Aaron and I just took a spur of the moment trip to Hawaii. We were just there in March, but we are trying to use his flight benefits on Hawaiian Airlines before they're gone in August. We went to Oahu this time and did it major budget style. We used priceline for our hotel, but still got a nice place thanks to brother in law Adam. We took the bus everywhere, didn't do any extra activities, like luaus or snorkel cruises. We bought a box of donuts for breakfasts, had lunch at Subway and only did dinners in actual restaurants.
The trip started out a little rocky. Aaron gets to fly for free, but it's stand by so seats aren't guaranteed. Aaron had checked availability about three days ahead of time and it looked pretty open for us so we got to the airport on 6/20 and the agents said we probably weren't going to get on, but that the next day looked fine. Such a bummer when you think you're going to hawaii, then suddenly you're not. I started worrying because we did our hotels through priceline and if you don't check in on the day you schedule, the hotel doesn't have to honor the reservation. Then we got some unexpected news: there was ONE seat left. We thought WE either wouldn't get on or WE would. We didn't imagine there would really only be one seat. Aaron said for me to go because the hotel reservation was in my name so at least we would have a place to stay, and he'd be there the next day. I went through all these emotions on the plane first I was relieved because at least I could check in at the hotel, but then I started feeling really nervous about being there alone. I also got really angry at the other stand by passengers who had suddenly filled up the plane, a couple of whom admitted they didn't need to be there that day. Then I just got sad that I was going to have to spend the first night without Aaron. I got to the hotel and the nice man there knew I was upset so he gave me a fresh flower lei and upgraded our room. That afternoon I went to the store to get snacks and headed to the beach. The next morning I got confirmation from Aaron that he got on the plane and would be there in 5 hours. We went directly to the beach and got WRECKED! I mean sunburned. Our backs were lobster red. We lathered ourselves in aloe when we got back to the hotel. Of course we managed to have fun the next couple of days-we were in Hawaii, how could we not?! Our last day we went for a walk on the beach and saw there was a huge sandbar extending from the shore, so we got to walk 300 yards into the ocean with the water never getting higher than our thighs, and most of the time it was only at our knees, Mia would have loved it. All in all, a pretty delightful time away-we hardly took any pics to prove it though.
Now I've got to get everything ready for our camping trip with my parents this weekend. Wish us luck, it's the first time we're doing actual tent camping with all three kids!
We took a scenic bus route to the other side of the island, there were jellyfish warnings at this beach so we didn't go in.
Our only picture together and the lady from Wisconsin blew it.
Giving my lei to "DUKE".
39 stories up, the view from our room was phenomenal.
