The best way to start our 2010

We decided to celebrate our ten year anniversary (coming in May) by taking our first cruise...and WOW...this may be the best way to vacation! We started in San Diego, spent a day at sea, stopped at Catalina Island for a day, and stopped at Ensanada Mexico the last day. We had so much fun running around and spending uninterrupted time together and I had my hot date with me the whole time. We went with our good friends from our last ward (Dane & Alysen), he was in our bishopric and she served in YW with me. Crazy when we get together. Their good friends (Neil & Amy) came down from Utah and added even more crazy to the fun! We stayed up late, over ate, scarfed soft serve ice cream like mad...and I don't think we stopped laughing the entire trip. Good times...
Thanks to the team of hard-working professionals who made this trip possible for us and kept the little ones happy, clean, hugged, loved and not missing us. All the parents from both sides pitched in and kept our minds at peace while we were away...words can't express our appreciation...we love you moms and dads, thank you! My sister also stepped in and spent the night that first morning so we could leave at 4AM and watched the kids all day (and I have to add-she has 3 little ones of her own and pregnant with a 4th). Brit...you rock...thank you!!
We had the time of our lives and we just can't help but plan when to go again!
Here are just a few highlights...
[In the port of San Diego...getting ready to depart]

[Dane & Alysen -- and Jay]

[you wonder where the kids get their eyes...]

[Neil, Amy, Dane, Alysen, Jay & I...our formal dinner night..yum!]

[we won a few daiquiris this trip...one being from our mini-golf tournament between couples...yeah we won]

[karaoke with the girls...a little Shania]

[Catalina Island and a view of our ship]

[we rented a golf cart to explore around]

[Catalina Island]
[On our way to our kayaking adventure]

[we had so much fun doing a little kayaking out on the ocean]

[another view of our ship]

[on a little boat back to our ship at the end of the day. we love Catalina!]{Inside the Carnival Elation]

[At LaBufador outside of Ensanada Mexico]

[we took a cab to this market in LaBufador..we had lots of fun shopping (haggling) and even got ourselves a hammock]

[the blow hole - where the waves come up and shoot into the air]

[a yummy taco place we ate at]

[view from the window at the taco place...awesome]

[a view from our taxi ride back to Ensanada...kinda scared that Miguel would kidnap us or just drive off the side of the cliffs...]

[...we don't look nervous, do we? (we bought a Nacho Libre mask like this for David]

[we headed to downtown Ensanada when we got back and did some more shopping]

[at the end of our day in Ensanada]

see more in our Picasa Web Album
http://picasaweb.google.com/ashleyolson4/TheseAreTheDays02?authkey=Gv1sRgCLfgysbLhJq3Pw&feat=directlink