I learned some things in Maui:

1. You can leave the sliding door wide open on your minivan while you're in church and your valuables (namely purse, wallet, camera, camcorder & ipods) will still be there upon return

2. Day 1 would have been an appropriate time to purchase rash shirts for our albino children

3. One should always read the insert that comes with prescriptions. Who knew that antibiotics make a person more sensitive to sun?

3. It is not wise to fully immerse long hair in a jetted tub

4. When the emergency button is pushed on an elevator you can make it down 5 floors before security answers

5. When children are deprived of sleep and food on a red-eye flight 3 out of 4 will get sick during mild turbulence

6. When the stewardess asks if it's an emergency while your 5 year old is dancing her way to the bathroom during landing you should stick to your guns and tell her yes, it is indeed an emergency

7. Sunshine, sand, waves crashing on the beach . . . only minor details in making the week so heavenly. The main reason it was so glorious? Family.

Dear Mom & Dad II:

Thank you for awaiting our arrival with anticipation

for making each one of us feel so wanted, so needed.

Thank you for your generosity, your energy, your patience.

Thank you for sharing your slice of paradise

for creating 1500+ moments

worth taking a picture of.

I love you.