Snowshoein' with Steve

Steve and I finally took the opportunity to use our snowshoes we got for Christmas from Steve’s mom.

We have been waiting for some snow because we figured we could just, you know, go out and snowshoe since there are plenty of trails all over our neighborhood. Unfortunately there really hasn’t been any snow to speak of since Christmas, so we decided to go to where the snow was.

We dropped off the kids at New Grandma’s and set off for Millcreek Canyon.

It was a very warm day, so we decided not to even wear our coats. Just a few sweatshirt layers was plenty.



We put on our gear and started off on the trail. Neither one of us had ever gone snowshoeing before, but it turned out to be no harder than just walking, although, you do have to walk a little wider than normal to accommodate the snowshoe.

It was so fun to plow through the fresh powder and hike up the snow covered hillside as far as we could. Every once in a while a tree branch would give way and drop a big load of snow to the ground below. Every time it happened I assumed it was an avalanche and jumped into Steve’s arms like a scaredy-cat.

My biggest realization was that this was my first mountain snow experience. I had never been to the mountains during winter time. Is that sick or what? I don’t ski, but I never realized I had never really recreated in anyway in mountain snow. What is wrong with me?

We loved it. It was so fun and refreshing to be outside like that. The pine trees smelled so good. The creek was rushing downstream providing such a nice background sound.

There was a steady stream of cross country skiers using the trail as well as just people walking with their dogs.


We saw tons of little kids less than 7 years old I would say, skiing with their families. It really made me want to cross country ski which I have never had a desire to do before.

Anyway…we had such a blast together figuring out our snowshoes.
We really do have the greatest snow on earth. It was so powdery, fine and dry. Amazing.

Anyway…everyone should snowshoe. It takes no special skill or ability. Plus, it’s free once you have the shoes. We did it for 2 hours and had a great time and got in some great exercise.


It’s a far cry from Maui, but since we’re here we may as well make the best of it.

Sunday Sunday...love that day

Jan 31, 2010

And full of promise it was. At first sun, we finally allowed the children out of their beds. They were ecstatic. They had no idea how it happened but they knew they weren’t in Utah anymore. They ran right out onto the Lanai (patio) to see what the world was like in Maui. They liked what they saw.

Since we are incredibly righteous, and it was Sunday and there was a ward close by, we went to Hawaii Church.

Let me just tell you. Hawaii church is way better than Utah church. I mean really…Does Utah church greet you with organ music piped outside so you can hear it when you walk in? Does Utah church greet you with flowers that look like this?

Does Utah church have a view like this?

No. It does not. I am really feeling it in Kihei. Plus, people, including the bishopric wear fresh flower lei’s to church, yes they do and it’s awesome.

Upon entering the church we were greeted by the sister missionaries. Upon seeing their name badges and realizing they had missionaries in Maui, I immediately got super jealous. Me spending my missionary time in frigid upstate New York. Some things are just so unfair.

Alyssa fell asleep almost immediately after the meeting started and slept on Steve the entire time. Sunny was her usual self and we spent most of the time roaming the halls socializing with other babies in the foyer, which was fine because I really couldn’t sit. My back still hurt from the long plane ride the day before.

One of the speakers (whom I heard from the foyer) started his talk by saying that he had been assigned to speak in church three weeks earlier. He mentioned how he had wanted to look his best, so he sent all his church clothes to the dry cleaner to have them cleaned and pressed, and that he had forgotten to pick them up. So…he just didn’t show up. He was to embarrassed to speak in jeans and a nice shirt so he didn’t come. He apologized to the bishop who was kind enough to give him another opportunity to speak. Too funny not to share.

While in the foyer I met a nice little daddy (who lived in Kihei but was from Syracuse Utah) with a new baby boy 4 months old. We sat a talked for a while. When I got up to leave I noticed that he was in a little bit of a situation. His baby had the runs, and the diaper had soaked the entire front of the babies outfit, and a lot of the dad’s shirt as well. It was literally dripping off the two of them and onto the floor. The guy described his wife (who was sitting in the chapel) and where she was sitting. I had the fine opportunity of approaching this stranger and introducing myself and then telling her about the situation her husband was in out in the foyer. That was fun.

Once church was over we explored all the beautiful foliage surrounding the church before we left. My dad found this really beautiful Book of Mormon flower plant.

It really was an awesome thing to experience. Everyone should get go to church in Kehei. Even walking through the church parking lot is tons of fun in Maui.

Side Bar: Alyssa calls Maui “Meow-ie” and Hawaii “Haweye” and no one tell her it’s anything different. It’s too cute to change.

