Our Sunday - Day 2

Saturday, the first day of our Cruise was also my birthday - way to many of them but thank the Lord, I'm still having them!! Sharen and Jack gave me a beautiful pewter dresser set that I will put out - as soon as I feel good enough to rearrange the top of said dresser!!! Not a lot of room since the TV sits on top of Keith's dresser and he dumps his pockets on mine (snicker, snicker). and of course we ate to much, Keith went to the Casino, Sharen and I went for our massages and then I promptly rested up for DAY 2!!

So as not to leave any good deed unpunished, I brought along this hat. And this hat has a story to it.... Last April we (Keith and I) were in the BWI airport and in very good spirits - after having a wonderful week in Maryland and Williamsburg, VA, and visiting the monuments and the Wall in DC. So we went by this store that was having a sale. . . . And it was a WONDERFUL sale!!! I bought crabby shirts for several of the grandkids, a crabby apron for my friend, (crabby is a Maryland thing) a lighthouse button down sweatshirt, and Keith found this red hat. Well, Sharen's penchant for hats is well known - as well as the fact that I like them - but they won't stay on my head. I have lost every hat that I ever tried to wear ANYWHERE!! So anyway, Keith added Sharen's hat to the pile of STUFF that I had. We paid, I picked up the dozen or so "carryon's" that we purchased and proceeded to the airplane to come home. Boy did I get some nasty looks - but - honestly - when I came thru security - I had my computer, camera, and purse. That was ALL!!

So, in May we leave FL to go visit S'te and I become a semi-permanent pain in her ^^^>>> for all the reasons that I stayed for several months. Again, I took all the crabby stuff (which I just KNEW that I had stuffed this hat with) - the kids wore them on the cruise in August - and I went on about my business. . . . . . Until I went to check out (visit) Sharen and Jack's new house in KFalls. . .. . . and I see this hat. Well, I just KNOW that this hat is the one that I bought at BWI but don't remember sending it to her.... talk about senior moments!! Well, anyway, it wasn't that hat. It was similar - but not that one. She didn't get one from me. SO, I go back to Coos Bay, tear that place apart looking for the hat that I know couldn't still be at S'te's because we finally cleaned up our mess and got most of it out of her house. . . and I fret about this hat. Well, I had 6 weeks to fret because it was that long before we got back to Vero. And I found the hat. . . . sitting on the dresser next to where I packed the suitcase of crabby stuff to take to the west coast with us.

So, 10 months later , I pack this hat and took it ON THE CRUISE to make sure that I finally, really, truly, gave her the hat that Keith picked out for her last year. And it's a georgeous hat - huh!!!


So, now we can get on with the cruise - I didn't wait until Valentines or any of that stuff - I made sure said hat was delivered and now free of any responsibilities - I can enjoy!!

I think this is Jack on the waterslide - he and Sharen were the only ones of us to try it. . It was our first whole day at sea and we spent it eating and laying in the sun (I toasted 1 side of my leg and 1 arm), I watched the "hairy chest contest" on the Lido Deck and then went in to lay down for a few minutes before getting ready for the first formal dinner night - well. . . I didn't wake up. . . I hadn't realized that the release of the hat responsibility would make such a difference (here is another snicker!). . . . SO. . . . instead of the formal dinner - we met Jack and Sharen and went to the neatest show - and then went and had pizza at the all-night pizzaria!! Even after my 3 hour nap I was tired. . . . so. . . . .

Then it was off to bed for us. . . . Sharen's part of the story can be read about at Rea's Place!! And she doesn't get sidelined so much - actually - you can get a really good feel for how much Carnival does to try to keep us amused by reading her blog.

Back to San Diego

We got back into San Diego after rising. I actually got to see us come into the bay and dock - from the balcony of our stateroom. I had to go wake kids up!!! First time all week - they've worn themselves completely out!!

Keith went down and said goodbye again to his Mom and Sis - and wheeled her chair off the ship. I watched for them to wave goodbye from the balcony. After seeing her to Customs, he came back over to reboard (to get us!) and they were having a problem letting him come back!!! I (from the balcony) asked if he was going to be able to come back and help with the kids. . . they let him come back. hehehe

We got our carryone stuff gathered - checked the rooms over again - and took our "stuff" up to the Lido Deck to have breakfast and wait our turn to disembark. I called S'te to let her know we were on the countdown time. Our turn finally came (I think we were last) and we headed for Deck 3 and the door. It was really quite an easy, quick moving line and no one seemed to be having any problems. S'te was on her way, Rick and April's color had already been called - so they should be out there waiting, our bags were there all together, Mom's chair was right there - we were good to gooooo!!

Then, here comes S'te. She pulls into the lot to pick us up and the others won't let us thru in time - the attendant makes her back up, pull out, and go back around - with us trying really hard to get to the parking space!! She told him we were "right there" and he made her do it anyway. Some people just shouldn't have any power at all!!

