Signing the guest book like a big girl

I had a great time on our vacation. I think it was so awesome that I wish I stayed longer but still it was great and fun and tasty. We stayed with our friends. I recommend shave ice and Subway. The condo is great. I liked snorkeling and enjoyed making friends. I still think it from now on, I'll never forget. I liked how nice it was.

From, Casey, Jamie, and Eric

Our girl is so sweet. First of all I love that she thinks our vacation was tasty. Eric and I agree. We ate fish tacos and fish sandwiches whenever we had a chance. We had root beer floats on half of the days.

Casey also was amazing at making friends. We were on the first floor by the garden and we ate breakfast on the patio every morning and she'd see another kid out there and just go out and make a new friend. One day there was an older girl playing and Casey tried to befriend her but the girl (also named Casey) told her, "Go talk to your mom and dad." Her dad came over and told Eric and me that she was autistic and that the girl might not want to play and that she often tells him, "Go talk to Mom." (Actually a very nice way to say "Go away" don't you think?) I told him that most likely our Casey would try again. A few minutes later she got her backpack out and sat on the sidewalk for about 10 minutes playing with whatever was inside. Then she tried again and the girl played with her. After a while she came back smiling and whispered to me, "We're friends now!" 

Shave ice and hanging with Kyle and Cami

Favorite snorkel spot

We went a little south of Makena for the best snorkeling spot. It was a little deeper there so Eric put Casey sideways on a boogie board and she just stuck her head right in the water. We saw this turtle! Casey had to draw a picture of a baby animal and tell three facts about it for her sharing this week, so she picked green sea turtles.

Smoothies by the pool, a Chinese lesson, a hula dance and Shirley Temples at the luau, and accidental Mouseketeer

Veronica made smoothies with pog juice and brought them down to our nice warm pool at the condo.

Cami joined Casey for her Chinese lesson on skype. They were practicing the word for feet.

Max and Jonah wanted to go to a luau so we decided to join them. The food was pretty gross and so were the drinks, but the show was great. When they called for people in the audience to go up to try it out, of course Casey went up. Kyle, Cami, and Ellie wouldn't go with her, but Max's nieces were there (they take hula lessons and compete in hula!) so Casey went up with them. Once she got up there she was VERY serious. No smiling. But she did it. She's so brave! After the show, Casey and Ellie went right up to all the dancers to meet them and congratulate them. Casey went up to the guy with the red, uh, outfit(?) and said, "Did you do the one with the fire?" and he said yes, and she gave him five and said, "AWESOME!"

I have to learn how to crop photos so I can get the kids out of the last picture of me and my new boyfriend.

A swim and late night movie party

For two nights in a row Max and Jonah had us over to the giant and beautiful house they rented. The kids swam and played like crazy and Jonah cooked like crazy. Awesome parties. The adults had a great time too.

Shnerkeling

I love the blue nails in the first picture. Can you tell she was into snorkeling? The first day we went to Olowalu which is nice and shallow. (Deeper than shown in the picture, of course.) Casey snorkeled like a champ - just kept her head right in the water. She had practiced a lot in the bathtub (no joke) and a lot more in the pool. When our girl gets determined, look out.

Whale watching

We thought the whale watching season was over but there were still a lot of them sticking around. We saw a lot of humpback whales and the guide was surprised to see some melon headed whales. He even got his camera out to take some pictures. It was a hot hot ride so we went straight to shave ice afterwards. Casey is a fan of grape, lemon-lime, and cherry combo. I stuck to the pineapple ice cream. Eric got both. Why choose?

Which way to the beach?

Aloha! We are in Maui!! Casey, Cami, and Kyle are ready to party.

Ava's pony party

Science Fair

Fun with the big kids