Fun in the Sun Mostly

Despite icy conditions and a 22 hour "delay", the Milstein family made it to beautiful Maui a little tired but ready for fun. Given the significant sleep loss before we even left Seattle, the family theme for the trip quickly emerged: break all the rules. For example, the kids ate teddy grahams for dinner (what? they're fortified!), Ian walked around in public with his pacifier 80% of the time, and in a moment of complete desperation an episode of SpongeBob may have been viewed. We were THOSE parents this trip... The ones whose kid went stark raving cuckoo during the hula because he dropped a piece of his taro roll. The ones whose kids walked around with lollipops in their mouths from sun up to sun down to keep the whining to a minimum. The ones who gave in to most even semi reasonable demands to avoid a scene.

Having admitted all this, amidst some of the most exhausting parenting moments ever, there were lots of bright and funny spots that will soon, after a couple more good nights of sleep, outshine the others. I'll remember Izzey splashing in the pool for hours with the biggest smile on her cute little sunscreened face and seeing her glee when she realized the flower lei lit up AND blinked. Who can forget Ian ALWAYS refusing to wear sandals without his socks and not once touching water outside of the occasional bath the entire trip. The pool and the ocean just couldn't compete with the amazing elevators at the resort. We spent precious quality time with Grandma Purse and Grandad Richard in absolute paradise. Attending the amazing, detailed events organized by T-Mobile just wowed all of us.
Despite my exaggerated opening, Marc and I are so grateful for the opportunity to go on the Peak Achievement trip. We made new friends and amazing memories that will be cherished and never forgotten as we get back to life as usual.