Southern Carribean Cruise Part 1

We just got back yesterday (Sunday) from a cruise. It was wonderfully relaxing! We went on the cruise with Bob's family (parents, two sisters and their families, and some of their other family and friends). It was so nice to spend quality time with them, since we don't see them often. We also got to know our niece and nephew's significant others. We left Saturday (July 14th)from Ft. Lauderdale. It was a little over a four hour drive from Ocala. We knew the boys were going to wake up before we were ready to get breakfast, so we had breakfast delivered to the room. They enjoyed that.

 

After breakfast, I brought the boys out to the pool. The pool was a bit colder than what we are used to at home (88 degrees at home), so they preferred the hot tub. There was a big chess set out by one pool. Both boys loved playing with it, moving pieces at random. Alexander is playing here, while we waited for Glenn to come down the water slide.

 

At the end of the first full day was captain's night, which was the first of two elegant dress nights. I loved getting a chance to wear a dress every night. Here's Bob's sister, Cindy, her husband, Ray, and two boys, Andrew and Danny. They were right across the hall from our room, which the boys loved.

 

And here we are in our elegant dress:

 

Alexander making one of many silly faces at dinner:

 

Alexander and Andrew:

 

If you have been on a cruise, you know that the room stewards make animals out of the towels each night. Our first animal was a dog.

 

On the second full day of our cruise, we came to our first port: Grand Turk. There was a cute bundle of buildings for shopping and a beautiful pool right at the port. We spent a little time at the pool and also on the beach, snorkeling. The fish were beautiful and fun to watch. Even Alexander got to see the fish using his goggles while his Aunt Kathy held him. Here's Alexander and Bob by the pool:

 

 

There was a cat that loved to sit under my chair. Here is Glenn peering at the cat.

 

 

Daddy and Glenn, by the parrot outside of the Margaritaville restaurant, which was next to the pool.

 

Glenn and Alexander spent quite a bit of time in Camp Carnival. Most of the time, they were in separate groups. They really enjoyed it and asked every day to go. It was nice for them to be able to play with kids their age (since their cousins are all older). Plus, we didn't bring any toys, so Camp Carnival was the only place there were toys. They did a lot of science in Glenn's group, which he loved. One day, Glenn got this pirate mask. He was scared of it and wanted to throw it away. But Alexander wanted it, maybe even more because it scared his brother.

 

Our next animal was a crab. Notice that in the background, Alexander's green bear, Scout, is wearing the pirate mask. This is also a good view of our room in the evening. You can see Glenn and Alexander's beds folded down just above our bed. I must have hit my head or back on them at least 20 times over the week.

 

Alexander making shifty eyes at breakfast.

 

Our second port was La Romania, Dominican Republic. It was recommended by Carnival and other people that you either take a shore excursion or stay on the ship because it's too dangerous to roam the city on your own. So, we opted to stay on the ship. Bob got a massage. The boys spent most of the day at Camp Carnival and I read in the shade. It was also nice because so many people were off the ship. I took some pictures of the coast. Some was beautiful, but right next to industrial buildings. Here's the beautiful point...

 

...not far from the big smoke stack. I had a nice view of the big smoke stack from where I was reading. Nice!

 

And here is what I assume is a commercial port, and train tracks for picking up what is delivered.

 

This house was opposite of the cruise ship port. I liked the rocks just below it. But I don't think I'd want to live or even stay there, especially with the industrial buildings right behind it.

 

Our animal this night was a duck. I snapped the picture just before Alexander pushed it's head off.

 

I will continue with our adventure later.

'Nastics Camp

Alexander was moving all his stuffed animals from the living room. He got them all in one trip.

 

The boys did gymnastics camp this week, or "'nastics camp" as Alexander called it. They loved it. They didn't want to leave at the end of each day. They also did crafts, learned a hip-hop dance, and had water days (that's why you'll see many of them wearing swimming suits). Today, to end the week, they had a program. Here is Alexander getting warmed up with his friends.

 

I didn't get any good shots of Alexander doing his tumbling program, but he did great, and at the end, they did a circle.

 

Glenn was in an older group and here he was getting ready to do a bridge (didn't quite get there).

 

At the end of their tumbling routine, they did a pose and Glenn was in the middle.

 

The two younger groups did a hip-hop dance together. Here is Glenn shaking his little booty (it was so cute).

 

And here's Alexander refusing to dance.

 

Glenn asked during the week if after he finishes 2nd grade, can I sign him up for gymnastics camp again. :)

Alexander's 4th Birthday

Alexander turned four today! He has been asking if it was his birthday every day for two weeks. So, it's been a long two weeks for him. Before we get to the festivities, here's a picture of Glenn in his tye-dye shirt he made on our vacation in VA.

