Last trip post, I promise



I know you are all probably so sick of this vacation that you saw the title and clicked off to hunt for free porn. Nothing like days and days of someone else's boring vacation pictures, right?

Right.

Well, too bad. At least for one more day anyway.

I end the Seattle/Hawaii Trip '09 with some stats and (of course) more pictures. To give you an idea of our endeavors over the last 13 days without writing down every detail, here is some data that is pretty representative of the fantastic experience we had:
  • Total number of flights: 7
  • Total number of bags checked on flights: Zero, thanks to my awesome packing
  • Total number of hotels we stayed at: 5
  • Estimated caloric intake per day by me alone: 9,678 thankyouverymuch
  • Pounds gained while on this vacation: I am sure at least 8.
  • Number of fish viewed while snorkeling: 756 or more
  • Number of bloody wounds received from jagged coral while snorkeling: 2 (both mine)
  • Bottles of sunscreen used: 4
  • Number of people in our family who took hula lessons: 2 (all female, naturally)
  • Number of people in our family who swam in a cage with sharks all around: 3 (all male, of course)
  • Total number of days before I adjusted to the time difference: 9
  • Number of days it will likely take me to adjust back: 14
  • Dollars spent shopping: Much, much less than it could have been, dear Husband. Remember that in the days to come when you look at the bank statement, mmkay?
  • Pounds of sand washed down our hotel shower drain per day: 3
  • Number of former KSL weathermen seen at the Hawaiian Temple: 1 (bonus if you guess who it was)
  • Number of times the natives called me 'Cousin': At least 27
  • Minutes until I am ready to go back again: I'd say less than one. It actually hurts a little bit to think that Hawaii is still out there in this world, existing, without me in it.
And finally, because my little i-phone picture posts were so tiny (a pet peeve of mine), here are a few of my favorites so far. I have yet to barely wade through the hundreds and hundreds of shots I took, so these will have to do.

















Aloha and mahalo


I can hardly bear the thought of getting on a plane and leaving this place, but the time has come.

My face is puffy and swollen from all the sun, my skin is pruned from all the water, and my pants are pinchy and tight from all the food.

Oh, I could write for days about the gluttony alone.

Instead, I will pack our bags and head for home with the memory of a fabulous trip and the relief that no one got sick (except for those few unmentionable hours on the Road to Hell).

Aloha, Hawaii. Mahalo from the bottom of my heart.

--Kiliki (Christie in Hawaiian)

Posted by ShoZu

Giving up halfway to Hana


Let's just say the Road to Hana (or Road to Hell, as we are calling it) is now paved with something other than good intentions.

It is paved with the vomit of all three of my children.

It is a winding, one-lane recipe for car sickness with no room on either side to even stop and puke.

Solution? Let the poor babies hang their heads out the window and let loose on the side of the car.

Please don't tell the nice people at Hertz.

I am pretty sure I deserved this for going on about the blissful trip I was having.

That karma is such a beyotch.

Posted by ShoZu

Hate me yet?


Because I totally would if I were you.

We are here on Maui and cannot get enough of the beach that is right outside our room. The boys are snorkeling so much they have started to grow gills.

Hannah keeps picking flowers for me to tuck behind my ears. I'm pretty sure the hotel isn't liking that, but it makes her so happy that I am powerless to stop her.

The husband is totally off the grid and loving it.

I honestly do not think there could possibly be a more heavenly place on earth. Pinch me, please.

Posted by ShoZu