21 Days for 25 Years - Day 2

My three youngest had no idea they were even in Hawaii. We got in so late that we moved their tired bodies from the car to the fold-out bed in the living room of the condo. When they awoke to the sound of crashing waves, they immediately woke each other up and rushed out the sliding door to see something they’d never seen before…the ocean.

They didn’t get very far; the bright green grass caught their eyes. Before they made it to the sea wall, they engaged in a riveting game of tag, complete with intentional falls and rolls. They looked like puppies let outside to freedom for the first time.

Out of breath, they eventually made it to the sea wall. Ocean as far as their little eyes could see and a perfectly positioned double rainbow for the icing on the cake. They had arrived at this magical place I’d been talking about for years, and they couldn’t be happier.

The next few hours were a whirlwind. So much pent-up excitement had to get out, so we proceeded to literally “do it all” before lunch. We splashed in the waves, built sandcastles in the sand, swam in the pool, dipped in the jacuzzi, played shuffleboard and mini golf, and walked up and down the beach collecting seashells more times than I can count.

Coming from the Arizonian desert, this place was like cold water on a hot day…perfection. Most of our family vacations since Covid have been about three days long. I think they believed all this heaven on earth was an illusion and one that wouldn’t last long, so they had to act fast to soak it all in.

In Arizona, we can feel ourselves being cremated, so it’s obvious to avoid the sun. However, here, the weather and sunshine felt so good we completely forgot to wear sunscreen, turning Jubilee into Cherries Jubilee and Solly’s little buzzed head into a bright red tomato. Lesson learned.

We ended the day completely exhausted and once again with Solly, a tish punch drunk. This time, Jubilee must have had what Solly had, and as she was getting ready for bed, she began uncontrollably giggling.

Peering around the corner, I saw her sitting here like this and asked, “What in the world is going on in here?” More giggling, and then finally, in between breaths, she managed to get out, “There’s a safe in our room. So, I locked Abby’s shoes in there.” More uncontrollable giggling.

Clearly, they all needed sleep, and I shook my head, realizing just how crazy this day had made them, and then announced, “Alright, goofballs, time for bed.” Solly looked around and ran through the condo. After inspecting every square inch of the place, he asked, a bit stressed, “But Mommy, where is my bed?” We must have folded up the hide-a-bed as soon as he bolted out the sliding door to see the ocean. He had no idea couches could convert into beds—another first for this kiddo.

The only problem is that he fell asleep again before we had finished converting his bed…again. The question remains: Will this kid ever know where he’s been sleeping while on the greatest adventure of his young life?