 

We opened presents Saturday night (for various reasons). It turned out not to be such a good idea because the boys didn't fall asleep until after 9:30, because they were so excited. Alexander's reaction to each gift was awesome! He either danced or cheered or something when he opened each gift. Here are some of his presents as he opened them. He asked for a boat he could sit on in the pool, so his grandparents got him a jett ski (don't worry, it doesn't run, although he did ask if it did).

 

He got a floor puzzle of Curious George. He loves putting it together and he wanted to leave it put together tonight instead of putting it away.

 

He got a shark that gobbles up little fish and some water squirters for the pool. Bob especially liked the water squirters today as he was squirting everyone in the pool.

 

 

He loves his inflatable giraffe (does not go in the water). He slept with it.

 

His brother picked out a plush Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb. He feel in love with it. Today we had a pool party for him. My parents were in town and we had a couple other families over. He asked for Spider Man cupcakes (even though he doesn't know anything about Spider Man except that he's cool) and strawberry cake. So, I made strawberry cupcakes with blue cotton candy frosting. There's a small Spider Man face on top. He had a bit of trouble blowing out his candles. His daddy had to help him redirect his wind.

 

 

Alexander also got a fish to ride on in the pool. Everyone loved playing on it.

 

Swimming to Mommy

 

Putting on "goddles" so he can swim under water.

 

Wearing the basketball hoop

 

Here's one of his friends riding the jett ski.

 

The boys have been asking to make s'mores. So, we decided tonight would be a special night to do it (it's just so hot to do s'mores in the summer!). Bob made just a big enough fire to make s'mores.

 

 

 

 

Happy Independence Day!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Independence Day! Before I get to what we did today, I wanted to show you this picture. Glenn had his annual opthomologist appointment, yesterday. He checked out great (they check his optic nerves once a year due to his NF1)! Late yesterday night, his eyes were still dilated, so I took this picture. I think his eyes look like teddy bear eyes. And also notice that he has one of his top front teeth finally coming in (they came out three years ago).

 

We went to Ormond Beach (just north of Daytona Beach) today.

 

Glenn spent most of his time digging in the sand.

 

Alexander spent a lot of time boogie boarding. He needed a little help to get started, but then he'd ride the wave all the way in.

 

Tonight, we were thinking of going to Ocala's fireworks, but Alexander was scared of it being too loud and after a day at the beach, we were too tired to deal with the crowd. So, we bought some fireworks to do at home. It's almost time! The kids are so excited.

VA Vacation Part II

Here are the rest of our pictures from our vacation to VA. We last left off during our hike on Thursday. The last picture was of Alexander looking at a deer hoof print. Here, Daddy is talking to the boys about the deer.

 

Glenn is taking a closer look at the hoof print with his magnifying glass.

 

The boys loved the moss everywhere. Here, during our lunch break, Alexander found a stick and was peeling up the moss with it. He kept calling it mold.

 

Here are the boys taking a break looking at the view from the mountain, and what they could do with their walking sticks.

 

 

 

 

 

On Friday, we took two chairlifts to the top of the mountain. The boys loved it at first. We could see animals down below (butterflies, a beaver and others). But then they decided it stopped too much. It stopped so that people wanting to ride it back down could get on the chair without being knocked off the platform.

 

After a short hike from the second chair lift, we saw a beautiful view of the other side of the mountain.

 

 

We didn't stay long at the top because the bugs were horrendous! We all rode the first lift down.

 

 

Glenn and I decided to walk the rest of the way down the mountain. We raced Alexander and Bob on the chairlift. Glenn and I won because the chair lift had to stop so much.

 

At the bottom of the lifts, in front of the ski lodge, they set up a rock climbing wall. Glenn wanted to do it. So, they harnessed him up and helped to point out where he could put his feet. He made it up half way. He was too tired to get up much further than that. It takes a lot of arm strength. He had fun, though.

 

 

After we were done, we packed up and left for home, deciding to drive home in two days rather than one. Traffic was a little better than on the way up, so we made better time. This week, we are busy doing crafts, going to a $2 movie and visiting with friends. Next week, we'll get to see Nana and Papa (my parents), celebrate July 4th at the town square, and then celebrate Alexander's forth birthday on the 8th. He keeps asking me every day if he's four yet. He says, "I really want to be four!" He wants a train cake again. If you remember last year, I spent a lot of time decorating his train cake and he ate the wheels 15 minutes prior to the start of his party. So, we'll have to guard the cake a little better this year. :)