Maui

Jonah got us right to work cracking open coconuts…

 …and juicing oranges:

…and even picking avocados at a neighbor’s house and whipping up some deliciousness with it all.

 Then we took a little trip to Thompson Ranch Road where we saw all kinds of gorgeousness…

…and took all kinds of wheels with us for the road…

…which Grace made some pretty great contact with from the ripstick.

 Ha!

 And this guy does even more.

This is Lucy’s “done with pictures” face.

 We had some pretty delicious fish tacos here:

 Not to brag or anything but Lu and I kicked some booty that night 🙂

We soaked in the glorious nature that abounded…

 …and headed back to soak in the glorious cousin love that abounded amidst that nature.

 …and helped Jo cut down a banana tree.

 We went for a stroll in Makawao Forrest reserve which was incredibly beautiful.

We had to take Elle back to the airport to get back for school after that…

Hard to say goodbye to that girl but so grateful for that time we had with her.

…and more time with my brother and his fam.

He is quite the host and chef I tell you.

Our last morning it was time for a stop for “stick donuts” en route to…

 …the Bamboo Hike.

This one’s a little sentimental for me since Dave and I went there with my family when we were newly married.

 So many great memories in that place and we were excited to share it with these kids of ours.

It was kind of a “secret” hike way back then.

Now it’s in guide books and lots of people know about the “secret” but it is still pretty magical.

Jo stayed back with those little girls up there at the second waterfall stop while Dave and the rest of the kids and I hiked up to a couple more.

On the last one you have to swim through this little river to get there:

That spot is where I left my cell phone, so I didn’t get any pictures at the top, but that’s where we got to jump off the waterfall and swim with my niece on my back who was so proud of herself for getting all the way up there.

 Then we all met up back at the other fall and headed back down.

 …and off for crazy hot dogs filled with all kinds of crazy ingredients at this place only the locals know about.

 …oh, and some acai bowls too.

We spent the afternoon at Black Rock in Lahaina and built sand castles and paddle boarded with Jonah’s stuff, and then headed to Cheeseburger in Paradise…the original right there in Lahaina.