Disney Cruise Day 2

Day 2 (Monday March 14th, Day at Sea)

(Written March 14th) Today was a little cloudy and cold. I was a bit worried it would put a damper on the fun, but I couldn't’t be more wrong. We started the day off early, because I thought we were supposed to set our clocks forward and I didn’t want to miss breakfast! We were actually supposed to to that tonight! Oops! Well, we avoided the lines!:) Breakfast was yummy. Aubrie had the best pick. She ordered a Dulce de Leche Waffle. It was soooo yummy.

After breakfast, Ethan was dying to go to the Oceaner’s Lab to make Flubber. We dropped the other three at the Oceaner’s Club, but Boston and Aubrie soon realized it was more for Sophia’s age, and so they had the counselors bring them to join Ethan. In the meantime, Ben and I relaxed out on deck. I caught up on some people magazines, and he read a book. After about an hour, I missed the kids too much and so we went to check on them. Ethan and Aubrie were having fun making flubber. Ethan was all dressed in a science lab coat (totally up his ally!) (blurry but you get the idea)

Boston was versing kids in Mario Kart! When we checked on Sophia she said she was crying for us. You couldn’t tell when we were spying on her, because it looked as though she was having a grand ole time.

We took all the kids and headed to the pool. The kids started in the kiddie pool and had fun going down the slide and discovering the soft serve ice cream close by. Sophia was content to swimming around in the kids pool, but the older ones wanted to got the the “commons” pool and hot tub where they had the huge movie screen! I stayed with Sophia, until they shut down the pool for contamination...yuck!

I took Sophia down to get ready for the “meet the Princess”, while Ben hung with the older kids.

Sopiha chose her Ariel costume for the meet and greet. We had to wait in line for about 30 minutes. She was pretty patient for the most part. While we were in line, Ben was up on deck watching the kids on the sport courts. I had to put in an emergency call to him to grab and autograph book for Sophia, as I couldn’t forfeit my place in line. Ben went back up to join the kids, and they finished and made it back down just as we were next in line. They watched Sophia meet and take pictures with all the princess, and we got Aubrie (willingly) and talked the boys in getting a group picture with Cinderella. Boston was trying not to get too close to her! LOL

Boston's expression after Ben asked him if he wanted to go dance for Belle ( He did that at Disneyland when he was 3)

After the meet and greet, we all hurried back to the room to change out of suits and get ready for lunch and the matinee show “The Golden Mickey’s”. We got there early and got front row seats. They asked Boston and Ethan to help in the show. (They always pick Boston. Sophia was hoping to get picked but she was too young.) Boston pretended he didn’t want to do it, but I know he thought it was cool. They had them be one of the dwarfs at the end of one of the musical numbers. We got it on film. It will be great to play on their wedding video’s one day! Ha ha!

After the show we hurried back to our rooms to get ready for the Captains Gala/ Formal night. The kids had fun getting dressed up, especially Sophia. Her formal was the Rapunzel dress, from the new movie Tangled. Everyone else looked very nice as well. The kids had fun meeting the captain. Boston asked him if he was out meeting guests, who was driving the boat. The captain thought that was funny. He told him Jack Sparrow was driving it. He thought that was a clever come back. After walking around and getting free speciality drinks and pictures, we headed to dinner.

It must had been a long day for them, because both Ethan and Sophia fell asleep before dinner arrived. Ethan wouldn’t wake up for anything. He kept moving positions, but he didn’t open his eyes once. The server even made him Mickey ears and was blowing on his head and he wouldn’t wake up. The people around us were getting a good kick out of it. Of course, the one night I wear spiked heals, I have to carry him back to the room! (I tried carrying Sophia, but she woke up long enough to tell me she wanted Daddy and fell back asleep!) Dinner was really good, regardless of the sleepies! Aubrie, Boston and Ethan ordered the Sirloin. Aubrie ate all of hers (no surprise) and Ethan polished his off once we got back to the room and he woke up. They both woke up as soon as we got back to the room. They were charged and ready for more fun.

What was waiting for Ethan when we got back from dinner. (His towel birthday cake!)

