Cruise! Part Two

I wish I should stretch out talking about the cruise for an entire month. Then everytime I wrote I could feel like we were just there. I'm sure that wouldn't get obnoxious at all. It seems like we've been home sooo much longer than just 2 weeks. Back to the tropics we go!


We spent a day in Cococay which is Royal Caribbean's private island. The ship tendered there and we took a bumpy boat ride to this quiet little island with really nothing to do but enjoy the beach. Doesn't it look so tropical? I did nothing but float in the ocean and chat while Rick did some snorkeling. Oh, and then I floated in the ocean while Rick took a nap in a hammock. Lovely. Ahh...look at that water: (and a 40-pound svelter Rick!)

You can sort of see our ship behind me:

One of the nights was dress up night in the dining room. Our waiter was Teodor from Bulgaria. For whatever reason, he liked calling Rick "Mr. Rick". Much to Mr. Rick's disappointment, he has had zero luck getting someone here at home to pick that up. We did our best to eat one or two entries every night and have more fun than every other table. We always left the dining room pretty late and this night, there was a party and midnight buffet going on on the top of the ship, so we headed to the upper deck--where we could hear and see it all but with a little bit of space from the party crowd--and danced and laughed the night away.

I have no explanation for my husband.

The last day we docked in beautiful Key West. We went on a 3-hour tour via catamaran 7 miles out into the ocean to snorkel. I had never snorkeled before (I'm a water wimp) and the further away from land we went, the more sure I became that I would be clam happy to wait on the boat. The "pep talk" from the catamaran guide about fire coral and sure death didn't help either. But, thanks to an actual pep talk from the snorkel king of our group, I mustered the courage to gear up and jump in. And it was fun! Especially fun if you consider fighting the waves, gasping for breath, trying not to crash into the reef, and willing yourself not to have a panic attack fun. Bottom line--I do think I could be convinced to do it again. We saw fish and reef and a couple of big jellyfish. Some in our group saw a shark. We are thankful that someone wasn't me. Sadly, there is NO picture to immortalize us in our snorkel gear. I looked extra special because I couldn't get my adult size mask to seal to my face and they gave me a kid one to squish into instead. Oh, and I opted to take a noodle with me for luck. Don't make fun. We were in the OCEAN. Here we are on the catamaran afterward:

That about covers it! Rick golfed, I spa-ed...and maybe I mentioned we simply had a great time. A much needed week away from normal life and wonderful to pick up with such good friends. All in all, we were impressed with the cruise line and how very few people seemed to be on our ship when in reality there were some 2,800. We would do it again, maybe without the goucho cowboy, but definitely with people we love. Thank you friends, for making it so great.

Before I close the cruise chapter, I have to gush about my SISTERS! Lisa and Melanie and their families took charge of our family and made it possible for Rick & I to be gone. The Munks came to our house for the week--doing all the carpooling, homeworking, etc-ing that they'll have for their own in a few years, and the Quinneys adopted Logan into their family for the week and got a preview of life with a toddler and a baby. To each of you, we say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. We absolutely couldn't have done it without you. And our kids had a ball.

Oh, and a thank you slash apology to a small, but not overlooked gesture from my brother Aaron who, after a miscommunication, showed up at our house at 5:30 a.m. the morning we left for the airport to be there when the kids woke up. Oops. What a good guy. Do I have great siblings or what?? This bunny's for you.