So, back in the same space, all the luggage loaded (and it fit!!), drop off for the rental, and we head out to the Elmores. Unload, all the kids had to show thier treasures, talk all at once, and we just sat down and laid back!!

April and family are off early in the morning to head back to Missouri. They are staying right across from one of the greatest mall areas in the San Diego area - and more shopping needs done - so we go to dinner at Carnitas Uropan - and call it a day. Back to pick up kids, say goodbyes, wish and pray for traveling mercies, and then again bid really fond farewells.

Day 2 At Sea

Funship Freddy at the Talent Show

The pictures pretty much tell it all!! The kids spent the day in the pool and practicing for their Talent Show. It was great. Elizabeth did a dance number that was fantasitc. Makkiah did his 8 (or 9) step form from his Karate class. Brayanna, Jaleel, and Destini did thier 21 step forms. The other kids sang songs and did dances. They were all really fun to watch. I spent most of the day out on deck reading and just plain relaxing while I watched the kids play.

We had another utterly fantastic dinner, tonights' entertainment was the Macharana, and stopped by the Casino for a bit before picking Mak up from the Camper Room and the older kids were right on time checking in. We are having a lot of fun.

For the rest of the pics click here

Cabo San Lucas

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Originally uploaded by Amah

Day 3 of our cruise landed us in Cabo San Lucas. The kids started out by watching the ocean from the balcony of our stateroom. Then another unbelievable breakfast of everything you could possibly imagine!!

Cabo is fast becoming a city in itself. They don't have a dock for the Elation so we took water Taxi's from the ship to shore. That was really rather fun in itself. Keith and Mom got to sit up front so that they didn't have to do the steps. . . .. And the city isn't within walking distance (for Keith anyhow) from the pier - so I couldn't really tell just what it is like.

So anyway, again we split up for different tours. We all had morning call times tho'. Ric and April went on the Land and Sea (all day) Tour. They had lots of fun - saw lots of things that we didn't see. Had a tour around the end of the Baja at the "other" side of Cabo, then a jeep ride thru the desert and several villages, had a flat tire, ate lunch at a Palapa somewhere out there - then came back thru on the beach side. It sure sounded like they had fun. Brennan and Elizabeth were off with the other kids almost as soon as they got back - so I don't have any details = but the pictures are great.

The others of us just did the "Sea" part of that tour. We saw sea liions sunning themselves up on rocks, shear cliffs - and the kids saw a little tiny beach - totally cliff locked - with a cave in it - and want to know if we could go there to swim. Now - I'm not sure how they planned to get us there - or what would happen when the tide came in. . ..

We saw where the Americans are building thier new condos - on the Pacific side and where the yacht harbor is. We heard a lot about hte history of the area and really did see some great secenry. I would reccommend this for older people (like us) but the I don't think the kids thought it was too great - I'm sure they would've rather on one like the others did. Chalk it up to experience. . .. . We did a bit of shopping and then back to the Water Taxi for us. Customs consisted in looking at the whistle, little bitty guitar thing, a coffee cup, and a pair of shorts. No trouble there. We were back on board for lunch. . . .

The kids were back into thier suits and since most people were still ashore - they pretty much had the pools to themselves. I laid in a chair and read and watched. Keith got into the pool iwth Mak and they had a blast. Mak even tried out the hot tub and announced that it wasn't hot at all!!

The kids (except Ginger and Elizebeth) elected to return to Camp Carnival for dinner and activities - so our wonderful Stewards put a chair at the end of the table so that Keith and I wouldn't have to sit by ourselves at the other table - and we had another excellent - totally mind-numbing dinner. Then was the Macharana ChaCha - which April and Keith got up and did. It was great!!

I think that everyone else (except us to) went to that night's show - but I couldn't tell you for sure. I was beat, done, and ready to lay down. But we did stop into the Casino and managed to tie up 3 machines within just minutes. They have a neat new way to electronically track your points - so you don't have to haul the coin over to the cashiers window - and that would be embarrassing since I spent most of my time on the 2 cent machines. They also had penny ones but they were all full!! The sweethearts there at the Casino gave us a personal and private lessons on how to play - and we were off an running!!

I picked Kia up from Camp about 8:30 - thinking he must have been as exhausted a I was. The others had direction to return at 10. Kiah wanted to go back up "'cause they were having Harry Potter Night" - so back up the elevator we went. At 10 I picked them all up -- since they were all there. . . . And it was off to bed with our new litter of animals and fresh mints on our pillows. Ms Millie sure knows how to spoil a person~~

And for photos click here

Elation Day 2

Crew in the Hottub

Brayana called our cabin at 7:30 to see if they could watch TV! Kenny put a second seasick patch on - so he was rather tipsy all day, hehe. The kids picked out thier breakfasts from the buffets and even tho' it took 3 tables - we almost ate together!!

