Maui-December 22-26, 2005

Steve and I were greeted at Kahului with leis from my Mom and Dad! We had such a rough 20 minute flight from Honolulu.

The drive across the island was beautiful. We were able to catch the sunset over Lanai. Breathtaking.

We then met the clan at Leylani's. It's a Tichy family tradition to go to Leylani's for pu pus and drinks on your first night in Maui.

Tuesday night we crashed early. We all had a long day playing in the Sun. (Steve and I especially since we surfed all morning).

Wednesday Morning, Jess, Jason, Steve and I woke up early to go up to Haleakala, the volcano on West Maui. About 3 hours of driving curving, winding roads, we made it to the top.

Jaren and Steve in front of the National Park sign.

Here are the views from the top.

Jaren and Steve. Another view. Jessamyn and Jason.

Sisters on top of the Mountain


Making a a turn on the way down from the top, Jason casually mentions from the backseat "There goes the hubcap". We stopped the car, run around the corner to see where the hubcap landed and there it was: in the ditch on the side of the road.

We made it down safely without any other hubcaps missing.

The rest of the day was spent resting and relaxing.

In the evening, Annie took the girls out for a drink and Greg entertained the boys. After being gone for a little over an hour, the girls came home and found the boys...umm, putting it politely, wasted. Greg made his infamous "snowballs". And Jason and Steve weren't given fair warning abou the "snowball": one, you feeling great; two, you're through; three, well..start heading to the toilet. Long story short, they had more than three.

Thursday morning was rough...Click HERE to read about the Molikini Snorkling Adventure.

After snorkling, we came home, rested, and hit the beach.

In the evening, we set out to do some last minute christmas shopping and perusing around Lahaina.

I took Steve to the Old Banyan Tree:

Friday was a lazy day.

We relaxed on the beach. It was a bit breezy, which was perfect for the kite surfers. Watching them was our entertainment for the day.

Firday night we went to the Marriot luau. Click HERE for more.

Saturday was Christmas Eve

Most of the day was spent on the beach.

Click HERE for more about the Tichy Family Christmas Extravaganza.


Sunday, Christmas Day. See the above link for more about Christmas Day.

Monday was a sad day. It was time to say "ALOHA" to Maui, to Paradise, to vacation.
There's an old tradition in Hawaii that if you throw your lei into the ocean before you leave and it floats back to you (instead of out to sea) you will return to Hawaii.

Our leis came back.

Aloha Maui.

...well not quite. Our flight was delayed about 4 hours. We arrived early at the airport to check in the car and our luggage. After finding out our flight status, we hit up the bar to watch the Patriots game and have one last "Longboard", the local beer. That's when Jason introduced to us the olive in the beer. It's interesting. Try it. We were all half asleep when we finally were able to board...

(Can you see how FRIED we are from the sun)

Christmas in Paradise-December 24-25, 2006

The Tichy Family on Christmas Eve.

Jobe and Jaren outside the condo with Molokai in the background.
The Church in Kapalua where we went to evening services. This is the church where Jobe and Renee got married.

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After Church we came back and had the "traditional Tichy Christmas Eve dinner". Swedish meatballs and leftse were served in honor of our Scandinavian "roots".


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Then it was time for the opening of (yet another) Tichy family "tradition" on Christmas Eve....the MATCHING pajamas!

The entire clan with the matching PJ's on.
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Jadyn was Santa's little helper this year. She made Chirstmas stockings for Steve and Jason. She also put them over our mock fireplace, which was the coffee table...we had to improvise in paradise.

This moment had to be capured.

This is Steve's first time placing a gift under the Christmas tree.

...and in the morning. Did Santa come?

We were good little boys and girls???

Steve, Jaren and Jadyn axiously await the rest of the crew to wake up so we could open presents from Santa.

Shhh. Don't tell, but I heard Santa and his eight reigndeer prancing around...I pretended to be asleep. I still believe. Do you???

Christmas morning. Jessamyn and Jason waking up from the morning sun out on the lanai. Jobe and Renee with their "Hawaiian" stockings. Mom and Dad happy to have all their kids with them.

Dad being funny. The whole gang with their matching pj's and sipping Bad Ass Coffee. Jaren and her stocking (I was a good girl this year).

The best (and most practical) gift given: The "Fanning Reefs". The Best slippers sold in all of Hawaii. Can you guess why?

Chritmas Day. Not a bad way to spend the holiday. Painting Jessamyn's toes, Geisha Red. Jessamyn and Jason relaxing watching football. The rest of the group soaking up the sun.

Chritmas Day meal preparation. Jobe cutting the turkey before we light the manora. Jaren, sous chef, and the Chef

Since Christmas Day evening was the first night of Hanukah, Steve told the story and the importance of why Hanukah is celebrated.

Even though it was the first night of Hanukah, Steve light the entire manora and put it in the center of the window for all to see.