We went back to the condo and had a BBQ chicken dinner with my mom and dad. It was a perfect Sunday feast. Charlie BBQed the chicken on the grill and we made a green salad, cut up a fresh pineapple, grilled zucchini, and bisquick biscuits. It was all delicious and really hit the spot.

Throw a stone at us if you must, but after dinner we headed off to the beach. Kamaeole Beach One to be exact. There are only so many days you are in Maui, you know…you have to make the most of them.

The weather was perfect. Sunny loved the water more than anyone, although Alyssa really enjoyed it too. They also really loved being in the sand and wearing their hats and swim suits.
They are both allergic to sunscreen on their faces, so they had to wear a hat the entire time they were in the sun which they did not love, what are the other options? None.

We had a great first day. There is nothing quite like being at the beach.

Grandpa Charlie is a total beach bum. He spent some time in Hawaii as a child and learned to really really love it. If you would let him, he’d be at the beach from sunrise to well after sunset. He’d take all his meals at the beach and still be totally bummed if you told him it was time to go.

The girlies loved playing with Grandpa at the beach. He really loves to bury kids at the beach. He buried Alyssa last time and buried Sunny this time. Steve also tells me someone always got buried at the beach when they went as children. Maybe that’s just what you do, I’ve actually not spent that much time at the beach in my lifetime.

Our main event at the beach was excavating a giant hole in the sand. We dug down at least three and a half feet. Occasionally a wave would make it that far up and fill the hole with water. The girls got a real kick out of that saying it was their swimming pool.

It was interesting to see how the edges of the hole would collapse when the water came in. It was like watching a fast forward version of hillside erosion.

We also enjoyed watching the Humpback Whales, who also vacation in Maui during the winter, jump and slash about a quarter mile off the coast closer to the other island of Kaholaave.
You had to use binoculars to see them, but they were most definitely there, dozens of them. So interesting and fascinating.

After several hours at the beach we headed back to the condo, but stopped by the pool to rinse most of the sand off. The condo had a really nice pool which we made great use of that day. Alyssa was really excited to see and play with some other kids. She was getting pretty desperate for some kids her age already. Alyssa insists she can swim and can hold her breath underwater, but all evidence would say otherwise. I guess I need to get her into a swimming lesson.

After the swim we got ourselves cleaned up. I again sprayed by self with some self tanner spray. As I had done several times previously. Charlie (the tan master) was noticeably impressed with my new found golden brown skin. Thanks Loreal ultra-fine mist bronzing spray. You make me look awesome albeit a little patchy and orange in places, but overall not too bad for a do it yourself spray. I even sprayed Steve, it looked nice on him but he wouldn’t let me do it enough to make it as dramatic as mine.

It was so nice to have people to entertain the kids while I showered and got ready.

The kids loved living with grandma and grandpa for a week, that is for sure.

Once we were showered and looked like our fabulous selves again we headed off to catch the sunset in Maui, which is one of the main reasons anyone should go to Maui.

Posing for pics at sunset.


Picking flowers and sunset. Picking flowers is fun anytime!


This sunset did not disappoint, and it'sa good thing because the rest of the sunsets did. Each day after except our last night a bank of clouds would roll up on the horizon and block the sunset. We were robbed. But on the bright side we did get this one.

Then to my favorite place which I had such fond memories of last time…Da Kitchen for dinner.

Da Kitchen serves Plate Lunches. Which means you get your choice of delectable meat but if you choose anything but their teriyaki beef you are a sucker and then two sides, either rice which you are also a sucker if you don’t get and then green salad or potato-mac salad. The beef tastes basically like a warm and soft beef jerky. Yum!

We got one meal and split it between the four in our family. Luckily each of the children only eat a tablespoon or two of food in any one sitting. I don’t know what we’ll do when they actually demand their own meal. We’ll be broke.

During our meal which was with our whole group, I looked up and noticed the whole sky had turned orange. We thought we had seen the whole sunset, but we were wrong. The best part happened after we left when it light the whole sky. Incredible. Nature at it's best, you could tell even from inside a hole-in-the-wall restuarant.

The food was as amazing as I remembered. Maybe better. I think last time we each got our own meal and sometimes too much of a good thing is not a good thing. It was better this time. The kids really enjoyed the sticky rice. I can’t say that I blamed them, because it was amazing. Not sure how plain old rice can be so great, but then again, everything in Hawaii is great.

My only regret is that I did not take a picture of my scrumptios food. Sorry.

