Travelogue, Day 1: ALOHA!

WARNING: We want to remember everything about our trip, and since our blog is mostly for us (my version of scrapbooking) and not for my 2 followers, consider yourself warned. This may be way too much information for you. If so, feel free to glance at the photos. :)

The day had finally arrived...the day we'd planned for, hoped and dreamed about for YEARS now, our 10 year anniversary, second honeymoon trip to Hawaii!!!!!! My parents were here to take care of the kids, youngest babe was old enough to hold her own, the tickets bought, resorts, rental car and luaus booked, luggage packed, we were almost on our way. Mom & I took an early morning walk, then snuck out for pedis while the guys tied up some loose ends and kept the kids happy. Kids requested Taco Bell on the way in to the airport, and Little Miss fell asleep 10 minutes to Sky Harbor Airport. This was a HUGE blessing, because I don't know if I had it in me to leave a crying baby. Well, okay, maybe I did, but it sure made it A LOT easier!

While at the airport I requested a people watching walk or two. It's been sooooo long since I've flown without children (meaning high anxiety) that I forgot traveling could be fun! I used to love to fly and travel: a good mag/book, treats, time to relax & people watch, love it! My girlfriends sent me off with a bag full of goodies and PHX Sky Harbor did not disappoint in the people watching category. FUN! We walked, talked, and practiced our self taking photo skills that we had perfected in our dating and engagement years. We're a little rusty!

It was darn near perfect, and then it got even better! All the many business trips Ben takes finally paid off, as we were able to fly first class using all his mileage. I didn't quite know what to do with myself having someone wait on me, bring me yummy treats, drinks, and arrange for dinner with two movies. Not to mention all the extra leg room and the warm hand towel. Very nice. Ben's such a tall guy, it was great to have big comfy seats and actual leg room on the 6 1/2 hour flight. I don't sit well for long periods of time, so it was nice for me to stretch out the leggins, too. I lucked out and got the last macadamia crusted chicken with steamed veggies and rice, and Ben had the fish. We then watched movies, slept, and read pure fluff magazines all the way there. Woohoo!

After we arrived, we drove about 20 minutes to our hotel, the Moana Surfrider on Waikiki beach. It was love at first sight! It's a place with lots of charm and everything about it was so beautiful! There was a huge fresh flower arrangement under a chandelier right when you walk in, and it's completely open from the front to the back so you can see the ocean right when you walk in. There's also white stair cases and pillars with lots of molding, rocking chairs on front and back patios, and it even had the most amazing plumeria smell. We got upgraded to an ocean side room, another travel benefit with Ben's memberships, and that just made it. Our windows were open every night, and we fall asleep to the sound of the ocean and live island music. What a dream!

We arrived right around sunset, so we took our first of many walks along the beach. We were kind of hungry and ordered a yummy appetizer and our first umbrella drinks from the outside bar and lounge area, you guessed it...overlooking the ocean! I had something called an Ocean Breeze smoothie and Ben had a Pina Colada. We shared a spicy crab dip with sweet potato chips...yum! Later that night we checked out the ABC stores and International Market, and discovered coconut M&M's, a new favorite that you can get here at Fry's or Walgreen's. Since it was 1:30 am our time, but only 10:30 HI time, we headed to bed while dreams of snorkeling danced in our heads.

Handsome hubster

This is what I woke up to....paradise!