MAUI Day 3 - I DO

I'm going to wait for the pictures from our photographer before I post the wedding and talk about it, but I wanted to post this pic...or rather, this pic of a picture. It was slipped under the door of the hotel room while I was getting ready for the wedding.  At first I thought that my niece had done it while coloring with the kids next door, but then I realized it was from Tim (sorry Tim, but wait :).....and in an instance all the chaos running through my mind and body turned to calm as so many of the reasons I love him came rushing over me.  Tim is so logical and responsible when he has to be.  He's an old soul with so many wise thoughts and attitudes towards life....yet he is so simple, really one of the simplest people I have ever met.  He has a child-like sense of humor and ability to play and always have fun without worrying what anyone thinks.  He brings out a lighter side of me....one that makes me feel silly and fun and care-free (and anyone who knows me would have NEVER used one of those words to describe me)!  Tim makes me laugh from my belly and smile from the inside out.  He is like a breath of fresh air.  He's MY breath of fresh air...even after 5 years and three kids.

Tim, I love you and all the little things you do, from notes left on post-its to drawings slipped under doors.  Thank you for showing me just how much the simple things in life can mean, and in understanding and appreciating that, how SIMPLY wonderful life can be!      

MAUI Day 2 - (P)LAYING IN THE SUN!

Day 2 we finally made it to our hotel early in the morning and we spent the rest of the day tying up loose ends for the wedding, making sure that everyone arrived and made it to their hotels ok (which they did), and relaxing at the beach...well, as much as you can relax at the beach with three 2 year olds!  I can't remember how many times I said before our trip that I couldn't wait to be laying in the sun, but I sort of always knew that with the kids, it would be more like PLAYING, rather than LAYING, in the sun!

I'm not sure why, but I smile every time I see this picture.  I even like it better than the one that is being taken from the front.  

Ready to hit the waves together :) 

Emma, Timmy, Kallie

My Big and Little Kahunas :)

Playing choo-choos in the sand...no actual choo-choos needed!

Covered in sand....

...."hot"

.....and ready to call it a day.

MAUI Day 1 - MAUI IS ON FIRE...LITERALLY!

So I'm going to break this up into days so it isn't so overwhelming for me...and so that I don't want to procrastinate on writing it anymore than I already have!  Have we really been back for almost two weeks?! Ugh....

Day 1 is simple....it looked like this....

We arrived on the island (the kids did so well on the plane; I really was worried for nothing) and headed to our hotel....only to be stopped by this!  A huge forest fire burning on the island and because of it, they weren't letting traffic through to the west side.  LUCKILY, Kami was with us and she happened to be staying on the south side in Kehei, so we all headed to her place and stayed there for the night...yep, all 11 of us....in one place!  Needless to say, it wasn't the way I pictured kicking off our vacation, but it is what it is, and I honestly don't know why I have yet to learn that rarely does anything in my life happen according to plan :)

MRS. STACEY

It's OFFICIAL!

2 more weeks.....

......until Hawaii!

(Shutterstock)

BUMS

We were all complete bums for Mother's Day yesterday...and it was WONDERFUL!  We've been running around like crazy this past week - Discovery Museum, beach, and birthday partieS (more on all that later)!  So when Tim asked me what I wanted to do for Mother's Day, I said ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!  I think the kids felt the same way....they didn't wake up until 9:15am.  And then they climbed in bed with me and said "Happy Mother's Day" for the first time :)  I had the best day ever! 

Btw, I love these bums :)

*****HIJACKED BLOG*****

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Mommy, Happy Birthday to you.

I know that you don’t care too much for the whole birthday celebrations and if it were up to you we wouldn’t celebrate at all. I really want you to know how important you are to me and how much I care for you. So I wanted to take the time to figure out your password and hijack your blog =)

Falling in love with you was the easiest thing I've ever done in my life. It was a sunny day kind of like today. The true story to this is that the first time I saw you I was in love. There was something different about you that made it effortless for me to fall in love with you. I try to describe it to others how you know that you're with the right person, but I can't describe it, it’s a feeling. The times we had going to baseball games, trips to Reno, going out dancing (seemed like we were still dancing, long after the music has stopped), the several times to the comedy club, just reassured me that you were the one. I look back at those times and my heart smiles. I love you and I always will. You are the love of my life. You are not just in my life; you are my life.

You are the most unbelievable, kind, compassionate, romantic, smart, sensible, gifted, talented, kind-hearted, thoughtful, friendly, affectionate, appreciative, loyal, caring, loving, passionate, beautiful woman I know. Having you be the mother to my children was a no brainer to me. You have been the best mother and role model that any father could ask for. Happiness is being married to your best friend. Thanks for making me so happy.

Knowing that I will spend every day, of every week, of every month, of every season, of every year for the rest of your life with you, and thinking, this is exactly what I want. Thanks for making my dreams come true. Happy Birthday baby I love you. I hope you have the best day of your life. Looking forward to spending many more with you.