A-lo-ha! Part 3

We liked to alternate beach and pool days with other activities so as not to spend too much time in the sun. Our first adventure was a trip to the Maui aquarium. Lucie enjoyed the colorful fish up close, getting right up against the tanks to admire them. She also had fun feeding lettuce to the sea turtles.

Ryan liked the sea life too, though he paid more attention to riding from tank to tank in Tate's stroller. R & L are so used to riding in a double stroller that anytime they are able to cruise around in a single, they think it's the greatest thing ever. He would hop out of the stroller, take in a yellow tang or two, then enthusiastically hop back in the stroller. Ryan and strollers aren't always a happy mix, so this was a treat. Another favorite was his trip through the tunnel aquarium on Chris' shoulders. A hammerhead shark paid a surprise visit above Ryan's head and gave him quite a start (followed by a laughing fit). Aack!

We also took a trip to the pineapple plantation. R & L's highlights of that trip included riding the tram through the plantation, checking out an enormous Jack fruit (the world's largest fruit) and using the fish feed dispenser at the Koi pond.

When I asked Ryan and Lucie about both adventures today, here's what they remembered:

Me: "What did you like about the aquarium?"
Ryan: "Daddy had me on his shoulders then a hammer shark come over mine HEAD!"
Me: "Was it scary?"
Ryan: "Yup!"
Lucie: "Then Daddy had me on his shoulders then I didn't see the hammer shark!" (Lucie and Chris tried to recreate the experience, but sadly, the shark was not to be found)

Me: "And, what about the plantation? Did you like the train?"
Ryan: "As-a-kee (actually), Mommy, it's not a train, it's a tractor."

Oops, he was right about that. We sold the trip as a ride on a train, but once Lucie and Ryan saw that the engine they were expecting was just a tractor pulling a bunch of cars, they both cried out, "That's a tractor!". Tate gave a knowing nod as well. There's no fooling these guys.