Last Monday, a surprise snowstorm (in the middle of a super mild winter) made for this picture out of our living room widow:
And Clara went outside and had fun doing this:
Fast forward about a week, and our view looks more like this:
And Clara’s sporting a different kind of outfit:
Yup, true to our anniversary resolution, we snuck off to Maui, Hawaii to celebrate finishing our book, our impending five year anniversary (in July), turning 30 (I will in March and John already checked that box in November), and any other celebration-worthy excuse that we could think of (Clara’s first four syllable words: escalator, helicopter, and anemone!). It’s actually the first time we’ve flown somewhere on a real vacation since our honeymoon to Alaska back in 2007, and it’s the first time we have ever announced that we’re taking a week off from blogging in the entire 4.5 years since we started this whole shebang.
We know – gasp!
We do plan to post a pic or a quick note here or there throughout the week about our little island adventures (and a few things that we wrote up to share before we left, like some small kitchen progress). And we lined up a pretty sweet giveaway (valued at nearly $500!) for you guys, which will go up sometime tomorrow (Monday) – although not necessarily at 10 or 2 (we’re 5 hours behind our normal schedule here in HI). But our main goal is to relax, unplug, show Clara a great time, and just generally seize the week that we’re here.
So we’ll return to our regularly scheduled home improvement programming next Monday and will just be popping in every once in a while until then (so please forgive us if we’re not actively answering comments). We can’t wait to come back refreshed, inspired, and ready to tackle everything from the cork floors in the kitchen to the three untouched bathrooms, the walk-out deck we want to build, our big carport-to-garage conversion, the crown molding and wainscoting we’re planning to add, a complete sunroom makeover, a total playroom makeover, and all of the other major projects mentioned at the bottom of this post that we chatter endlessly about when we lay in bed at night (yes, even here in Maui).
Oh and since Clara’s here with us we’ll have to share all the how-she-traveled and how-she-adjusted-to-the-time-difference details soon (maybe next week on Young House Life). Due to quarantine regulations, we couldn’t bring Burger, which is why he’s at home snuggled up to our house sitters (we have some friends and family members who are taking turns moving in to hang with him the whole time we’re gone). You know we call him and talk through the phone at least twice a day though, right? Heck, maybe he can somehow inspire our house guests to lay some cork flooring while they’re there (he’s a pretty persuasive chihuahua). Here’s hoping!
To any Maui natives or fellow vacationers: you better say hi if you see us out doing the whole dorky tourist thing! Just look for the girl whose legs are so pasty white that they actually look blue and there I’ll be.
And yes, my skirt is twisted about three inches too far to the right. I can’t be the only one who fights skirt-spin, can I?
sue says
blog be darned… you’ve so earned a break, just enjoy every nanosecond… and don’t worry, we’ll all be here faithfully waiting with baited breath for when you do get back online…
Tara says
Yay for you guys!! Now stop approving comments and get a massage!!!
(PS: I wouldn’t mind if you actually TOOK A WEEK OFF instead of still having a million things posting and comments being moderated while you’re on a vacation! I don’t allow my husband to take his laptop on ours, and you guys shouldn’t have either!! tsk tsk! Really, enjoy yourselves!)
Stephanie says
We love Maui! We’ve taken our 2.5 year old twice already – once at 13 months and again at 28 months. Napili Bay’s beach is great for kids. The aquarium is really great, albeit a little pricey!
Jeri says
Good for you guys – and so jealous! If you have time, you wouldn’t regret going to Ululani’s in Lahaina for a true Hawaiian shave ice. The Haleakala flavor is insane.
YoungHouseLove says
Mmm, thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
Erin C. says
WOW! So exciting! Have an amazing time!
Rebecca @ the lil house that could says
Omg so happy for you guys! Mike and I went to Maui for our honeymoon and loved every single second of it! Can’t wait to hear about everything you do. Already itching to know where you’re staying since we rented a car and hopped around Maui… We stayed in Wailea, then Lahaina, then rented a house in Hana for 4 days. Definitely venture off the usual path, some of the most amazing things we saw were during random drives or off main roads where not another soul was around… Unbelievable place. Okay I’m done rambling and being jealous…. :)
Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says
Complete surprise! I hope y’all have an amazing time. Enjoy your family time together.
Alisa says
Oh YAY! I’m so glad you guys just went ahead and took a break. When you were talking about going to Portland I kept thinking you might as well roll into a Hawaii vacation since you were already half way there! So great you got to take Clara- I was much older (12) when I went to Hawaii and I had a frown on my face in every picture (oh teen-hood) but it was the BEST vacation my parents ever took us on! I have a newborn and my husband and I talk daily about all the trips we get to take her on when she’s a bit older. Kick those feet up and soak in the sun- we’ll be here ready to cheer on your home improvements when you get back!