Side Bar: Alyssa from the moment the wheels of the airplane touched down wanted to start picking flowers. “Can I pick a flower?” was her most commonly uttered phrase. There are a lot of flowers to be picked in Hawaii, they grow everywhere like weeds, but still…it breaks my heart to pick a flower. But it also breaks my heart to tell my beautiful little girls that she can’t pick a flower. So…if there were a lot of them, I let her pick. Am I a bad mom?

After Da Kitchen we went to the nearby Whalers store to buy the girls a one dollar flower lei, and a flower hair clip she could wear, hoping that would calm the flower picker. It did not. If anything it added fuel to the fire.

We went over to my Mom and Dad’s condo with Karen and Charlie to make our plans for the rest of the week. We Sokol’s gotta have a plan. Before I joined this family I just did whatever whenever. No more…I have seen the light. You can get so much more out of your time when you have a plan in mind. Did that rhyme just then? I think it did.

We saw this little gekko on the way to my parents room. Alyssa thought it was super cool.
There are a lot of these little creatures all over the place.

Anyway, we as a group mapped out who was doing what and when. What we all wanted to do we planned to do together, what we all didn’t want to do we planned days for that too. The group worked very well together and I think we all made each other’s trip better than it would have been otherwise…how about that.

Then back home to put the very tired children to bed, but not before Alyssa had some good grandma couch time.

I was tired too, but it was barely 7pm so I just couldn’t crash yet….

Once the kids were in bed we set out again mainly because we could. It was so nice to have another set of adults in the condo. So much freedom and flexibility. You’d think we’d have taken a nice romantic walk on the beach. We should have in retrospect, but instead we went back to Jack-in-the-Box for shakes. What? Shakes are good and we were on vacation. You can’t get a strawberry fast food shake at home…oh wait…maybe they do sell them here.
P-A-R-T-Y at the Jack-in-the-Box! We are on the outside because it was closed except for the drive-thru. Kihei is an early to be kind of town in case you were wondering.

Well anyway…if I could do it over again, it would be a walk on the beach at night instead of the shakes.

We also on our outing drove down a few miles down the coast to ritzy Wailea. It is a very well manicured cluster of uppity resorts such as the Four Seasons. They had beautiful canopy trees and beautiful black lava rock they rigged somehow with a waterfall, not to mention unbelievable flowers everywhere. Unfortunately, I was too tired to take any pics. What an idiot. Note to self: Always make the effort to take pics no matter how inconvienient. Once its over, you can't get it back unless you have pics!

Then back to the condo where I promptly fell asleep upon arrival. Thanks to Steve who stayed up to write our daily synopsis or I wouldn't have been able to write this synopsis. The time change does really zap some energy off you. I am a night owl, but I only made it up past 9pm one time on the whole trip. Steve however had more stamina then me, or perhaps he just had a horrible case of allergies. Did I mention that Steve is allergic to flowers? Did I also mention there are a lot of flowers in Hawaii? That was hard for him. He doubled up on the Claritin and he was kind of okay most the time. Poor guy. Nights were hard for him.

And now it's time for a break down

Forward:
This is a long post. I don't really expect anyone to read it all except Steve who I know will love it. He likes to read about the places his money goes. We will read this in a year and remember it fondly. Sorry for the rest of you.

After a whirlwind of sickness, surgery and general business, I am finally ready to reminisce and record the details of our vacation days.

Here goes….

After a week’s worth of collecting our summer things inside our suitcases we were packed up and ready. We headed off at 8am. Not surprisingly, I had the shakes and felt like throwing up as I always do right before we begin a vacation. I suffer from a self-diagnosed serious case of Vacation Related Anxiety Disorder. I shook it off as best I could and was fine by the time we arrived at the airport. Let the good times roll.

We met up with my mom and dad at the park-n-jet where our trip almost ended before it began. My parents were both absolutely green when we saw them. The related to us that they had just been within inches of their lives in a near-miss T-bone accident by what appeared to be a drunken driver in the intersection about a block from the Park-n-Jet.

That would have put an end to the whole thing right then. Fhew…we’re so glad it didn’t actually happen. We refused to see it as a bad omen, instead we looked at it as an assurance of guardian angels watching over us as we traveled. Thanks Harold and Louise.


Once we got all checked in at the airport we made our way to the gate. Seeing Alyssa and Sunny drag their little pink roller bags through the airport was super cute. Dressed in red, all the airport patrons noticed them too. I heard one older lady say to her husband that they looked like little Valentine babies.

Security was super easy. Usually the kids cry when we take their shoes off and send their blankies through the porthole of mystery (x-ray screening). But this time, they were ready for it I guess, because no one seemed to care.

