Do you ever reach a point in the year… month… week… okay day where you feel like you won’t be able to go on with your routine if you don’t get a vacation?  Now??

I’m there.

I’m so there, I’m not even here anymore.

We recently took a short trip up to Minnesota and Wisconsin to visit some family I haven’t seen in way too long, but now I’m ready for a real vacation.  You know, one we take and don’t still need another vacation when we get back.

In our case we’re lucky because we actually have family living somewhere we want to travel.  In fact, the hubs and I are self-admitted travel moochers.  It kind of works out when you’re in the military and know people living all over the world.  I can’t say this lifestyle doesn’t have it’s advantages…

But in this case, we’re going to stay with my aunt and uncle.

Want to take a guess where they live?

Anyone?

Okay I’ll give you a hint:

(Pssst!  Read the tower.)

Still not sure?

That’s right… Hawaii!!  The “main island” of Oahu, to be exact.

We visited them in 2008 with my cousin (their daughter) and her boyfriend (now husband, who happened to be my good friend – they actually met at our wedding).  Huh?  I’ll explain that some other time.

It was such a spectacular experience, we decided we needed to go at least one more time while my aunt and uncle are still living there.  My cousin and her husband are coming too, so it should be a great time.

There will be drinking.  Lots of drinking.  Ice cold beer, macadamia nut brittle coffee, and maybe some fruity drinks with the little umbrellas.

And reading on the lanai.  Oh, how I love reading on the lanai.

And there’s a chance we might jump out of a plane.  Just a chance.

Oh, and I’m looking forward to coming back with some fantastic photos.  Not my own – it’s likely I won’t have figured out how to focus my camera by then – but my cousin’s.  She is a fanstastic photographer.  I’d post some of hers from last time, but I can’t seem to find them at the moment (and I didn’t exactly ask for permission).

Last visit we island hopped to the island of Kauai, and as much as I’d like to see either the island of Hawaii or the island of Molokai, I think we’re going to stay put on Oahu this time.

But I don’t think we’ll get bored.

There’s so much beauty…

So much history…

So much…. um…. uh… what is that?!

…well let’s just say we’ll have fun.

Do you have anything fun trips planned for the summer?  Any tips to get the most for your money (like staying with fun relatives)?

Counting down to May!  Until then, I think I can kiss any hope of productivity (except, of course, for a few house projects) goodbye.