9 years

TEC and I celebrated our 9th anniversary a couple weeks early this year.

The Truth: TEC's work sent him to Hawaii for a deposition, and it just happened to fall near our anniversary.

Whatever got us there, we had a wonderful 10 days in an amazing place...just the two of us.



We stayed at the Ko Olina Resort on O'ahu. For the first couple of days, while TEC was focused on the deposition, I had some alone time (wow!) to run, walk around, read, and sit by the pool. I think I even napped.

The rest of the trip was a good mix of relaxation and running around. Some highlights:

Spending 2 nights in a fancy hotel with these views:



Hiking up one side and down the other side of a mountain through bamboo forests to a waterfall...and then back up and back down. We found some pretty good scenic views on the drive up to the trail head.




Waking up early to beat weekday O'ahu traffic and get to Hanauma Bay before the crowds for snorkeling. Added bonuses: driving with the top down on our jeep and enjoying the stars on the way, not having to pay parking or admission, watching the sun rise, swimming with a sea turtle.
Finding boogie boards at a yard sale and taking them to an almost empty beach up the western coast of O'ahu. And then wearing sand from the experience for days afterward.


Enjoying a lunchtime cruise on the KoOlina Catamaran with more snorkeling.



Visiting the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and taking an audio tour of a WWII submarine.


Getting my first ever experience with a migraine at the Polynesian Cultural Center, leaving early, and then going back at the end of the week to use our tickets for the luau and show (the second trip was much more enjoyable).

Driving up to the North Shore for some "shave ice" and to see some of the big surfing spots on the island. Then contemplating getting more shave ice, but refraining.


Testing our upper body strength at ocean kayaking at Kahilua(?) Bay. The kite boarders there were pretty fun to watch.


Scrabble matches galore.



...and of course, coming back home to these sweet kiddos.