We boarded the plane to Phoenix and made our way there. The flight was super short. It seemed like it lasted about 15 minutes.

Once in Phoenix we roamed through the airport in our double stroller seen here.

Since the airlines don't give you a meal any more we fueled up at delicious BK. Let me tell you. Nothing says quality food and fine employees like airport fast food restaurants.

After lunch and just before take-off, we dosed Sun-bun with some Benadryl. I’m not sure why I bothered, she resisted and the pink medicine somehow sprayed the seat in front of us. You’re welcome!

Sunny powered through the drowsiness for about an hour, but then succumbed and slept, but only for about 45 minutes. Not several hours like I had hoped. The rest of the flight she basically ate crackers and sour patch kids while pulling the window shade up and down. Her most common phrase was… “More sour.” She just loves Sour Patch Kids…Who knew.

Mean while, Alyssa sat with my mom and dad watching her new little movie player. She eventually fell asleep for several hours. Lucky.

After three or so hours on the plane Sunny started to get very anxious. I can’t blame her, I was anxious too. We spent the last three hours on the place walking up and down the aisle. We made friends with just about everyone one that plane. There were a small handful of other children on the plane with us but all of them seemed to me be much more sedated than mine. When all was said and done I believe we had six sets of surrogate grandparents for Sunny (not including the set of actually grandparents we brought with us).

For anyone that intends to go to Hawaii…you should be aware of how long the flight is. It’s just a really really really long flight.

They showed two movies, that’s how long it was. Unfortunately they showed one of the dumbest movies of the year, Love Happens, followed by the worst movie of all time, All About Steve (not my Steve, the title was just a coincidence), which was just plain insulting to our intelligence that they thought a movie like that would entertain us on any level.

We really struggled making it through that last hour, but then the captain came on saying that he had spotted land. Everyone gasp with excitement.

We arrived at dusk, but by the time we made it through the airport and got a car, it was pitch black outside. Even pitch black, Maui is 100 times prettier than here. (Sorry here, but you’re horribly unattractive in the winter time.)

We drove to my parents lodging at The Maui Banyan. It was a lovely lovely place. Their room was seriously less than100 feet from the water lapping up on the sand. It was an incredible view. Unfortunately, there was a lot of stairs even though they were only up one floor from the ground.

After they were settled, we made it to our Condo where Karen and Charlie (Steve’s Parents)who had come several days earlier anxiously awaited our arrival. We were a little disheveled and worse for wear, but we made it with two kids in tow.

Karen and Charlie had been to the Swap meet where they picked up this beauty. Look at the size of this avacado people!
I mean really! We are just getting jipped living here, I am telling you. The produce alone is worth moving for.

The kids were ready for bed when we got there. It was almost mid-night Utah time. I had already dressed them in their jammies while we waited for our car rental (Business in Hawaii is conducted very slowly in case you were unaware. There is never a hurry for anything). They were excited when we got there, but crashed hard like 20 minutes after we arrived at the condo.

When we got there we had zero diapers to spare. I cut that one closer than I intended. So Steve and Charlie went to Safeway to pick up some provisions namely diapers, yogurt, bread, Capri-sun, peanut butter and jelly.

I started to unpack while he was gone and after the kids went to bed. The first thing I went to do was put on my pink flowered Hawaiian dress. Yes, the one love so much and had anticipated wearing in Hawaii for so long. The item of clothing I intended to wear the entire time I was there. I opened my suit case and started digging through it to find it. I never did. I left it at home. WHAT!?! How could that have happened? I was so disturbed; I had to sit down and take some deep breaths to calm myself. What a big time bummer! To make matters worse…I also left my beach bag that I had bought special for this trip. How could I let that happen! I was so frustrated with myself.

Steve got back and continued to talk me down and tell me that I really could still have a nice time even without my perfect pink Hawaiian dress. I didn’t see how that was possible, but I promised I would try.

We stayed at the World Mark resort in Kehei which Steve parents are owners of. We stayed here with them in 2007. It was really nice. The kids had their own bedroom. We slept in the Murphy bed that came down from the wall in the family room. There was a full kitchen and two baths.

I just think that’s the way to do a week or longer anywhere. That way you can eat at home most the time and really enjoy eating out. Sometimes eating out is a chore when you have to do it three times a day. We loved being in the condo.

After we were unpacked, even though we were dog tired and exhausted, we went out. Mainly because we could and it was warm outside. We hit the Jack-in-the-Box for a chicken sandwich and Strawberry milk shake (two taco’s and a chocolate shake for Steve).
Maybe I was just really hungry or exhausted, but it was the best tasting food I have ever eaten. We just love the Jack-in-the-Box.

