Amy's first day back to school and the Guigang girls reunion

Today was Amy's first day back to school. I performed my ritual, which is to lay out 3 outfits, and have her pick one. Well today I laid out an outfit from Old Navy, one from Gymboree and one from Hechts. Well, Amy is my girl, because she went for the casually elegent Old Navy outfit. Check out the adorable shiny beige top with jeans.

Alicia, of course it is okay for your friends to write notes. I am fine, Rachel, thanks!

Amy's bib (pictured) describes accurately one of her dominant characteristics. Do you know what the word means?

Check out the pink shirt with red letters. This adorable shirt was dreamed up by the talented Lisa Prenni. Lisa coordinated a Guigang Girl reunion for everyone in our travel group. The fabulous get together was in Lancaster, right before our vacation, so we were unable to attend. I know everyone had a great time, and really enjoyed getting the Guigang cuties together. I really appreciate being included in on the t-shirt, even though we weren't there. The t-shirt is adorable!!!!! Thanks Lisa!

We're home

I'm tired from jet lag. However, after our trip to China earlier this year, Hawaii doesn't seem like such a big trip. The time from Maui to Dallas went really fast, and Amy was pretty wonderful. We push her real hard for our agenda, and she plays well. More after the jetlag resolves. Mahalo for checking in.

Here's a shot from our balcony, Keiki Amy and yours truly in front of a Botero statue, and Amy enjoying Pad Thai Tamarind/Tofu at our last meal on Maui.

"keiki" and the kitty tour

"Keiki" is the adorable term for child in Hawaiian. Everywhere you go they have "keiki" menus and special accomodations for the keiki's. Amy is our keiki, and the term is so endearing to me, that I plan to keep it in my repertoire of names for her. Keiki Amy.

Also, the kitty image is a reminder of a lesson I have learned on this vacation. Throughout the fantastic sushi restaurant tonight, there were Asahi beer promotional ceramic kitties. Amy has been cranky in restaurants. I couldn't figure it out but think the solution may be the "kitty tour". See, at home, I only really take care of her in the early mornings and the evenings. Other than that, the saints at Lynnhaven Colony Preschool do the work. So, at home, I am fresh, engaging, and very much a tour-guide for her. Here, and trying to be on vacation and the entertainer, I have let some of that attention go to the wayside. Tonight, I caught a glimpse of the shiny ceramic kitties, and took Keiki Amy for a kitty tour. It helped. It also reminded me that before Amy gets restless, I have to go on the "kitty tour" of wherever we are.

Aloha, this is our last evening in Maui, and this image of Don on the balcony is our last evening memory.

I'm lucky

I'm lucky that you are touching base with this blog. And I'm lucky that Amy is a pretty good traveler. Here is what she likes best (besides the ocean and the pool) in Maui, a corner in the hotel room!

Maui Wowee!!!!!!!!!!!

Shaka brah!

This post is about the gorgeous hunk, Nathan. Wow! Does he look like Mike or what? Can you see the shoulders and lats on him? He's a stud. His girlfriend Natalie is the quintessential Hawaiian Hula Babe, but alas, she is not truly Hawaiian. You'll have to figure it out yourself.

Okay, you are probably wondering what the Mildrew obsession is with hanging Amy upside down. I don't get it. Maybe it was a St. Mary's tradition?

And lastly, Nathan taught Don to surf! He caught at least five (knee high to a grasshopper) waves yesterday, under the tutelage of Nate. He was STOKED!!! Don and Natalie actually rode one in together and gave each other a shaka! My ego is sore, for the numerous times I've tried to learn to surf and failed. Oh well.

Getting lei'd and Mai Tais

Here's the Amester after having received her first Hawaiin Lei and after a couple Mai Tais.

Aloha from Maui! Mahalo for checking in....

It is so exciting to be on Maui and to see the comments. Thank you (Mahalo) so much Mom, Alicia, and Michael.

As we were on the LONG flight, I thought, "why are we doing this?". But now that we are here, I remember exactly why. Maui is superlicious. Worth every minute of the lengthy flight. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Life is sooooo good. (Wonderful, actually-that was for you Michael!)

Okay, everyone wants to know how it is to fly to HI with a 20 month old. Not as bad as you'd think. I gave everyone seated adjacent, in front or behind us a set of earplugs, when we all boarded. Many people travel with noise cancelling headsets, so that is WONDERFUL. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being angel and one being devil, she was about an 8. We landed and I thought, hey this isn't so bad. But then we had the hour long wait from H&*^%$#@ at Budget rent-a-car. It was polynesian paralysis to the max. Amy had a cow. She was a negative 3. She was using every little muscle in that little body of hers to fight, and cried on full volume for that hour, inconsolably. After that my nerves were entirely shot.

But this morning, we all woke up refreshed and have been savoring every sight, sound, smell and taste that this gem of an island has to offer. I am in heaven to be in such a place I love, with my beloved husband and gem of a daughter.

These pictures are of when Amy announced this morning that she wanted to call Grandma. We just got off the phone with Grandma. It is 4:21p EST and 10:21a Maui-time.

Alicia, Mom said to tell you that she is unable to get on the blog due to computer trouble, so you would know she isn't ignoring you.

Aloha!

Rejoice! This day is VERY special...

Today is the 6 month anniversary of our gotcha day! The time has flown. Don and I can't imagine our lives without our little climbing, dancing, joking, wave loving, food loving, punkin.

This adorable character is Pucca! Have a fun day.

Mommies - Advice wanted!!!!

Please post any comments ASAP to help me figure out what to do! Amy has climbed out of the crib twice. Once it was a hotel portable crib, and today she climbed out of her crib. Each time there was no fall, and no apparent injury. Each time, we did not witness the descent. Do we go to the day bed of her convertible crib now? Do we put a mattress on the floor? If she won't stay in her crib, how do we expect her to stay in a bed? Help help help.

Okay, we started out the day with our normal stop at Starbucks. We enjoyed our boardwalk stroll as the temperature was lovely. Amy was so animated in the ocean. She wanted to go under the waves and out farther. She was a real happy ocean player today.

Look at Daddy's six-pack as he plays Mr. Mom.

See Amy enjoy the blueberry/banana yogurt shake at Terra Nova. That's my girl.

Beach agony and then bliss

Amy always has to put her finger in whatever lotion or goop I put on my hand to rub on her, and then always puts her finger in her mouth and/or elsewhere on her face or head. Well today she did a bull's eye shot with the sunscreen into her eyes. And since she doesn't let me come near her face.... there was no washing it or rinsing it out of her eyes. Therefore it made for a very unpleasant start to the morning walk, and thus these miserable photos.




















But then things turned around after she napped in the stroller. Daddy met us and we all enjoyed the oceanfront very much. Some kids cry when they get near the water. Amy cries when I take her away from the water. After we had a dreamy dip in the ocean, we ate lunch al fresco at the Hilton, and listened to the kickin' band, Dreams. The last photo makes me laugh out loud. Amy's pigtail gives me a Groucho Marx look.

Around the house stuff

Here's just some of the typical stuff that goes on around the house. Amy climbing through a big box daddy saved for her. What delight. Amy showing off her toothbrushing prowess. I have discovered the joy of kiddee consignment shops. This rocking horse was $12.00!! Amy, like mommy has to do everything with a cell phone in one hand. Mom, I told you she LOVES her "Got Milk?" sippy cup!