Birthday Break

For those of you who follow me on Instagram,

you know I took a fabulous break from cold,

snow, slush, shoveling, ice, (taking Christmas down),

etc. and took my entire family to Hawaii.  Only one little

18 month old was left behind with her favorite aunt.

We had so much fun in the ocean and pool and

celebrating

my big 60th birthday!  How can that be?  I still feel

30 something inside.  

(To create the cake, I ordered a two tiered

chocolate and chocolate raspberry cake

from the local grocery store, then found

macarons at Whole Foods, added fresh roses

and orchids and fresh raspberries.  The cake

plate came from Wal Mart on Maui and I had

ordered the diamond studded Happy 60th

on Amazon.)

Hubby and I went one day early and stayed

three days after the kids left.  

No, I haven't been gone this whole time,

but it was fun taking a break from blogging.

What a way to celebrate!

To be surrounded by my favorite people, little and big,

was the best present ever.

The Grand Wailea on Maui is our favorite place.

It is so family friendly and gorgeous.

There are turtles right on the corners of

the beach.

We offered a photo contest for the kids to encourage

them to take lots of photos too.

(A winner above!)

The only thing missing was the Grand Wailea

Pineapple Banana Split, that we looked forward to.

It was still listed on their online menu, but

sadly they had a new chef and he had crossed it

off the menu.  (Why, oh why?)

Our waiter quietly told us that all

of the new desserts were so small that they were

not worth buying - two bites apiece!  Loved him!  Big tip!!

So we promptly had to come home and make them

for Sunday dinner.

(They also told us that they had never served them

poolside - well we have pictures over the years proving

that wrong!  Time and time again!!)

Click here if you need to make this at home too.

We also got to see turtles coming in to rest

at night.  Yes, these aren't rocks - about 63 of them.

And we jumped by waterfalls.  Who knew the

water would be ice - I mean ICE cold!

Honestly, I have always wanted to do this

and I never dreamed it would be so cold

it would stop your breath!  Of course,

I still had to do it.

They also had a new water toy called

The Fish Pipe.  It turns and feels like you are

on a mile long waterslide.  It was fun!

Thanks family for the best birthday.

You made getting older fun!

Goodbye paradise!

Thanks for coming to visit and celebrating

my 60th year with me.  I am willing to celebrate

all year long!