Young House Love

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Guess Where We Are?!

Last Monday, a surprise snowstorm (in the middle of a super mild winter) made for this picture out of our living room widow:

  Last Monday Window

And Clara went outside and had fun doing this:

  Last Monday Clara

Fast forward about a week, and our view looks more like this:

  This Monday Window

And Clara’s sporting a different kind of outfit:

  This Monday Clara

Yup, true to our anniversary resolution, we snuck off to Maui, Hawaii to celebrate finishing our book, our impending five year anniversary (in July), turning 30 (I will in March and John already checked that box in November), and any other celebration-worthy excuse that we could think of (Clara’s first four syllable words: escalator, helicopter, and anemone!). It’s actually the first time we’ve flown somewhere on a real vacation since our honeymoon to Alaska back in 2007, and it’s the first time we have ever announced that we’re taking a week off from blogging in the entire 4.5 years since we started this whole shebang.

We know – gasp!

We do plan to post a pic or a quick note here or there throughout the week about our little island adventures (and a few things that we wrote up to share before we left, like some small kitchen progress). And we lined up a pretty sweet giveaway (valued at nearly $500!) for you guys, which will go up sometime tomorrow (Monday) – although not necessarily at 10 or 2 (we’re 5 hours behind our normal schedule here in HI). But our main goal is to relax, unplug, show Clara a great time, and just generally seize the week that we’re here.

This Monday Flower

So we’ll return to our regularly scheduled home improvement programming next Monday and will just be popping in every once in a while until then (so please forgive us if we’re not actively answering comments). We can’t wait to come back refreshed, inspired, and ready to tackle everything from the cork floors in the kitchen to the three untouched bathrooms, the walk-out deck we want to build, our big carport-to-garage conversion, the crown molding and wainscoting we’re planning to add, a complete sunroom makeover, a total playroom makeover, and all of the other major projects mentioned at the bottom of this post that we chatter endlessly about when we lay in bed at night (yes, even here in Maui).

This Monday Ocean

Oh and since Clara’s here with us we’ll have to share all the how-she-traveled and how-she-adjusted-to-the-time-difference details soon (maybe next week on Young House Life). Due to quarantine regulations, we couldn’t bring Burger, which is why he’s at home snuggled up to our house sitters (we have some friends and family members who are taking turns moving in to hang with him the whole time we’re gone). You know we call him and talk through the phone at least twice a day though, right? Heck, maybe he can somehow inspire our house guests to lay some cork flooring while they’re there (he’s a pretty persuasive chihuahua). Here’s hoping!

To any Maui natives or fellow vacationers: you better say hi if you see us out doing the whole dorky tourist thing! Just look for the girl whose legs are so pasty white that they actually look blue and there I’ll be.

This Monday Legs

And yes, my skirt is twisted about three inches too far to the right. I can’t be the only one who fights skirt-spin, can I?

Comments

  1. Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says

    Haha! So did you guys sneak away from Portland straight to Hawaii?? Makes sense to me!! It’s such an easy hop! ENJOY your time there! RELAX, UNPLUG and HAVE FUN – there’s no better place to do it! I’m really eager to know how Clara does. I’m convinced there HAS to be a travel life after kids and can’t wait to hear what you guys say!

    Reply

  3. ashton says

    Have a wonderful time!!!my husband and I went to Maui on our anniversary and it was amazing :) the absolute best meal of our entire lives? Joe’s Fish Shack. It sounds like a cheap dinner, but it’s actually a pricey upscale place in one of the fancy resorts (we just googled the name to get directions) but it was so worth the monet and we are usually too frugal for that kind of splurge :)

    Enjoy your well deserved vacation!!!!

    Reply

  4. Corien says

    hi John and Sherry, don’t worry about the blogging and about your readers, just take a break and don’t think about anyone except your family this week!! You guys deserve it. Have a wonderful time.

