Mudder's Day

It really was a fantabulous day. I got to sleep in, Phil took care of breakfast and then I took Phillip and Kiera for a hike to Maunawili Falls. It was described as an easy, family trail by the stream with lots of lush foliage that ended at a secluded fall. I would say it was an easy trail for a family of mountain goats; Not for the mama who's cumulative exercise in the past few months has included infrequent "brisk" walks. After the second stream crossing, I resigned to the fact that my semi-new shoes were going to be muddy and probably wet by the end of the day and I would just have to wash them and call it good. It was at this point that Phillip slipped off a rock he was leaping to, and soaked his semi-new shoes. I was actually relieved and told him just to walk across the streams because then I wouldn't have to worry about him breaking a bone with his acrobatics. That of course did not deter him in the slightest; It may have actually fueled his daredevilishness to see me squirm. About halfway to the fall, Kiera hit her wall. She started dragging and then finally demanded a break. I wasn't sure she was gonna make it, but after I made her drink a bunch of water and eat some crackers, she summoned her second wind.

The path was muddy, covered in tree roots, which actually saved us multiple times from a slippery trip back down hills. By the 5th time we crossed a stream I was convinced that this was Oahu's secret tourist trap. There was no fall- you just wandered around the mountainside until you keeled over from exhaustion. I was beginning to wonder if we were going to have to make camp for the night- I started conserving rations. I know we've been here before- I told them. Phillip just shook his head- nope- it's different. No I'm pretty sure we've been here. MOM! Just keep going, as the lil mountain goat leapt from rock to rock. After about a million log stairs, which we had not seen before and many people many years my elder were heading back up- I figured I had to do it and we had to almost be there. I could hear the falls. The last bit to the fall was entirely along the stream- which is to say - in the stream. By now I had regained some of my currency in wet, mossy, rock balancing. It wasn't until the way back that I learned we took a wrong turn and there actually was a path along side of that portion. But had we found that path sooner, Kiera would not have soaked her shoes and been able to walk in the stream and Phillip wouldn't have done the splits over a rock that may prevent him from fathering children all the while telling me that he was way better at balancing than me.

Apparently the entire marine corps beat us to the falls- so it was less a tranquil secluded spot and more a roll call, on rocks, with a water fall. The mosquitos were hungry, but we rested up and started to head back. There were some new sights to see along the path we missed earlier. A mini pond that Phillip felt compelled to hop across. Kiera, not willing to be outdone or miss a photo op tried a similar move- only hers was , well, not. She ended up swimming. She found a shallow spot and was giggling hysterically. At least it washed some of the mud off. She then got this look, a look I haven't seen in quite a few years. "You are NOT peeing in the pond!" She erupts in laughter. Oh god, I have raised complete animals.' What? The fish do it.' Great. But the fish don't have to walk back to the car in pee pants. Goober. "You are gonna have to ride home naked." Really? You'd think I just told her she was gonna get ice cream with extra hot fudge.

I had convinced myself we had taken wrong turns all along and we would not have to cross streams on the way back. Not that it mattered- my little drowned rats couldn't be any wetter or muddier. I still had managed to keep my shoes dry. My knee was feeling the strain of downhill maneuvers and I was cursing the added pounds I've put on. Like I don't curse them on a daily basis- just more so when I have to lug them up and down a mountain. But I was wrong- there was plenty o stream crossing yet to be had. It went much quicker as the children were wet and thought it was a game to fall in. It was pretty funny to hear Kiera say the whole time- I think we've been here before. Apparently she thought we were taking a different way back. It always amazes me how much much quicker the way back is than the way up. Maybe it's the unknown that makes it seem longer. Maybe it's the experience. Maybe it's gravity.

We put our shoes in a bucket when we get to the car- Kiera strips down completely. I use the carseat pads for them to sit on. I am thankful for the extra waters Phil packed that I left in the car and the extra snacks. The kids both crash and I can honestly say there is a good 30 minutes of the drive home that I was on autopilot. Since there are organisms in the water, I brief Phillip and Kiera that it is imperative that they do not touch Lily or let her hug them. They are to run to the showers and scrub every inch. The wet clothes go directly in the wash. Phil is in the midst of a major dinner prep and Jackie and Stew are running interference with the toddler types. A steaming bath awaits me, complete with candles and a glass of wine. Have I mentioned lately how much I love the father of my children? Dinner was fabulous, complete with brownies and ice cream. That was the best gift he could have given me, other than our 4 beautiful angels. I think we were all equally exhausted. It was a great adventure and it was so wonderful to spend quality time with Phillip and Kiera, I've really missed spending time with them with all the other stuff going on. Ups and downs, mud and all, I'd have to say I am the luckiest mom ever.