Hawaiian Mai Tai

My family and I just got back from a wonderful Hawaiian vacation to visit my best friend in the entire world, Jeana.  We grew up together and now she lives in paradise, and I live in the rain.  Joining us were my parents, Jack and Klaire, and my sister Linde and her wonderful son Jackson who is the same age as Ansen, my 4 year old.

View from the back deck at our house in Maui

We were brave, taking a 4 year old and 2 year old with us, but in the end, I can definitely say it was worth it.  However, there are a few things I learned about traveling with children on an exotic vacation to Hawaii:

1) It will not be relaxing.  Do not expect to, one single time, lie down on a towel.

2) Your children may be totally freaked out by the beach.  One of them will probably cry and ask to go home and the other one will hate the sand on his hands so much he'll run back and forth to the water to rinse them off.  By day 3 of beach day, however, the one who cried and wanted to go home will at least get his feet in the water (as long as he's wearing his life jacket), and the one who refused to get sand on his hands will be eating chips AND sand at the same time. 

3) You must always, ALWAYS sunblock yourself as well as you sunblock the kids.  Do not miss your feet.  This is very important.

4) If you go to visit your best friend, who also has kids (4!) don't expect to actually talk to her even though you spend every day together. (Love you, girl!  Let's talk in about 10 years, OK?)

5) Regardless of whether you're on duty, off duty, things are crazy, or things are awesome, happy hour always starts by 2:00 p.m.

The Hawaiian Mai Tai

I had a Mia Tai at least once a day.  The simple version is only two ingredients: Rum and POG juice.  this is how Jeana and her family roll.  POG is made of Pineapple, Orange and Guava juices all mixed together; we even found some at Fred Meyer when we got back.  Yes, you'd better believe we are still drinking them.  It's a great way to continue the vacation.  Anyway, while in Maui we made these all day every day.  I also liked having a pink lemonade and vodka which you'll see sitting next to a Mai Tai below.  My sister and I had three rounds of these while we sat on the back deck of the house and Asher slept.

This is us after having had a drink on the deck, feeling drunk and taking pictures of ourselves.  "OMG we are so cute!  Look at how cute we are!  And you can even see the palm trees in our sunglasses!  Let's upload this to facebook right now.  And make sure to tag me."

I did have a couple of REAL Hawaiian Mai Tai's and the best of them was at Mama's Fish House.  Jeana and Garrett got a babysitter and my parents and Linde watched Ansen and Asher (thank you!), which enabled us to go out on a double date, totally kid-less and talk to each other. In case you haven't gotten the memo, Mama's Fish House is one of the top 100 restaurants in like, the United States I think?  Or maybe the world?  Anyway, it was easily the best meal of my life.  I felt like we were at prom all over again!  All dressed up, a super fancy restaurant, and somehow still feeling a little out of place and too young.  We had $14 Mai Tai's and ate ourselves sick.  It was awesome.  Although now I don't remember what we talked about.  Damn!

Here's the recipe for the REAL thing:

3 oz. light rum
3 oz. dark rum
1 oz. orange curacao (or grand marnier)
2 oz. pineapple juice (fresh is amazing if you can do it)
2 oz. guava juice
2 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
1 oz. orgeat syrup (almond syrup with orange or rose, you can get it in the mixer section)

My Mama's Fish House Mai Tai with Jeana in the background

Andy and me at dinner

Us after dinner.  I am so full here.

And a few more pics from our vacation just because:

Jack and Klaire - first time in Hawaii!



The crew!



The bigger crew! Man, we made a lot of kids.

Andy and Asher at our other favorite restaurant, the Kihea Caffe

Jackson surfing.  He put you to shame, Ansen.

Ansen and Asher. I don't even know what to say about this one.  It kills me.

Aloha!
-Amber

Kamaole I & II on Dwellable