    Reply

  5. J says

    So awesome! You guys TOTALLY deserve to get away!!! I can’t wait to read all about the trip planning when you return- Hawaii is on the list of potential honeymoon spots after my wedding this fall :)

    And yeah, please let me know when you get the whole preventing-your-skirt-from-spinning thing figured out… I still walk around fixing mine all the time!

    Have fun- I hope Miss Clara is enjoying the waves!

    Reply

  6. Shannon says

    Oh man you guys so totally deserve some time off!! I’ve been to Maui twice and it truly is such a special place! Hope you have a wonderful time! :)

    Reply

  7. Marci says

    We are Maui bound on Thursday so maybe we will see you around. Have been going every year for 5 years now. A great eat is Mamma’s Fish House – and its an the way to jaws so you can hit up two spots in one outing!!!

    Reply

  9. Maggie says

    Such a wonderful trip! My family has been going to Maui every few years since I was 8 and this past summer my boyfriend flew out to surprise me with a proposal while we were in Kanapali. A few favorites: Definitely hit up Mama’s Fish House (per other’s recommendations). It’s amazing and if you want a lot of bang for your buck go for lunch – usually there are wind surfers out around then, which would be a blast for Miss Clara :). I’d also look into Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina – amazing sunset views on the water and awesome local food and cocktails. Napili Beach has two great options – the Napili Kai Sea House for dinner or pupus (and one of the best mai tais on the island) and the Gazebo for breakfast (try the banana mac nut pancakes). I’d also head to the Ritz in Kapalua for the views and maybe a happy hour. DT Fleming beach on that side of the island is fantastic. If you’re feeling adventurous, try one of the Trilogy Snorkel cruises to Molokini. They usually stop at a turtle cleaning station and you should have great whale watching this time of year!
    Aloha!
    Maggie

    Reply

  10. eva says

    ENJOY YOUR VACATION!!! You guys deserve it! Have a great time and ignore your blog, we will flock back next week to hear about your trip and your upcoming renovations. :)

    Reply

  11. marissa says

    Good for you guys! I am so addicted to your blog, but have been thinking you guys really needed a break! Have a great time! Maybe you’ll encourage some of us to unplug a bit this week too : )

    Reply

  16. Marcy L says

    SO JEALOUS! You guys deserve a fabulous vacation! My husband and I honeymooned there in December! The Road to Hana is beautiful, but make sure the weather is good! Rent a SMALL car and beware of carsickness! The black sand beach towards the end is gorgeous! Have an amazing time! Can’t wait to see pictures!

    Reply

  19. bria says

    WOW! I’ll miss you this week but you def desreve a break!!! have fun and congrats on finishing the book, can’t wait to get my primer-stained hands on it!

    Reply

  20. Laura says

    Yay! So glad you guys are taking a break. You totally deserve it!

    I was born in Honolulu, but since I was a few months old I had never been back to Hawaii in all my 27 years. My boyfriend just took me on a vacation to Oahu in October and I LOVED it – I think Hawaii has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. I hope to make it out to Maui soon, because I hear it’s amazing! (I used to live in NC, but now that I live in Seattle, tickets to HI are waaaaay less expensive than from the east coast! And non-stop!)

    Reply

  23. Emily says

    SOOOO proud of you guys for unplugging and taking a vacation! I echo the sentiments: no one deserves it more and I hope you all have a BLASTY BLAST!

    We’ll be here when you get back! xoxoxo

    Reply

  25. Anna says

    Ack!! I’m reading this from OUR hotel room in Maui too! I’ll be looking out for you – you’ll recognize me by my equally pasty legs!

    Reply

  26. Nicole says

    OMG YAY!! You guys totally deserve a break and can I just say I’m glad for the week of no posts (not that I won’t miss it!), but it just seems so hectic some times and down time is oh so nice! Enjoy the sun and frosty beverages!

    Reply

  28. Abby says

    Enjoy your trip – you all seriously deserve some true R&R. Recharging batteries from time to time is an important part of holding onto your sanity. :) Enjoy Hawaii! I am headed there for the first time on my honeymoon in July!

