Flying the not so friendly skies!

I would like to say for the record that most times I actually like to fly! However sometimes the whole process of packing and checking in with the airlines is crazy! Yesterday evening Matthew and I made our way to the Maui airport! After passing through agricultural inspection (God forbid you should take a Pineapple home!) We then went to the TSA check-in and ended up having a problem passing through because they consider jams and jellies to be explosive devices and we couldn't carry them on the plane! Boy was Matthew upset! (Okay that is a huge understatement!) After having to take the bag back through inspection we had to check it on board! OH BOY! I wish I had know this would be the beginning to the worst ending of a vacation because I would have stayed at the resort for a few more days!

We finally both boarded the plane and headed to Honolulu! We were scheduled to have a two hour layover! When we got to our gate and checked in to get our seat assignments, we learned that our flight was delayed until 2:15 a.m. due to mechanical problems that delayed our plane leaving LAX. This was not a good thing! I was already exhausted after a day in the sun at the pool in which I got a little too much sun on my face, now I had to sit in Honolulu for 6 hours!!! We also couldn't get in touch with anyone in California to tell them what was happening because of the time change!

We finally arrived home from Maui at 11:00 a.m. this morning and our ride unfortunately was not at the airport! I don't blame her because it wasn't planned for us to delayed so long and she does have a job! It was just a bit inconvenient since I had been crammed into a small space for 6 hours at the airport and crammed into an even smaller space for 6 more hours on a plane that was completely full! (Have I ever mentioned I can't sleep on planes?) Yep you guessed it still can't sleep on planes!

I do have to say I had to roll my eyes everytime the crew apologized for the delayed flight and in the same sentence would say "Thank you for flying the friendly skies with United, we hope we can be your carrier of chose for your next destination!" Yeah right!

A Drive to Haleakala & Tedeschi Winery

On Thursday we packed another picnic lunch and headed out towards Haleakala on the east side of Maui. The drive, at times was just as narrow as the drive to Hana. Although the was only one 1-lane bridge; however, this time you had to watch out for the crazy bikers who were either biking up to the crater or coasting down from the crater! (Matthew wanted to do this activity! I wouldn't even consider coasting down this road!) (I also won't mention Matthew's driving as he was a bit mad at me from the last blog!)

The scenes below in the valley as we ascended the crater were awesome and you can definitely see it change literally right before your eyes! At times we were driving in the clouds! When we left the resort the air temperature was 82 degrees when we got to the top of the crater is was 55 degrees with a major wind which I am sure dropped at least another 10 degrees! I was sure glad I brought a sweatshirt with me! (because some crazy tourists didn't)

After our picnic lunch at the top we began our descent and drove to Maui's one and only winery. The Tedeschi Winery or Maui's Winery! We got there just in time to partake in their wine tasting and ended the visit with buying some really nice bottles of not just grape wine but a pineapple wine too! You will also see that Matt made friends with the locals while at the winery as well!

Our evening was spent going out to dinner at Tomato and Basil! This restaurant was recommended to us by the staff at the resort and they were not wrong! The food was excellent (okay I was a bit disappointed in my entree but the appetizers, dessert and Matt's entree were awesome!)

Enjoy the pictures!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Molokini & Turtle Town

On Wednesday we went Snorkeling! This was a first for Melissa! We also used our new underwater case for the digital camera! Some of the pictures turned out awesome!

The Road to Hana

On Tuesday morning, Matthew and I took a self-guided tour "The Road to Hana". It is an interactive CD that has its own map and tells you about all of the wonderful spots to see along the way! It was our intention to get going early (mind you, early in the Poulin Household is 10:00 a.m.) Thus after a very quick and unsatisfying breakfast we took to the road about 9:30 a.m. By the time we had stopped for gas and beverages it was 10:00 a.m. Not very early as we eventually learned!

The drive is very scenic and is indeed winding! (Next time: Melissa's drives). Each site is a recommended stop and there are about twenty of them along the way! They are in fact beautiful and very different from the previous stop. It was about 2:00 p.m. when we finally stopped for lunch and we were still 3 miles from Hana and had a lot left to see. It was then that I decided we had left too late! We would definitely be driving down the mountain at night! (Ever seen Melissa scared? Drive down a winding road with crazy drivers behind you and your husband is zipping along the curves like it is a straight-away! I wore myself out just from the stress of riding down hill! This is why Melissa drives next time!!)

Below are some of the pictures from our many stops!

Unfortunately you can no longer drive around the entire island due to a major earthquake in 2006 that took out part of the road! Thus when we were ready to head back home we had to go the long way! It was 3 hours! It was very obvious that there are a lot of locals who drive this road on a regular basis, maybe even daily and they would drive like crazy people! All of the bridges are 1 lane and do you think they would yield...heck no!

All in all we survived and it is something I would do again! One funny note: on our CD the lady narrator began speaking about the Charles Lindburgh grave site. (He is buried on the East side of Maui). All of the maps we have been given indicate the site, many people mention that it is one of the stops you should make, yet the CD tells you not to go there out of respect for the family. ??? Then why is it printed on every map? If you don't want people to come to the grave site, then don't publish it!!! Enough said!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Maui Day 1 - Slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We Have Arrived...