We got out of our formal attire, and into PJ’s and headed to the movie theatre to watch Tron in 3D! Sophia made it through about half of it, and then wanted to go “back home!” and play. I brought her back and she played Aubrie’s ipod till it died, and then we watched a special Funniest Home Videos’s where Tom Bergeron did the whole show off the Disney boat. Sophia was in amazement how she had been to all the places that were on that show. Ha!

When they came back from Tron, Aubrie was passed out this time. She was supposed to watch the kids while we were at that comedy show, but she didn’t last two minutes before she fell back asleep. We put Boston in charge, and he was so funny about it. He kept calling us and giving us “sleeping” updates on Ethan and Sophia.

The comedy show was hiliarious; even better than the night before. They had us in stitches. It’s a Disney cruise, so of course the comedy was clean. That’s one thing I really like about this cruise. “Adult” entertainment isn’t inappropriate. It’s just entertainment for adults! When we got back to the room they were all passed out. Tomorrow is Cabo! We are all excited for a day on the beach. It will be interesting to see how our sea legs will do on land. I’ve felt more movement than I have on any other cruise. I’m surprised its not making us sick. It’s actually kinda of fun! ha

Disney Cruise Day 1

Day 1 (Sunday March 13th) Embarkment & Setting Sail!

(Written March 14th) Sunday the 14th we left Danny’s around 11:00 for the World Cruise Center (about an hour and half from Danny’s). Everyone was so excited, I finally told Sophia to take a nap and it would get here faster. To my amazement, she did. Ethan followed suit. When we pulled up the kids were so excited they could hardly stand it. First we had to check in and get our room keys. Then as we went through security, they gave us a boarding card with a number on it. We couldn't board until they called our number. We had to wait about an hour. While we were waiting, Ethan realized he left his ipod in the car and I realized that I could get the kids wristbands there, so it all worked out perfectly. As soon as they were putting the kids wristbands on (they locate the kids anywhere on the boat, and link them to us and our room, etc) they called our boarding number. Sophia was sooooo excited as we were walking to the boat saying, “I can’t believe this we are going on the boat! We are going on the cruise now!” When we walked on the boat they welcomed our family by name. The kids thought that was cool! Once on the boat, we found our rooms and dumped our carry-ons. The rooms are much nicer than we have had before. I think having two joined makes it feel bigger! We then got some lunch and checked the boat out. The kids had fun playing in the sport courts a bit, before we had the emergency drill. After the drill we got ready for dinner.

Dinner was nice. They already had a kids cup of water with Sophia’s name on it. I liked that! The kids seemed to appreciate that they learned their names so quickly. It was fun to watch the kids trying to remember the etiquette we had taught them. Ethan kept getting frustrated when he would make a mistake! Ha! For dinner, Ben had escargot, and the kids thought that was gross. Sophia didn’t eat much. I’m not sure if its the motion or just the food! She sure likes the chocolates they leave on the bed though. Back to dinner. Aubrie likes the shrimp and the steak. Boston had Spaghetti and Meatballs. He said he liked mine better:) After dessert, they came and sang happy birthday to Ethan. He was surprised that they did that. (I realized last year when I made the reservations that his birthday was the day before. So I set that up.)

After dinner we watched the show. It was a small musical about dreaming big, and then they went over some cruise info. Then they had a teaser from a variety act. They are two black comedians, who were tearing it up! Those guys were some of the funniest comedy I have ever seen. They had the kids dying! They wanted to see more and were jealous that they were putting on a cabaret for the adults the following night! After the show, we came back to the room and all crashed! It was a GREAT first day!

Sadly I realized that most of my pictures the first day were taken with my iphone or were video. So I don't have a lot to share:(

Anxiously waiting outside at pier 93, as Ben parked the car!

Playing

games as we wait for them to call our boarding number!

A little lunch on deck

Disembarkment celebration!

(Sophia on Aubrie's shoulders so she could see. What a good older sister!

Our first Dinner! Time to remember those manners!

Disney Cruise 2011 (Ethan's B-day at Danny's)

Disney Cruise 2011

Ethan’s birthday at Danny’s

Why do I even bother putting 2011? Because after this amazing cruise, I don’t plan on this being the only one! I have always been a lover of cruises, but this one has something for the whole family. (I sound like a commercial sound bite, huh?) This cruise was almost a year in the making. Last spring break I really wanted to go on a cruise, but thought of it too late. I looked up Disney cruises and realized they were bringing their boat to the West coast. I booked in April, and even that early out their joined rooms were almost gone! You mean there are people out there booking even ealier than that?

