We needed to find snow in Hawaii.
As it turns out, that was easy.
Earlier in the fall, we had asked our teenagers what they thought about spending Christmas in Hawaii. One agreed immediately, while the other balked, preferring to spend a traditional Christmas at home in Virginia.
After some discussion, we asked our secondborn to give us a list of the things necessary for Christmas to feel like Christmas. Later that day, we received a list written on a scrap of paper. After a brief discussion, we thought we could make most of these things happen. Christmas in Hawaii was on.
The list of Christmas requirements:
decorated Christmas tree
stockings
presents
Christmas lights
hot chocolate
cold weather
candy canes
Buche de Noel
We would be staying in Airbnbs, so we would have the space to decorate and a kitchen to bake in. As for the rest, we’d figure it out on the fly.
For presents, we decided as a family to stick with stocking stuffers and put our gift budget into experiences while we were on vacation. Before we left, I bought various small gifts and stashed them in my bag.
Ah yes, packing. Since we would be flying during the high holiday season, there was no way we would trust our luggage to the airlines. We would be sticking to our usual plan of packing light and bringing everything on the plane with us. We all had one carry-on bag and one personal item. Space would be tight, but we would make it work.
In my bag, I managed to pack my own clothes and toiletries, four Christmas stockings, a string of tree lights, tissue paper and tape for wrapping, all of the stocking stuffers I had purchased, and even a roll of tartan ribbon to decorate with. I was impressed with myself.
We got to Kauai a few days before Christmas and set about settling in. On our first trip to a nearby grocery store, we found a small potted evergreen tree in the floral department and brought it back to our condo. Out came the Christmas lights and the tartan ribbon. I also brought out the Christmas stockings and hung them on the beach towel hooks on our lanai.
Items #1, #2, and #4 were checked off the list.
On a later trip to the store, I bought hot chocolate and marshmallows, while everyone shopped for their own additions to the Christmas stockings. We enjoyed our hot wintry beverages while looking out at the ocean.
#5— check.
On Christmas Eve, my husband made our annual Buche de Noel. He started this tradition before our children were born and as far as they are concerned, it’s not Christmas unless there’s a sponge cake rolled into a log shape and covered with chocolate ganache and meringue mushrooms. Meanwhile, we all sneaked around wrapping presents with the tissue paper and tape I had packed, then slipped them into the stockings.
#3 and #8 — check and check.
On Christmas morning, when we woke up, my husband produced a roaring fire via an app on his tablet. We opened our presents by the glow of the fire and with warm ocean breezes blowing in from the balcony. It wasn’t on the list but bears mentioning anyway.
We still needed #6 and #7.
The day after Christmas, we flew to Maui. A few days later, we drove to the top of Haleakala, where it was windy and cold. Bonus points for seeing snow at the top of Mauna Kea on the Big Island a hundred miles to the south.
#6 — check.
Along the way, we forgot about #7 — candy canes.
On New Year’s Eve, we flew out of Maui on a red-eye flight. Before going to the airport, we stopped at a grocery store to pick up some snacks. There was a Walgreens next door and I decided to pop in to look for some things. I passed by a display of Christmas candy, the prices slashed for quick sale. All of a sudden I remembered candy canes. I found one of the last packages for 27 cents. SOLD.
#7 — check.
I walked out of the store and met up with my family. I quietly handed my husband the candy canes. He reached into his wallet, where he had put our secondborn’s written list of demands, and pulled it out. Not once in 10 days of travel had either of us mentioned those Christmas requirements, nor had our teen, probably because we were having an amazing time.
My husband handed our kiddo the list and they reread their demands from a couple of months before. Then he handed over the candy canes. Our secondborn laughed and acknowledged that it had been a wonderful vacation.
Parenting win, all around.
I absolutely love the list and now that I know 2nd born I can see it... I can see you and P mentally, methodically ticking all the boxes. Big smile.