NatalieW says
Yay! You guys deserve a nice vaca! If you get a chance, eat at Mama’s Fish House or Gerard’s while you’re there. Soooo yummy.
Kari says
Sneaky little Petersiks! How long have you been planning this for?
Can’t think of a better place to clock some R&R, you guys deserve it! We will be here when you get back!
YoungHouseLove says
We started thinking about it a few months ago and finally just pulled the trigger before tickets got too expensive (maybe 8 weeks ago?).
xo,
s
AshleyB says
OMG, I HATE the skirt spin! It happens to me *all* the time, so no, you’re not alone.
Have a fantastic time – as everyone has said, you deserve it and then some!
Kera says
Yay for you guys!! I was just thinking the other day about how amazing it is that you guys post so consistently throughout the week. It’s nice to be able to look forward to it every day (does that make me really dorky?)! You guys deserve to have an amazing vacation and some real time off! Enjoy your trip and be safe!
Monica W says
Good for y’all!!! Enjoy!
Sarah says
SO glad you guys are doing this! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!
J'Ann says
Enjoy! you guys work hard and deserve it :-)
Julie says
Yay I’m sooo happy for you guys! I had a sneaking suspicion you might be sneaking off to Hawaii since you were already on the West coast. Enjoy!!
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh says
I knew from the first pic you were on Maui. Okay, now I have to tell you where to go while there. Go to Haliimaile General Store, get the crab pizza and the mac nut tart and thank me later. (Tell Bev we said hi and will see her 2 months)
Cinnamon Roll Fair, Ululani’s Shave Ice, Okazuya & Deli Honokowai (Best teri steak!), T Komoda for the malasada stick and if you’re in Kihei go to Da Kitchen. (It’s no mistake most of those places will hop you guys up on sugar. Sorry!) Paia Fish Company is also really good. Yelp ’em all, have fun and have a great time! Aloha and a hui hou!
YoungHouseLove says
Love all these tips!
xo,
s
eileen marie says
So excited for you guys!! Maui is amazing!! We were there for…Spring Break last year, I think? (We’re pretty spoiled & travel a lot!) Have the best time!! Bring back some black sand for us! ;).
Ann L. says
OMG so excited for you guys—you deserve the break, and to take it in Maui? So totally jealous! Enjoy every minute and looking forward to next week when you return.
Kate says
Can’t wait to hear all about it. Now do this every year!
Tracy says
Ooohhhhh….enjoy your vacation! You guys totally deserve it with all the craziness that’s been going on lately. Don’t even think about the blog while you’re gone, if that’s even possible.
Julie says
Yay! You all so deserve this break. I can’t wait to see what you bring back to remind you of the islands. Doesn’t it smell so wonderful there? It’s like waking up in a flower shop. Enjoy, and see you next week!
D says
wow, jealous! have a great trip!
Holly says
Enjoy your vacation! The two of you (and Clara) really deserve this time away – have a great time! And a happy early b-day to Sherry!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks!
xo,
s
Holly says
Oh, and another one of my favorite bloggers (dailygarnish.com) just got back from a week in Hawaii – she has some good tips/ideas for travel. Her son is four months, so a bit younger than Clara, but still useful for traveling with a young one.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks! Will have to check it out!
xo,
s
NoraK says
So glad to hear it – you guys totally deserve an unplugged break! Enjoy the beach for those of us in the cold!
Brenda says
So happy for you guys, you always work so hard! Don’t allow yourselves to start getting drawn to the blog, just relax. We don’t need to see comment responses till you get back! My husband and I spent a week in Hawaii two years ago around the same time of year, it was beautiful. Spend as much time in Waikiki as you can, best weather.
Brooke says
We just returned from Maui…we were there 2/9-2/17. It’s lovely. Be sure to go whale watching. Ultimate whale watching is one of the best…out of lahaina. Breakfast at the gazebo or seahorse in napili to see lots of morning whale activity. “baby beach” off puunoa place & front street in lahaina is a great spot & very safe for kids. Enjoy!
Lori H says
Have a great time. You deserve it!
kena says
Love Clara’s wooly mammoth white furry hat. Too cute.
I woudn’t have even noticed the skirt spin…just know that you are not alone in that fight to keep one’s skirt in line.
Deanna Divino says
I am SOOOOOO proud of you guys for doing this! I have had to wonder if you ever sleep!?!? You deserve this, times 10! I hope your family vacation is the best yet!