I remember when I first booked it, I felt it would never get here. Booking that early had some advantages. The kids were excited, having lemonade stands to help contriubute. All year we could say, “Well, you could have that, or we could put that money towards our cruise.” A few months out we started practicing proper ettiquite every Sunday dinner, to prepare. Those dinners were the best behaved dinners every!;) It was a good lesson in teaching the kids about patience, saving, planning, and sacrificing one want for another. Once Thanksgiving came, it seemed like the cruise was here in no time. The day we all have anxiously anticipated was here!

We started our vacation with a pit stop at Danny’s. We left Friday after school because Ethan’s 7th birthday was Saturday, and we didn’t wan’t his special day to get swallowed up in travleling. We arrived at Danny’s around 10:00. We spent about an hour visiting before we went to bed.

The next day we continued our family tradition of putting streamer and balloons in the doorway of the birthday boy.

After my work out in my brothers gym, and run in his backyard, Ben and Danny returned from the store with the ingredients for Ethan’s special birthday breakfast. We spoiled him with a nice waffle and strawberry breakfast, which included Danny’s sinful buttermilk syrup.

After breakfast, we all went to the Ventura Pier. (Something we always do when we go). By the time we got there, it was time for lunch. We ate at the Surf Taco place we always go to. We then headed to the shop that has all the trick toys, but Ethan didn’t want any, after all. Afterward the kids had fun playing on the beach. The waves were really big, due to the Tsunami. ( My heart goes out to all the people afflicted by that horrible disaster. And I also am amazazed at how the people there pulled together to help one another. Amazing! Sorry, it would be rude and callous not to mention that.)

After the beach, we went back to the pier for ice cream. The ice cream place there sells Thrifty! Our families favorite! The boys got their Cotton Candy (gag), and walked out of their like smurfs (with their bright blue mouths)!

We then headed home, where the kids had fun swimming till dinner. Danny and Ben picked up pizza and Danny and Boston each bought Ethan a gift while they were out getting dinner. I stayed home making Ethan’s birthday dinner request, “noodles with butter and salt” ( his favorite meal!) and finished frosting his birthday cake (chocolate with chocolate frosting)!

We ate dinner, sang happy birthday, and he was surprised when he got his gifts. Boston bought him a robot and Danny bought him a Nerf gun. From us, he requested a bike and we are also signing him up for a week long science camp this summer, where he will learn to make Robots! After the celebrating, we stayed up and watched Karate Kid (the new one). I’m glad we were able to make Ethan’s birthday special!!! He said he had a great day!

Attempts to catch up!

So at my attempt to catch up, or at least feel like it, I'm blogging up to this moment!

This weekend ended up being more uneventful than planned. Of course, it depends on the definition of uneventful. In this sentence it refers to actual events. Boston was sent home Friday, with a fever, so that nixed his birthday party and baseball practice on Saturday. That only left an hour soccer event for Ethan. It was for kids his age group, to come play and learn about a new soccer program. He had fun there and Ben got to talk to friends. While he was doing that, I hit the gym! That was the 6th time this week! I'm feeling a urgent need to get in shape, before I have to wear my swimsuit in public, in two weeks! LOL There I saw Ms. Kohler and had fun talking, which actually put me on the elliptical an extra twenty minutes. Thank you Kim! :)

After the gym, Ben and I worked on sanding and restaining our swing set. Great way to spend your free Saturday, huh? The kids had fun participating! They helped with the sanding and the painting. (Pictures will soon follow). It felt GREAT to get that accomplished. After getting that done, we soaked our aching bones in the hot tub, and then had breakfast for dinner. Our favorite! We nixed the movie watching, and spent the rest of the evening playing board games, and getting things ready for church. The kids were in bed by 8:30, and I thought, "finally I'm getting to bed before 10!" Amazing how a Mother can busy herself with house hold chores/projects for so long. Before I knew it, after picking up, doing laundry, etc, it was 10:30! At least my jewelry box and top dresser drawer is cleaned out, finally! I think my life is a continual fight and losing battle at trying to catch up on my mile long to-do list!

