Caribbean Cruise 2019 - Part I

Oh my goodness, that was a long ride there. Whoever made the decision to drive to Tampa is fired (oh, oops, that was me...). Yeah, 11 hours through the night is a very long drive - especially when just about the time the kids fall asleep, one of the adults had to pee from all the Coke/Mello Yellow we were drinking to keep us awake!

But we made it!! Easy process to board the ship and we were waiting in line for a drink at the pool by noon.

Once our cabins were opened, we dropped off our stuff and Brock and I walked around to explore (and to sign up for the Adventure Ocean Kids' program!)

Bye Tampa!

After the always fun Muster Drill, we watched the tug boat get in position to help us out of port.

Advice to those who haven't cruised - unpack your stuff in the drawers, then store the suitcase under your bed. It will feel a lot better when you're not living out of a suitcase! Also - if you have kids especially - decorate your door! It makes it so much easier to find down a corridor of doors!

While I was taking a very much needed shower, Brent was watching as we headed out to sea!

Photo credit to Brock!

Dinner time at our family style table....with two other families. I will make note, I did not quite enjoy this aspect of it. We had our own table on the cruise to Alaska and we liked it much better.

After getting about 1.5 hours of sleep the night before, we all headed to bed early that night - asleep by 9pm. Ha! We definitely slept more than usual this trip since almost every night we went to bed the same time as the boys! Haha!

Good thing too - by 7am, the boys were up and ready to go! Breakfast at the buffet, then off to grab chairs by the pool for the boys to swim!

They figured it out quick that this was a saltwater pool! And also that the hot tub was a little nicer at 8 in the morning than the same-temperature-as-the-ocean swimming pool!

Sidenote - thank that lifeguard for rescuing Kade. I had just explained to Kade that surrounding the pool was a nice ankle-deep depth, but to be careful because the middle part is DEEP and he should not go in there without mommy/daddy. I returned to the room to grab the boys' goggles (leaving Brent at the chairs) and Kade apparently needed to test my warning. He simply stepped into the middle section and down he went. The life jacket worked like a champ and the lifeguard simply grabbed him up from the vest, but his head definitely went under - (thankfully?) he was a little more wary of the edge after that. 

We headed back to the room to get cleaned up for a quick lunch......

...because by 11AM, we had arrived in KEY WEST!!

I'm glad we didn't plan anything to do. The boys were still acclimating to the new "schedule" and it was a bit humid that day. The boys immediately complained of the temperature after exiting our bus, so after a quick souvenir shop, we headed back to the ship.

No nap for the boys.... so off they went to Adventure Ocean! Yay - Date night started early!!

One good-looking husband!

While in Key West, I had to wear my Lilly Pulitzer dress!

Two nights during the Cruise we signed up for "Specialty Dining" - another way for the cruise to get more money from you, but whatever - it was a more intimate restaurant and offered a better menu selection than the main dining. Tuesday night we headed to Giovanni's Table - delicious Italian while leaving Key West with a really pretty view.

We actually docked at the Naval Air Station in Key West and got to check out this ship from our dinner window

No pictures from dinner, only dessert - Brent asked for THREE cannolis!

I think the boys had fun - that's one happy (and tired) face!!

While Kade and I were getting ready for bed, Brock and Brent headed up to the Arcade!

Day Three was a Full Day at Sea! This time we secured some chairs THEN went to get breakfast. After some time in the big pool, we headed to the kiddie pool/splash area. A much smaller area, but I think they both had more fun here.

We used lots of sunscreen that day!

Brock was one of the first kids on the "big" slide when it opened that day!

What a cool thing to do on a ship! Kade and I went down twice together too!

That may have been one of the slowest slides I've ever seen!! Haha!

After a super fun time at the pool, we headed back to the room and both Brock AND Kade took a nap! Good thing too - so they could look all spiffy for Formal Night!

Dinner that night... good thing I like sesame seeds! ;)

Special moments with the wait staff - they were so sweet (and patient) with my boys!

Special treat as Royal Caribbean was celebrating their 50th Anniversary!

The boys liked the lollipops more than the cake! (Topper of the above cake was the lollipop)

My handsome guys - after the meal (with lollipops in hand).

I got my wish - one decent picture of all of us! (You'll have to forgive the quality - it's a picture of a picture!) :)

An April visit with the Huntersville Fam

Weekend of April 6th, Brian, Nancy & Maddox drove in to spend some time with the us. Brian wanted to meet up with a local friend, so we all hopped over to Sassafras park for some adventure! Good thing it was one of the approved parks! ;)

"Get me OFF this thing!!!"

 Maddox says "hellooooo ladies!"

The big boys having too much fun on the swings.

We all had to stop at Bass Pro for a little male-bonding. (Snacks on the floor - yeah, so what? It's like camping)

After a trial nap, a little more outside time - in our backyard!

Totally fits!

Cleaned up to play inside the following day!

Chairs just his size - but nope, he prefers to stand. :)

An early Easter present for Maddox!

One of the boys' most favorite books - Usborne's Count to 100! (We got him a new one - no hand-me-down wrapped present!) ;)

 

Sweet husky time! 11 1/2 and he still looks just as handsome! Yeah, Brian - you look good too. 

A little higher Brian! ;) (The ear scratch is where it's at!)

One weekend in Nashville...

 

Brent and Brock headed out early Thursday morning for Tennessee. I thought it was the perfect opportunity for Kade and I to go on a Mommy-Kade Date to Waverly Place!

Super cute little playground right in the same courtyard as four of its most popular restaurants!

Didn't hurt that it was a gorgeous day!

We even got to sit "outside" while we dined!

Meanwhile, after 8 hours in the Ram, Brock and Brent arrived at Grammy & Grandpa's! I think the dogs were more excited to see him than Brock was to see them at first! His face looks a little unsure!

The boys surprised Reagan at her softball game Friday afternoon. Brent said she took one look at them, smiled, then continued with her warm-ups. Way to keep your head in the game Reagan!

The following day Brent took Brock and Reagan to Urban Air to release some energy and have some fun.

He had so much fun, Brock wrote about it in his journal at school the following week!

"My Dad watched me fly and my cousin watched me too. Then we went somewhere else. We went to bumper cars. I was at Urban Air. I went with my cousin. It was fun."

Back in Apex, we were having our own sort of fun! Ha! Poor Kade started throwing up in the middle of the night and still didn't keep anything down the following morning. I had all these plans for us (NC State Vet School was having an open house with animals and activities)... NOPE! Lots of resting with ginger ale and saltines. 

Super fun cousin time!

On Sunday, while we waited for the big boys to drive home, Kade finally felt well enough to venture outside. The usual question when we pull out the chalk - "can you draw me a boat mommy? As big as Daddy's!"

Lastly, Brock's Spring Kindergarten picture. A happy smile!