Enjoy the sunshine!
Shelley says
Have a wonderful time! We honeymooned in the Hawaiian islands almost 14 years ago and it was the most amazing trip! Enjoy this special family time!
Melissa says
This is so awesome!! I’m excited for you guys. Maui is amazing!!! Have fun!!! Like everyone has been saying, you deserve it!!
Michelle says
Wow, if anyone deserves a vacation it’s you guys! Have a great time!!
Kalyn Mace-Guilloux says
enjoy your much deserved vacay!!
schmei says
GOOD. FOR. YOU. I was seriously wondering how you made it through the last couple of months – now I know you had a great vacation to look forward to!
Now please just ignore all these comments, catch some rays, and build sand castles with that cute kid. All your readers will still be here next week.
Hannah says
Officially jealous!! But you guys definitely deserve a break! Enjoy! Looking forward to all the details & pictures once you guys get back. :)
Rachel says
So happy you guys are taking a real vacay, you deserve it!! You’re the most hard working bloggers around! Can’t wait to hear all about beautiful Hawaii.
Lisa says
Have a blast! You deserve it!
Lauren says
ive always been amazed that you work all the time!! you totally deserve a vacay, and Hawaii is the place to have it for sure!! We spent a week on oahu and kauai in January, and cant wait to go back!
michelle says
what, taking a vacation? no no, you can’t do that. you need to keep posting daily so i can have my yhl fix. nope, vacations are unacceptable!
jk, hope you all have a fantastic time because you all definitely deserve it! can’t say i’m not jealous right now! :) :) :)
Hannah says
Oh yay yay yay! I am so proud of your guys for sneaking away and taking time for yourselves! Enjoy every minute! We went to the Big Island last year and I was a Hawaii skeptic when we left…it took about 2 minutes there to change that opinion! Have so much!!!! xoxo
Kate says
What a wonderful treat! I hope you love it there!! My cousin moved there after college and has never moved back :). Married a man from Maui, has two kiddos… It’s a fantastic place and I hope you enjoy!
And Sherry, you are definitely not the only one to suffer from skirt drift. I don’t understand that phenomenon…
Robin @ our semi organIc life says
Congrats and enjoy. You deserve it! And yes I get skirt twist action (in the summer – lucky!)
Courtney says
Congratulations! Enjoy your week in Hawaii, and your week off – it’s much deserved! Also, skirt spin is the worst – mine have been known to do a 180 on my walking commute to work.
Rachel G. says
SO EXCITING! Hope you three enjoy a much-deserved week off. And yes, I’m really jealous. I have had a recent hankering to go to Hawaii! I wondered what was up when I saw you guys Tweet and what I thought was 3 or 4 o’clock this morning. Seemed a little weird!
My daughter was born on 5/17 so is about a year younger than Clara. I will be very interested to hear how she did with traveling and sleeping in a hotel room and also if you guys felt like you were able to fully enjoy your vacation with her in tow (did you miss out on some excursions? was it weird being in the hotel room so early each evening?). I really want to take our daughter on a fun vacation next spring too when she is almost two, but want to make sure it is something we all enjoy.
Have fun! Relax!
Cate says
We took our just turned 1 year old to Bermuda last summer and had a blast. He did great in both plane rides (neither were too long) and had a big time at the beach and pool all week. (We’ve since flown on a much longer flight to CA and he also did well – we took DVDs and the laptop and he enjoyed watching movies). We were back in our room after dinner so he could go to bed, but it didn’t bother us. We read or watched a movie after he was asleep and then usually turned in early ourselves – being in the sun all day is tiring :)
Gwenalyn says
Live it up guys! I am so jealous! One day I hope to venture to Hawaii, until then our spring break will be spent at the Great Wolf Lodge (in the toddler pool of course)! You three deserve a vacation. Enjoy, be warm, and have FUN! Can’t wait to hear about your adventures when you get back!
Rloe says
Skirt spin – ha! You guys are great! Enjoy the time off.
Nina says
UGH! Skirt spin! I hate it so much. And the skirt shimmy up. I actually didn’t wear a denim skirt at all last summmer, I got so tired of pulling it down and twisting it around.
Have Fun!
Erin C says
I’m so happy for you guys! I was actually thinking you needed a break when I was reading about all the book craziness going on in your house. I bet you miss Burger!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! Apparently he doesn’t seem to miss us much though (according to our house sitters). Haha. That stinker!
xo,
s
Michelle says
Have a great vacation! You guys so deserve it. I’m kinda embarrassed to admit I’ll miss you a little bit!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Michelle! And everyone else! You’re all so sweet. Best readers ever.
xo,
s