Morning came too fast, especially when you forget to set your alarm. It was a scramble getting to church with only 45 minutes to get ready. Luckily clothes were set out, and showers taken! (For the most part). Church was good. Lessons were on Baptism and Choosing the Right! This week I really got out of it that its the little things we do and the small choices we make every day that make the difference in our lives. Decisions determine our destiny. Sometimes we take the longer road to were we need to be, but luckily the atonement allows to avoid dead end roads!

A New Year of Events

Wow! The past month and a half has FLOWN by!!! I remember when things used to settle down after the Holidays. Not so much anymore. Now its the beginning of gymnastic meets, dance competitions, and the second half of soccer, leading into baseball and football! I LOVE it all, but it always leaves some things wanting, and those things are usually this blog and my social life! I'll have time for that when my kids are older, right? (The social life part) I really enjoy watching them doing things they love to do, and seeing all their hard efforts be rewarded!

In January Boston had his very first gymnastic meet.

He was super nervous about it, because he wasn't sure what to expect. Once he got there and warmed up he started to relax. He loves his coach and the boys he works out with. So the meet was also a social event for him.

He didn't do his best on all the events, but really pulled through on the high bar and the vault. He is very fast, and strong so that really helped him. As the medal ceremony began I started praying that he would at least medal in one event so he wouldn't get discouraged. One event after another they were not calling his name. I started feeling a little worried, and when they got to first place for the vault they called Bostons name. He was grinning ear to ear, the subtle little, "I'm trying not to show that I'm too happy about this" grin! I was so elated for that confidence booster.

He then got 5th for the high bar!

(This was out of about 28 boys) A

fter the meet, I took him to his choice of venue for lunch, and he picked McDonald's. He wore his medals around his neck, but changed out of his gym clothes. He hates people seeing him in them! LOL This particular McDonald's had an air hockey table and the boys had fun with that for about an hour!

Our next big event was Aubrie's first dance competition of the year. She took two small group dances to this competition. The pictures below were for her Hard Knock Life dance.

An easy dance for this age group, because these faces came naturally! Ha ha!

It was super cute, and they had these costumes custom made for the dance. Aubrie said she felt like a pioneer. LOL ( Too bad she wasn't taller, then she might be able to use it for Trek! LOL) The judges really seemed to like both of their dances. As soon as they were done, we (Kim and I) rushed the girls back to other side of town (after grabbing lunch at Cafe Rio) for their soccer game.

The soccer game wasn't the best game, but the outcome of their competition was. They took first place with Hard Knock Life and received Gold for their other one. The girls were excited, but also a little disappointed that the first time they took first they weren't there to accept the award!

The next HUGE event was their performance at Disneyland. Ben and I decided it was best for the whole family not to go because Sophia hadn't hit the 40 inch mark yet, and because Boston had a gymnastics meet. Ben stayed home with the rest of the family, while Kim and I took our girls to Disneyland. We had such a great time!!!! Of course, we stopped at the outlets on the way and had some "success"!

We got into Anaheim in time to check in and grab some dinner at Naples, in Downtown Disney. The wait time was a bit long, so we were able to shop a bit before we ate. Once we were seated, the fireworks started, and we had a great view from out table!

After dinner, we were BEAT!!! We went back to the hotel and got some good sleep for our full day of Disney. I have to say that I HATE not being there on an annual pass! It's much more stressful, feeling like you have to fit in every ride to get your money's worth! Despite that, the unseasonably HOT weather, and the unseasonable CROWD, we actually had a blast!!! We downloaded wait time apps on our iPhones, and also had fun tagging one another on Facebook. The girls had a blast being there together (the younger and the older ones;)! We got most of the important rides in, except Space Mountain & California Screamin, which kept having issues. Tower of Terror and Space Mountain are my favorites, so I was hoping for some time after Aubrie's performance the next day to get on. After watching the new Wonderful World of Color, which was amazing, we DRAGGED ourselves to our hotel rooms!

(nice sun in my eyes!)