My back was hurting pretty bad by the end of the day. Turns out sitting in an airline seat and carrying a squirmy one-year-old all day is not so good on the back. I had Steve rub me down with some Icy Hot and hit it hard with some Ibuprofen we went to bed.

Sunny had a very wrestles night and cried and whined a lot. She was ready to wake up at about 4 am (which was 7am here). I forced her to stay in her crib until 7am hoping she would acclimate to the time change all in one day, which she did. Brilliant me.

Even though I was super exhausted and annoyed that Sunny wasn’t sleeping, I was cool because I was sure that the morning would be beautiful and full of promise. And it was.

Valentimes Three in one post

We decided to celebrate Valentimes Day this year by proving our love.

Steve signed up to have his nasal passages surgically rootered this weekend. Historically, he has had the crappy nasal anatomy and has lived a lifetime of sinus infection, headaches and allergies. No more--thanks to MD Keith Finlayson Salt Lake’s premiere Ear Nose and Throat Specialist.

The surgery went very well but was a lot more intense than anticipated. Steve indeed had some pretty gnarly anatomy going on and there was much to correct. He had an extra bone removed, his deviated all-over-the place-septum straightened. In addition he had some Teflon splints placed inside his nose to keep it all in place. Awesome.

As you may have guessed, he feels pretty crummy. In our five + years of marriage, I have never seen him quite like this. Anyone who knows Steve at all understands how deliberately pleasant and helpful he is. This weekend it is all he can do to breathe. Poor man.

We’ve turned our house into a make shift rain forest with the help of three warm steam humidifiers and a big pot of boiling water on the stove. It is very moist in here, but it seems to be helping Steve breathe a little easier.

Anyway…back to Valentimes Day. I’ve been taking care of my baby. It’s weird. I mean I am happy to do it, but I'm just not used to him being so down and out. He is the back bone of this place running so efficiently. This weekend I have played both roles. No thanks.

But luckily today, Steve seems to have turned a corner. I’m so glad he’s feeling better. I miss my Steve.

Despite all the misery we did do some fun Valentimy things this weekend, including:

A trip to the Sweet Tooth Fairy Bakery. My friend Elise, The Cupcake Activist, introduced me to their delicious confections about a month ago. I like cupcakes fine, but have never had a passion for them until I tasted the Dulce de Leche Cupcake from that bakery. Holy Cow. It was the most delicious cake or dessert I have ever eaten.

Unfortunately it they did not have Dulce de Leche flavor so I was forced to try something new. We got Grasshopper, Double fudge and Strawberry Shortcake.

We were not disappointed. Each bite was better than the previous. The grasshopper cupcake was outstandingly delicious. The Strawberry Shortcake was out of this world! I don’t know how they made frosting taste exactly like the perfect blend of strawberries and cream. It looked like the frosting I’ve always known, but its taste was like nothing I have ever had in frosting.

As you can see we all enjoyed our self. Even Steve who was semi-stoned while we were there. Thanks Lortab. Even through the sinus pain and Lortab Steve noticed the extraordinary quality we enjoyed.




What he didn’t enjoy was the trip to Provo which is where the bakery is located. Luckily for me, the always crowded bakery is expanding this month to Draper (by In-and-Out) Foothill and St. George.

We met the owners of the bakery who are our age. They never expected their little bakery to take off like this. One of their sweet confections was even featured on Rachael Ray. So watch for the Sweet Tooth Fairy Bakery folks. When you see it, try it. You won’t be sorry.

Also this weekend we had our annual Valemtines Day Party with my nieces and nephews.


I usually host a Valentime Day party for all my little nephews and nieces and their mommies while all the bigger kids are in school.

Since it was on Sunday this year and Steve wasn’t up to the mayhem that follows the numbers of small children that make up my family, we had it at my parents home (Steve stayed here by himself…really, that was the best gift I could have given him, a relaxing evening alone and without the ever-obnoxious Sunny, whom I believe has another ear infection)






As you can see it was quite a love fest. We had a great time. We frosted cookies, that’s all we did.
It was a big cookie and loose candy free for all. The littlest kids enjoyed it most, but we all had a great time together.


Well, that was our weekend. It was great. We’re glad it’s over. Steve is really making progress and will have the Teflon removed tomorrow, which can’t come soon enough.

Happy Valentimes everybody. I hope yours was a great as ours, but without the Lortab, pain and Teflon nose splints.

PS Steve…I love you forever. Thank you for making my life so easy and good.

To my darling girls...you actually complicate my life a lot, but somehow I am crazy about you too.