is covered in clouds!
Kade started with the guys, but decided to stick to walking with me after just a short time. Brent and Brock ended up running over 2 miles along the beach!
Kade and I opted to walk and enjoy the view.
That boat in the distance happens to be the Hinatea! That's the boat that Brent and I went fishing 13 years prior when we were here for our wedding!!
The boys were so fascinated by all the wild chickens around! It was definitely a highlight when we'd spot some more - they were even in the Safeway parking lot!!
We stayed on the southwest side of Maui, but the way the island formed, you can see the northwest side of Maui and it looks like a different island! Those are wind turbines in a row up the side of the mountain!
This is looking South to a nearby island Kaho'olawe (an uninhabited island) and small Molokini Crater where we snorkeled on our last visit.
Haha and these were scattered around the island too - I asked Kade to tell me what he thought these were!
After our workout, we decided to treat ourselves to some local Shave Ice! This gem was only a block away!
Kade ordered the "Hawaiian Rainbow" - Strawberry, Pineapple, Blue Vanilla... and this was strange - Ice Cream under the shaved ice! Quite a big portion for my boy!
Brent ordered the amazingly tasty "Maui Gold" - Ice Cream and Maui Gold pineapple with pineapple juice! So good going down, but a little too much dairy for me. ;)
Brock and I went for smoothies - "Hana Sunrise" for me (Banana, papaya, & mango with pineapple juice) and "Kamaole Beaches" for Brock (Pineapple, mango & strawberries with guava juice).
Kamaole Beach is the name of the beach where we were - right in front of our Condo.
We enjoyed the scenic view from our lanai while eating hot dogs and sandwiches from a local deli! I also cut up the pineapple I purchased from Safeway the night before. I thought it so strange that a locally sourced fruit was MORE expensive than back home - and it was a weighed item, whereas back home it's unit priced! That one pineapple, albeit better tasting than any pineapple I could purchase in North Carolina, cost me $7.86!
The boys had been asking alllll day and finally it was time to head to the beach!
The waves were not as big as the ones we usually see at the Outer Banks, but these waves were STRONG. The water is really quite clear, but the waves are hitting the beach with such force, the first 8 feet from the shore looks all brown from the sand being churned up!
Our little otter. :)
Kade loves digging and building a wall, naively attempting to keep the water out.
More than half way through and summer was already full of lots of camps for the boys! They attended the Piedmont Wildlife Camp held at Umstead State Park and had so much fun outside all day! Lots of sunscreen and bug spray!
The week's theme was Hydro Hype and worked with all things water - built shelters in the woods and played a big game of werewolf. They spent some time in the river and found snakes and turtles!
It was only a three-day camp that week (definitely a drive to Umstead twice a day for us!), but every day the boys fell asleep in the car - they were exhausted!
An impromptu picture of Brock in his dorm at NC State's Red & White overnight Swim Camp!
Summer means summer swim team! Brock joined up with his old team at Lifetime to help collect some points! He loved being able to shine! (His new pre-race ritual - listening to music via headphones - just like Phelps!)
A little video of Brock closing the relay for his team with a big WIN!
Fourth of July means fireworks down by the pool parking lot - with Moose!
Brock asked to be the firework lighter - went over a few rules - and he did great!
The Fifth of July meant Adults Only boat day! We sent the boys to SportHQ and had a nice day out on the water!
Brock added a few more red and blue ribbons to his collection!
Towards the end of the summer swim season, the coaches finally caught on to Brock's ability and pulled him up to the 13-14 boys relay team so they could earn more points. It worked and Brock held his own with the big kids!
Brock is the furthest diver in the photo - look at that form!
Summer movie time - Despicable Me 4 - do you see BOTH my little boys have glasses now?!? (that will be a new accessory for Kade this school year!)
Family boat day!
We love Big Mabel! (the big orange float)
I know this wouldn't be on THEIR agenda, but I did make them do a summer reading log - earning them a free book at Barnes & Noble!
A few other camps not captured in pictures were half-day soccer camp for both at Ting Park and a Pitchers Camp for Brock with the Holly Springs Salamanders. Kade spent two more weeks at Taekwondo camp too - Zombie Survival and Hogwarts themes!
Lastly, what is summer in North Carolina without an evening thunderstorm?? This was a very cool lightning show we watched from our driveway!
