Sharing our life - all our adventures and bumpy rides. Family of four with two young boys - moved back home to allow them the similar experiences and opportunities we had living in North Carolina. Come explore with us!
A little rain can't hold us back from the Town of Apex's Easter Egg Hunt!
Brock was now officially old enough to hunt with the "big kids!" The hunts are on two fields, separated by a brick patio, so after explaining exactly where to meet us after the hunt, we left him alone to wait for the countdown.
Kade was ready this year! On the sound of the horn - Kade raced in to the field - picking up all the colors (unlike last year when he only wanted the yellow eggs!)
At one point he picked up two eggs at the same time!
Proud face!
We met back with Brock, who informed me that "Momma, I didn't even have to run [to the eggs], I just walked". Hahaha - worked out in our favor that the crowds stayed away due to the rain! (Luckily just a bit of mist while we were on the hunt, but 10 minutes after getting in the car, it was torrential downpour!!)
The boys with their bounty
Super tasty cookies from Aunt Carol & Uncle Jeff!
We actually had just returned from our Cruise the night before Easter (above hunt was from the weekend prior), so we skipped out on church this year and just enjoyed our gifts from the Easter Bunny!
Ooooh - some new paper airplanes to fold!
Diesel enjoyed his front row seat to the ham, mashed potatoes and green bean dinner!
Let me post this picture one more time....
Because this is what a difference of two years makes!
On the last full day of our cruise, we woke to a nice breakfast in the casual dining area - Kade and I were impressed by all the carvings.... Brock was only impressed after he got some food in his belly - he gets hangry! We also had fun spelling with the words "Mousse" and "Moose" (see breakfast desserts below in champagne flutes! Fancy!!)
We dropped the boys off at Adventure Camp to have a morning on the boat ourselves. Took a peek at the Solarium - an adults only indoor pool. It was nice and quiet in there - although the boys would have loved the elephants!
Brent was too funny. He's such a sea-man! One of his daily checks was on the current sea conditions - he saw the gale-force winds coming two days beforehand! He knew Friday was going to be a bit bumpy!
Here's Brent giving his best weatherman/sea-person forecast:
Shortly after that, Brent left to put in his time at the gym and I FINALLY grabbed my book and found a chair in the shade to read. Easily one of my top five favorite moments on the cruise.
Okay, back to reality! Picked up the kids because Brock really wanted to try the climbing wall. The boys suited up with special climbing shoes and harnesses.
Go Brent, Go!
It was high! And Brock did a great job for only trying once. He got discouraged though, and didn't want to try again.
Brent and Brock decided to venture to the Arcade to lift Brock's spirits and Kade and I wandered over to the Mini-Golf.
Kade did a great job sticking with it and finished all 9 holes! A few greens he even asked if he could help me with my final stroke in the hole. Perhaps he'll be ready to join the big kids this year playing mini-golf at the beach?!??
Alas, it was time to pack as the boat was getting closer to Tampa! Brent took the boys back to the Arcade (haha our favorite place?) while I stuffed everything back in our suitcase!
Including this gem.... ;)
Specialty dinner #2 = Chops Grille, a fantastic steakhouse with a gorgeous sunset view. (The waves were starting to pick up then!)
Cheers!
Selfie on Deck 12, in the wind, at night!
Thank you kind stranger, but seriously - I wore heels to all these dinners and no one wanted to include my new Sam Edelman shoes?!??
Holy crap that was a long drive home again. We are totally flying next time.
Final thoughts on the cruise - we had fun, mostly. Kade's schedule has been so up in the air with school/nanny/school/nanny that he was undoubtably anxious to these new sleeping arrangements/schedules/family vacations. Brock picks up on that and uses it to his delight. It made for some tiring parental moments as both boys felt the need to test, and test, and test us. Kade is still learning table manners and volume control - two things at a more formal style dinner that would make anyone uncomfortable, let alone an OCD parent. I think if I were to do it again, eating at the buffet for dinner with the boys would have been a much better option instead of a sit-down three-course meal (but I pushed for it...).
There was some funny and sweet moments - The look on their faces when they first saw the ship. Brock helping Kade with counting the decks. Brock sharing his new Key West shark with his brother. Both of them looking out for each other at the splash park. The date night dinners were so relaxing and delicious! The Casino was good to me - WON $80 on my second pull on the slot machine! We had fun, but happy to be home!
On Thursday, we landed in sunny Cozumel - a high of 86 and low of 76!
The boys got to pick anything out in this souvenir shop - and they both decided on colored sand in a little glass bottle!
Look at that clear water! I just wanted to jump in right there! And our boat looks really pretty too!
We decided to purchase the Deluxe Playa Mia Beach Resort package as our shore excursion in Cozumel. Sandy beach and amazing splash pad area and pool WITH unlimited visits to the buffet and unlimited local alcoholic drinks!
After trying out the ocean a bit, the boys decided the splash pad and pool were a little more their speed. Fine by us - we found a great spot (chairs right behind the dolphin in the picture below) and watched our kids while getting drink after drink. Hmm... that doesn't sound so safe... but sounds super relaxing! Ha!
Brent and Brock on the water slide - Brock went about 18 more times on his own! (Not exaggerating)
They made Kade and Brock a non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri - Brock loved it a bit more than Kade.
The boys stopped for snacks (piles of french fries with ketchup and watermelon) and lunch (sorry, only remembered to take pictures AFTER the meal), then went right back to it!
Brock had fun showing off his amazing swimming skills in the pool!
Here's an underwater video from the GoPro!
Kade enjoyed the water in other ways.... HAHAHA! (Yup, he's enjoying the feeling of that water spray on his backside!) Funny guy!
Cool pirate ship in the middle of the spray area - and Brent decided to get all artsy when I asked him to take our picture and took it through a wall of water. Oooh fancy!
Kade did not stop! He just kept playing and enjoying everything water!
It was a 5 hour "excursion", but for our little guys, it was plenty of time to enjoy the water park. There was so much more to do that we didn't get to (kayak rentals, ocean obstacle course, snorkeling), I'd go back if we were to ever stop there again!
Fun day in Mexico!
Cute picture of Brock showing off the boys' favorite dessert item.
My three boys watching the waves while a Carnival ship passes us in the distance.
