Drive To Hawaii

For our anniversary this year, I decided to plan a trip for us to take since we have not been anywhere alone since our honeymoon. As I've said before, it has become our custom to make every May dedicated to Hawaii. I found this really cool place in San Diego that is called "Drive to Hawaii." I knew right then that I would make that my plan and scratch the idea of using our Time Share (although it would've been much cheaper...free...but I knew Ammon would really like the Hawaii-thing). Ammon had absolutely no idea what we were doing and since he works graveyards, he was sleeping the whole morning while I packed the car. I had gotten him a Hawaii package including the 50 First Dates soundtrack, Hawaii songs, Surf's Up, new flip flops, Mauna Loas, tropical candy, drinks...everything I thought that would remind us of our honeymoon. I made Ammon wake up early and he just figured we were going to be gone for the day since, well, that IS what I told him. We stopped at Aloha Kitchen and got some lunch and started on our way to San Diego. I gave him his bag full of presents. I always love watching people open presents I give them. I think that is one of the best feelings ever. Seeing people's faces when you give them a gift that you'll know they will love is so exciting.

This little island in San Diego called Shelter Island is owned by this amazing company that has turned the whole thing into a Hawaii you can drive to. There are four hotels and each of them have a great view of the harbor and the water. We got to stay in Humphrey's Half Moon and Suites and I have to say that it was absolutely gorgeous. The plants, the feel, even the humidity really did feel like Hawaii.

Our room even had chocolates on the bed for us...both nights we stayed. I loved that one!

We got a welcome flower and I brought a few pictures from our honeymoon to put in our room. I had even made a Hawaiian license plate to give Ammon a hint about what we were doing for the weekend. (DRV2HWI...nope. He still didn't get it!)

That night when we got there, we decided to walk to dinner. There were a lot of little restaurants there and we decided on (shock) Mexican. It was actually a really good choice and we got a discount and a free appetizer for staying in the hotel. It was fun to walk in the nice weather and quite weird not to have Matthew in one hand as I held Ammon's in the other. (Thank you to my wonderful parents again. What would we do without them?!). Oh, and the fried ice cream? FREAKIN GOOD.

After dinner, we got to hit the hot tub and I don't remember ever feeling that relaxed in all my life. It was wonderful while we were in it, but it was after as we sprawled out on the bed that we could literally feel our muscles just calm down. I have never had a massage, but I swear it must feel a little like what a simple trip in a hot tub must do to you.

Saturday morning we had planned to get up and maybe get a massage or go to the beach early. Well, from the relaxing hot tub run combined with the darkness of the black drapes and the non-existent baby monitor as a wake up call, we slept in much later than we had anticipated. 11:20 to be exact. It felt wonderful if I do say so myself. We got up, got ready to head out and went to Seaport Village a few minutes away. It had dozens of shops and plenty of restaurants to choose from. Plus, the view of the water was truly breathtaking. I mean, who can REALLY resist the ocean? After a quick lunch of hamburgers, (very good ones at that), we went straight to Coronado Beach.

We saw some interesting people who try to make money off the dumbest things, but this guy literally balanced rocks on rocks without anything to stick them together. It was pretty cool.

On our way, we saw a cruise ship. Reminded us much of Hawaii. Too bad!

CORONADO BEACH is amazing. My parents had gone there before and had told me about it. We read how it was voted one of the top beaches in America. (#2 I think). There is nothing quite like the beach. It can be scary to really look out at the water and the magnitude of it. The heat of the sand is just as addicting as the relaxing hot water of the spa. As we were laying there, I thought of Abraham and the promise that he was given that his posterity would be as numerous as the sands of the sea. I always have wondered if Heavenly Father meant that literally or if he just meant that it would be so numerous that you wouldn't be able to count them (or want to!). Either way, that kind of scared me too. Sometimes I can't handle one much less the billions that Abraham has now. It was nice to get to spend a few hours on the beach and get a little sun. Ammon burns, I tan. I got lucky with that one!

So I gave Ammon the camera and he was looking through them and he kept seeing all his pictures with black borders so consequently, he figured something was wrong! Well, the shutter didn't quite open all the way. I thought this one turned out kinda cool considering I actually got in the middle of the black. Pure coincidence.

Another cool shot.

After the beach, we realized our hotel package included 2 hours of bike riding, so we hurried back to get that chance. I HAD SO MUCH FUN! I can't believe how long it had been since I had been on a bike and I also forgot how much fun it really was! It brought back fond memories of Ammon getting hit when he was on his mission. It brought laughs and great views and a refreshing wind in my hair. I was rather hesitant in turning it in.

Also in our package was a marvelous dinner delivered as room service (a much better choice than the restaurant). Steak, chicken kabobs, shrimp, rice, grilled pineapple was all enough to make Ammon full. You know how rare that really is? Included was a platter of fresh fruit (strawberries, mango, grapes...you name it) and a dessert plate with chocolate-covered strawberries, really soft Macadamia cookies and honey grilled pineapple. Man was it good. I'd go back just to eat the food.

Dinner was wonderful so we decided to run and see the San Diego temple. We didn't get to do a session, and the one side was getting renovated, but I have to say it is probably one of the most beautiful temples I've ever seen. It was the most comforting feeling I had all weekend. Just to be on the grounds was beautiful. I can't wait to do a session there one day. We saw Iron Man 2 and got plenty of snacks at the movie and headed back to get a few hours sleep before church the next day (it was a late movie!).

The next day was Mother's Day and we woke up twenty minutes before church started. We actually made it only seven minutes late. We were just lucky that church was only six minutes from our hotel. The talks were actually really nice. I think it is always different when you go to another ward. I think I listen more or something since the people are different. The ward was huge and I loved seeing the primary sing. Always a great feeling.

The weekend ended way too fast, but it was nice to get back to see Matthew and wish my mom Happy Mother's Day. We had such a blast and it was beautiful. San Diego is WONDERFUL and we can't wait to go back. I don't know if there are many people that would pass up an opportunity to go to SD. We'd go back at the drop of a hat. We had such a great anniversary and were so glad that we had Matthew stay with such great babysitters!