    Reply

  30. Beth says

    My parents just got back from Maui! They took my bro, SIL, and me there 2 years ago so I can’t wait to hear about your adventures and see some of your pics! To the recommendations, I would add Duke’s Beach House Restaurant and you definitely need to get a slice of hula pie somewhere! And search youtube for some videos of surfers at Jaws – ca-raziness!

    Reply

  32. Brenda says

    I’m actually kind of excited you’re taking the week off. Yes, I’ll miss reading new posts, but you totally deserve to have a wonderful family vacation. Plus, I know that there will be tons of posts when you get back as you’re refreshed and ready to tackle more projects. Also, congrats on finishing the book! :)

    Reply

  33. Heather C says

    You guys absolutely deserve a break after all your hard work! Congrats on on your celebratory things this week! Enjoy!

    Reply

  34. KLL says

    I’m so glad you guys are taking a ‘real’ vacation this time!
    I have to say, it’s freaking brilliant of you guys to plan this getaway for right after your home was invaded for three weeks of non-stop book stuff AND for planning it right after the portland trip. If you guys flew straight from portland, you get the award for most genius trip planning ever. Nice way to break up the cross country-cross pacific flight for the bean, nice way to break up the jet lag in stages — very, very smart.

    Reply

  38. Amy B. says

    Is it totally weird that I got little tears in my eyes to read you were enjoying such a well-deserved break?!

    Don’t respond to this comment!

    Reply

  39. Stephanie says

    Wow- enjoy! We’ll all miss you, but you deserve this :) Family time is where it’s at, and even if Clara doesn’t remember this trip when she’s older, she’ll have photos to prove that she has devoted parents who make family a priority and who love to spend time with their adorable little girl :)

    Have a great time, Petersiks!

    Reply

  41. Jen Migonis says

    I fight skirt spin constantly. Sometimes it looks like its on backwards. But that is unimportant. You have an incredible vacation! I hope it is just as relaxing as you anticipate… My hubby and I went there on our honeymoon and absolutely loved the body surfing and the scenery.

    Reply

  42. Leigh Anne says

    Hope you have a wonderful time on vacation! You all deserve a blissful week of R&R and fun in the sun:) Can’t wait to hear about it when you get back!

    Reply

  48. Kirstin says

    How fun! We went 1.5-ish years ago for our 2 year delayed honeymoon!
    Here is a link to some reviews I did on Yelp. There are two realllly amazing restaurants on there and a great beach we found that wasnt to crowded and had great snorkeling waters
    http://www.yelp.com/list/maui-musts-lahaina

    If you havent gone yet, save yourself the $160 and dont go to a luau. The food is beyond strange (And I will eat just about anything)and bland. Though we felt complelled to go to one since we are into doing the tourist stuff. But now we know and will never go to one again.

    Also not sure where you are staying but we stayed here http://maui.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/ and they have PENGUINS and flamingos and big huge parrots in the atrium area!!! So you guys should for sure go check those dudes out!

    Gah. I am so jealous!

    Reply

  49. rachael says

    NO FREAKING WAY!!!!!!! I’m so excited for you!!! And so very jealous. I hope you have a fantastic time, maybe you’ll fall in love and want to move there! Then we can all watch as you fix up your beach house on the cheap. Ha! You never know what could happen right?
    And yes, that dang skirt is always shifting! I had a cute denim skirt when I was pregnant and it was always off center, but I could never tell b/c my baby basketball was in the way!

    Reply

  50. Romy says

    What great news to hear that you are taking a break! You really deserve it guys and Clara too!! Sherry, we all get squifi (or however you spell that) skirts, I can actually end up with the zip in my bum if I don’t check out often! Have a great week, we’ll miss you and get a ceramic coconut or something like that to remember the holiday! Love from my swimming pool in Argentina!

    Reply

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