The next morning we were up bright and early getting the girls all made up and ready for their performance. They had to be there a half hour before the park opened. We also had to check out of our hotel before we went to the park, in case we weren't done in time. Once the girls were in the park, we had to wait about a hour and a half before they performed. They took the girls back through one of their "secret passage ways" without us, so we had some time to ride a few rides until they started. We promised them we wouldn't ride Space Mountain without them, so we decided we would take Kims youngest daughter on Peter Pan really quick and then get fast passes for Space Mountain. Peter Pan already had a 45 minute wait by the time we got there!!! Then when we got to Space Mountain there were NO fast passes!!:(

The girls performed at 10:30 and it lasted about 45 minutes. The girls were so nervous, but did great. Disney is very strict with the costumes and music that they allow. So the music was a little more mild than the jamming music we are used to them dancing to. Their performances were cute, and they loved being there. So it was a great experience for them!

After their performance, we waited over an hour before they brought the girls back. We headed to Space Mountain where it had a 50 minute wait. Looking at the line, I knew there was no way it was that long. We went for it and were glad we did, only waiting for 25 minutes. I always love being on that ride. I really think its a combination of the fact that its a fun ride, and it reminds me of my times at Disney with my Father. Every time I go on that ride I flash back to those times. After Space Mountain, we got some ice cream, bought some things in the gift shop and headed back home.

The ride home was enjoyable. Kim and I had a great time talking and the girls slept, watched movies, played DS's etc! It was a great trip, but I was glad to be home with the kids. When we got home Ben had left only hours before, for California, to help out my brother. I had to wait until almost midnight the next day (which happened to be Valentines) to see him!

The next weekend was another round of soccer games in perhaps the coldest weather EVER! It actually started nice, but turned for the worst during our second game (which was Bostons). I was planning on a great time. I packed lunches for everyone knowing we would be there till 3 for Aubrie's game, too. Sophia and I didn't even put on jackets, over our long sleeved shirts, because it was so nice. Half way through Bostons game the clouds turned dark so fast, and the temperature dropped at least 15 degrees. It was also extremely windy. Aubrie grabbed Ben's coat, for Sophia and I, and poor Ben was coaching and freezing at the same time. We were still cold with his jacket. My body was shaking, I was so cold. With ten minutes left it started raining. I handed Sophia over to Ethan while I started packing up our stuff to get out of there. I then looked over to see Ethan taking off his coat and wrapping it around his sister. That seriously was my high for the year, I think! He was being so protective of her, and also very helpful to me. He moved faster than ever, helping me break down chairs and carry things to the car. (In the meantime, Aubrie was over at her field getting dumped on, as she was waiting for her game to start). When Boston's game was over, Ben took all the kids back home while I waited for Aubrie's ref. to call her game. They waited for 30 minutes before they called it. She was so bummed that she was the only one who didn't get to play, and she wanted to play more than any of them! It definitely planted a memory she nor we will forget! A reason I find joy in those type of situations!:)

This weekend is actually a break for us all. Boston only has baseball practice, there are no soccer games, and only one birthday party! I'm relishing the break, but of course that means time to catch up on yard work!:) Ahhhh, I love life. Not a dull moment!

Kids say the darndest things in Primary.

This Sunday I substituted for Ethan's primary class. During sharing time they ask if anyone had any missionary experiences, and if they do they get to put a jewel in a jar. A few kids raised their hands, and one talked about how he spoke to a kid on the bus about the church. After that kids comment, I look next to me to find Ethan with his hand raised. The primary leader conducting looked at me and I shrugged my shoulders as to say, "I have no idea what he's going to say!" Boy was I in for surprise. Ethan says...

"Today when I was getting ready for church my brother was saying potty words and I told him he shouldn't talk like that. He then asked me why and I said, 'Duh, its the Lords day!'" It was the first time, in a long time that I laughed so hard I cried!! Tears were streaming down my face. I did good to not laugh out loud, and all the other leaders tried to avoid looking at me to avoid laughing. The leader kindly reminded him that they had to be missionary experiences with someone who isn't a member of the church, and then she moved on! I leaned in and asked Ethan what kind of potty words Boston was saying, almost afraid to find out. He told me that he was just making fun of Ben. Whew! That was a close one. Not that I condone the teasing of Ben, but much better than other things I could imagine! The whole experience makes me wonder what else he is saying in Primary! Maybe I should put a wire on him! LOL I should mention that when Boston was his age, his primary teacher told me that he said we were smoking when we went up to Utah. We finally figured out he was talking about our breath in the cold! When your in the Primary you have to take the stories they tell you with a grain of salt!