Maui: Sunday and Monday, Dec. 14-15

Maui Vacation Rule #1: Get up before sunrise every morning and go for a run.

Bonus: On Sunday, the 11-year-old great-nephew JD got up early too and he wanted to run along! 

 An extended viewing of the koi pond on the way back gave this old great-aunt a chance to catch her breath. And she learned that JD would love to be a fish. But not in a pond; he would want to be in the ocean so he could explore. And not a fish that has a lot of predators, so he would need to be a pufferfish. Then as we continued along, he saw some birds and decided he would rather be a bird. Or better yet, a bird that can go under water. Did I mention this boy talks as fast as he runs?

  JD's brother and sisters decide that a morning run sounds fun, so on Monday morning, we have a running group! Aunt LeAnn is SO excited.

 We look perfectly normal under the dawn's early streetlight, then Uncle Galen tells everyone to "say cheese"

Not long after reaching the beach, they leave the path to run on the beach. The old great-aunt stays on the sidewalk.

 Such a great big brother, when Rachelle gets tired, Stanley gives her a ride.

And look who shows up as the feet are getting cleaned up. It's their parents, Steve and Katie, out for their morning walk.

As we left the beach and started the last half-mile uphill to our house, JD informed his siblings that it was a slow mournful uphill yesterday morning! I told him I was sorry I was so slow and he said, "Oh no, I was the slow one. Didn't you notice I wasn't passing you?" He has decided to walk with Uncle Will and Uncle Galen tomorrow morning.

Did I mention that Will did the dishes last night while we were sitting around the table talking? He's such a good man.

The boys are enjoying squirt guns, and JD has not forgotten that Will mentioned a need to upgrade them. Steve pointed out his pride at Stanley's instant unquestioning obedience when he instructed him to squirt his sisters down at the pool!

I believe JD is aiming at Will this time.

Maui Vacation Rule #2: Go to a beach as often as possible.
 The waves and wind were powerful today. Uncle Will took his Go Pro out there and also tried boogie boarding for the first time. He and JD should be exhausted tonight.

JD, Will, and Steve

Will and the waves

 Stanley did some cool sand sculptures: a snail and a stingray. That's JD in the background.

Maui Vacation Rule #3: Always watch the sunset.

I requested that if there was any color in the sky at all and I wasn't out on the lanai, my housemates should inform me. So this evening I was inside and I heard the shouts, "Aunt LeAnn, there is color in the sky!"

Maui Vacation Rule #4: When Aunt LeAnn runs into the screen door in her haste to go view the sunset, it is not disrespectful to laugh at her. Even when she comes back in the house and trips going up two steps and falls flat right in front of everyone, it's perfectly fine to laugh and be relieved that you are not the klutzy one. These things happen and she rarely hurts herself.

We are so happy to be spending two weeks here with my nephew Steve and his wonderful family, as well as my brother Galen and his wife Carol. Happy happy happy!