Yes folks it is official we are on vacation!! (Although a few of Matthew's friends have forgotten that fact as he received 3 phone calls from the guys about Monday Night "Guys Night"). We arrived in Maui last night about 5:00 p.m. after a very long plane ride. The flight was very full, but luckily the layout of the plane allowed Matt and I to have a row to ourselves. We had a 2 hour lay-over in Honolulu and took a 21 minutes flight to Maui! The only disappointed is that we did not receive any lei's when we stepped off either plane! (It's a myth...something they do for the movies!)

Our first stop was Costco to stock up on food supplies....however it was Sunday and Costco closes early...thus we had 20 minutes to run around and get everything we needed! Craziness!! The drive to the resort took about 45 minutes and it was dark when we arrived. I will say that the long day was worth it as we drove into the circular drive and stepped out of the car we were greeted with a gorgeous view! The whole reception area is outside. The resort is absolutely gorgeous!

This morning we went to an orientation breakfast. The concierge staff gives a brief presentation on some of the activities that one can do while visiting the island of Maui. After breakfast, I decided I really wanted to spend the day relaxing by the pool. Matthew wanted to check out the disk golf course (yes he dragged his whole bag of disks - 15 of them.) We left the room and headed to the elevator. As we were waiting for the elevator, Matthew realized he had forgot the disks in the room! (those darn disks...) Anyway my morning was spent by the pool: reading, listening to music and people watching. Matthew went to the course, which he learned is not very developed and only had a few baskets. Plus the wind was pretty bad and he eventually gave up....the bonus...he found 3 more disks!

Not too bad for a first day! We will drive to Hana tomorrow...stay tune for pictures!

I am List person

I am a crazy, detailed oriented, list person. My husband calls it anal! I make lists for all kinds of things. "To Do" lists, grocery list, Wal-mart list, and travel/vacation lists. As some of you know we are getting ready to go on vacation to Maui so I began working on my lists about 3 weeks ago. (Yes I said lists as in multiple) My first list is for the items that we still need to buy to go to Maui like sunscreen, batteries, travel size toiletries, etc. My second list contains all the kitchen items we need to take with us because we are staying in a condo with a full kitchen. (Our friends advised us to take some things with us so we didn't have to buy them in Maui.) Like paper plates, plasticware, paper towels and spices. My third list is for first aid/medications to take, again so we don't have to buy it in Maui. My fourth list is for our activities to take like books, camera, games, computer and dvd's. With my final list being of course my clothes. These lists do not include what needs to still happen at home while we are gone, like cleaning, paying bills, doing laundry, etc. The only thing I can say is that when I write a list I actually use it and I cross things off and the list is then thrown away.

However the same can't always be said about my dad! You thought I was crazy about lists, you haven't seen anything yet! This man has lists like you wouldn't believe, again organized by project. Millions of lists that are on little 3 X 5 cards, some can end up in a notebook, but mostly it is the 3x5 card. They are all over the house. Anyway, it seems when we go home to visit, I keep seeing the same list on the counter and not much has been accomplished on it! Hmmm! Maybe it is just my imagination, as we only get home about 2 -3 times a year but it sure seems strange to see the same list over and over again. The other thing that is funny about the way by dad works his list is he can't simply mark through the item. He has to create a grid of sorts when he marks through his items. Everything is so neat and tidy! Sometimes he writes something on the list that he has already done just so he can mark it off the list after the fact! Talk about...well you know what I mean!

In the end the list is what keeps us from forgetting the important things! (if you remembered at the beginning to write it down). Gotta love the lists.

Reconnections...

A few weeks ago I blogged about being a victim of Facebook. Well, I will admit that are some great benefits to being part of the Facebook world...the reconnections with old friends! I have had the opportunity to reconnect with some friends from all aspects of life: high school, youth group, college, church, etc.


One of those reconnections was a complete surprise to me and I find that I am completely blessed with the opportunity to start a new chapter with her. We haven't seen each other in about 4 years, basically since her wedding and my wedding shower. I can honestly say that our friendship was on the rocks. Both of us were pretty selfish (yeah, I know...hard to believe about me) and were not mature enough to weather the storm that cast our friendship on the rocks. As we made plans to meet for dinner that eventually led to a coffee date due to scheduling conflicts, I found myself getting nervous about seeing her again.


All was well, within 10 minutes of being together, it was truly like old times. We both had some great stories to tell that had both of us laughing. We also both had some challenges and trials in which we both tried not to cry. I can see that we both a done a lot of growing up in the past few years. I guess getting married and having a child can do that to some of us! We have been able to move forward and it is amazing to see what God has done with both of our lives. I really enjoyed our morning and look forward to many other outings!

Thanks Rebecca is was great to see you and I cherish this gift from God to start the next chapter in our friendship!

A Day of Scrapping

Yesterday I had the joy of spending the entire day Scrapbooking with one of my girlfriends and met some new friends all while doing it! We had quite a bit of fun (even if it was loud and I didn't know the other ladies very well) and I was able to accomplish a lot in those hours! While I spent the day scrapping, Matthew was kicking it with men and children of the ladies who were at the Scrapbooking Day! However I believe some of the men got lost along the way as only one other man showed up! Oh well. As I understand it great fun was had by all and everyone got a little freaky with the "Sun In" and mouthwash...

The two albums I worked on were our engagement photos and our recent visit to the Getty Museum. Here is a sneak peak: