Last Monday a surprise snowstorm—especially unexpected in such a mild winter—created this view from our living room window.
Clara rushed outside and had a blast playing in it.
About a week later, our view changed completely, and we found ourselves looking at something very different.
Clara switched into a whole new kind of outfit to match the warmer weather.
True to our anniversary resolution, we quietly escaped to Maui, Hawaii to celebrate a string of milestones: finishing our book, an upcoming five-year anniversary in July, and birthdays—mine approaching in March and John’s which was in November. We also seized the chance to mark little moments worth celebrating, like Clara’s first four-syllable words: escalator, helicopter, and anemone. This trip is the first real vacation we’ve taken since our honeymoon to Alaska in 2007, and it’s the first time in the 4.5 years we’ve been blogging that we announced we’d be taking a full week off.
We know—that might sound shocking—but it felt right to unplug and focus on family time and relaxation.
We still plan to share a photo or a brief update now and then about our island adventures. We also prepared a few posts in advance so you’ll see some small kitchen progress while we’re away. Plus, we arranged a giveaway valued at nearly $500 that will go up soon—timing may shift a bit because we’re five hours behind our usual schedule here in Hawaii. Even so, our primary goal for this trip is to relax, unplug, and give Clara an unforgettable island experience.
We’ll return to our regular home improvement content next Monday. Until then we’ll be checking in occasionally, but please forgive us if we’re slower to answer comments. We’re looking forward to coming back refreshed and full of new ideas to tackle ongoing projects: replacing the cork floors in the kitchen, renovating three untouched bathrooms, building a walk-out deck, converting a carport into a garage, installing crown molding and wainscoting, redoing the sunroom, overhauling the playroom, and other major tasks we keep talking about when we lie in bed at night—even from Maui.
Because Clara is traveling with us, we’ll share how she handled the flight and adjusted to the time change—probably in an upcoming post on Young House Life. We left Burger at home due to quarantine rules. He’s being doted on by house sitters—friends and family are taking turns staying with him while we’re gone—so he’s not lonely. We call and talk to him by phone at least twice a day; he’s definitely part of the trip in spirit. Maybe our dog-loving house guests will be inspired to make some progress on the cork flooring while they’re there—after all, Burger’s a persuasive little chihuahua.
If you’re a Maui local or another vacationer, please say hello if you spot us playing the role of wide-eyed tourists. You’ll spot me by my ridiculously pale legs that somehow look a little blue in the sun. I’ll also be the one whose skirt has twisted a few inches too far to the right—doesn’t everyone fight skirt-spin?
We’re grateful for the chance to pause, explore a new place as a family, and return with fresh energy for all the projects ahead. Expect a few island snapshots and short updates while we’re away, followed by a full slate of home improvement posts when we’re back. Aloha from Maui—see you soon!