We spent the day at sea today. It was lots of fun for all of us. The bigger kds spent ALL DAY long running up the steps and going down the slide!! Makkiah decided that the water in the pools was to deep and I forgot his floatees so he and Brennan spent the day playing video games. Camp Carnival had games for rent so I rented one for him. He was getting a little close to Brennan. . .. Rick, April, Keith, and I hung out on deck and watched them. Dolores, Kenny, and Mom went in where it was cooler and did some reading and rested up for the big evening!! (And I think - to let lunch settle a little) hehe. The kids had lunch and then munched fries and ice cream all afternoon. Elizabeth and Destini found a new friend - She is 22 - so April and I kinda steered the together time a little - So that particular friendship didn't last long. Brayana made a friend from Las Vegas, and Jaleel just hung with all of these good lookin girls~~~~

Tonight was the Formal Dinner for both the Imagination Dining Room and for the Camp Carnival Diners. All the kids except Ginger elected to do the Camp Carnival Dinner - and from what I heard they had a blast!! I had given permission for the older 3 to sign themselves in and out of Camp - and they did great!! I didn't have to go and hunt them up even once.

After our Formal Dinners (and we were sooooo full of Lobster and Steak and Desserts - ooohhhhh) we went to the Mikado for thier nightly show. It was the same show we saw in the Bahamas last year - but no one else had seen it. It was a great show and the kids even had their own private section where they could watch the show.

By the time we finished all of that it was definately bedtime and we arrived at our Cabins with Ms. Millie - our Stateroom Steward - 's special towel doggie creations - the clothes all picked up off of the floor and folded, our beds turned down, mints on our pillows, and the kids even had big chocolate chip cookies waiting!!

And that was Day 2. For pictures click HERE.

Finally ready to cruise!!

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Originally uploaded by Amah

We've finally made it to cruise day. Papa had to spend a few special moments with Cavelle and Taniyah - He's really going to miss them. Not as badly as I will - but - on with the story!!

We all met at S'te and Rods. The checkout time was 11 and we couldn't get on board until 1. So we hung out there for a bit - all of us ready to head out. Finally it was time to LOAD UP~~ Keith. Dolores, and Kenny took Ty and returned the rental car while the rest of us all piled in the 15 passenger van with a real tall load of luggage!! S'te took us all down to the pier - They ushered her right straight thru just like she was running a shuttle!! The pictures show the kids impatiently waiting for Papa and the rest to catch up with us so we could get on that great big boat!!

We were ushered right into the VIP line - had everything in order - so it only took long enough for Brayana to get water dumped on her (she looked so startled when that cold water hit her!!). She was so upset at having to get on board looking like she'd had an accident. Our luggage had already been checked - so she didn't have anything to change in to!!

We posed for our picture - got on board and headed for the first of many feasts that we were to enjoy during the next 5 days!! We had a buffet lunch on the Lido Deck until it was time to get ready for our Fire Drill - we were all in the same call station. They put bracelets on all of the kids with our muster station on it - and we all trooped out to stand in line for "muster". It wasn't completely over (we were still in our lines) when the ship started moving on out. We were underway. Finally. . . . Keith took pictures of the skyline, North Island, the pilot boat, and his favorites, the planes.

So then it was time to go unpack - We met Millie - our Stateroom Attendant - a really sweet and helpful young lady! I hung stateroom keys around Brayana and Jaleel's necks as they were each the oldest in their rooms ~ and then the kids immediately headed for the pool - check out more french fries - wander the decks - get ice cream - gasp in complete awe at the Grand Atrium - check out the Arcade - boy they stayed busy right up until time to change for dinner. We had early seating in the Imagination Dining Room.

Talk about fancy!! You can see how tired Brennan was - especially with having to drag that darn cast everywhere he went~~

The kids had Shrimp Cocktail (decided they didn't like the sauce), fruit plates, nuggets, more fried, cheesecake, chocolate melting cake, and I don't even know what all else!!

Then it was time for the Family Disco time and to sign the kids up for Camp Carnival. The music was to loud, we were to tired, I think we made it to bed to stretch out about 10 or so.

I went to check on the kids about midnight. The boys were completely done it - I don't think they even moved after they laid down!! But. . . I couldn't get into the girls' room. The key wouldn't work. I could hear the TV, loud, knocked and got no answer, called their room, no answer! Getting rather frantic - I called the Pursers Desk - a really nice lady came up with another key - it didn't work - We knocked, we called, we banged on the door and the wall - no answer.Finally, she called the Security Captain (he's the only one with a master key) and he came up - uniform like he'd just stepped out of a magazine - made me sign papers, knocked, we called some more - he told me that the girls had locked the privacy lock!! So since it was locked from the inside - we knew someone was in there!! Relief. . . so he opended the door for me and warned me that I should have quite the talk with them because that just is not safe - to sleep with that locked. . . So about an hour after I started bedcheck. . I looked in on the girls - just sprawled - sound asleep where they'd flopped to watch their own "private TV"!!

I turned it off and fell into my own bed. . . what a day!! What fun!!

To see pics click here