Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Cruise 2010

We just got back from an awesome cruise to Key West, Grand Cayman and Jamaica with the kids and their friends Derrick & Ashley.

Our first stop Key West started out cloudy but really warm so we headed off to our excursion Parasailing. The girls got harnessed up and we looked out and saw a huge black cloud wall barrelling down on us. Unfortunately that was as close as we got to parasailing, the kids were really bummed but I have to admit I was OK with it. :-)

After a day at sea full of eating, playing cards and watching shows we docked at Grand Cayman. I LOVE Cayman! It is absolutely beautiful and we spent the day with my favorite activities, snorkeling, swimming w/ sting rays and sunbathing on a white sand beach. it was a bit windy and there was talk of closing Sting Ray city sandbar but our tour guide decided to chance it. Last time we were there we shared the experience with 200 other people this time we were the only boat out there and we only had 10 people on our boat. A little freaky jumping into the middle of the ocean all by yourself but pretty cool not being crowded out by hoards of people. We did have 5-6 foot waves hitting us standing on a sandbar w/ water to our chest but it was a a cool adventure. Then we went snorkeling which was pretty new to the kids but they absolutely loved it. The rest of the day was spent on the beach while the kids rented jet skis, perfect day!

Off to Jamaica...shopping, climbing Dunns Rivers Falls and lunch, a great way to spend our anniversary. We reserved a 3 hour tour and ended up spending almost 6 hours full of different shopping experiences ( markets where the girls got a little intimidated and later the guys being offered drugs to an awesome Harley Davidson store w/ a bar in the middle of it) climbing the falls ( fun but ended up really painful with a hugely banged up knee cap when i tangled with a sharp rock) and ending with a buffet lunch w/ free beer for the boys ( that totally made up for all the shopping :-) )

When we got back to Ft Lauderdale Saturday we drove to Palm Beach and spent the afternoon on an air boat looking for alligators. Curt & Nate felt like Horatio Cane from CSI and we saw tons of alligators up close and personal.

We had a great time and it helped make this never ending winter feel just a little bit shorter. :-)



Lido deck on our ship the Freedom, we got to watch the playoff games on that big screen which was pretty cool.

Group shot at Sting Ray City in Cayman




The boys not too sure about our friendly sting rays.




Happy 21st Anniversary at Dunns Rivers Falls!




Thursday, January 7, 2010

Random thoughts



Here we are snowed in once again and it's only January 7, this is going to be a really LONG winter I'm thinking!

What can we do hmmm.....
1. Clean closets-I know it's not time to spring clean but it might fool your brain into that happy place of imagining it' spring.

2. Make a pile of DVDs that you've been meaning to watch and haven't had the time. I have afeeling by the end of this winter you'll make it through your pile. Some of my top picks so far this winter have been Julie & Julia, The Proposal, MasterPiece Theater Wuthering Heights, Confessions of a Shopoholic & The Ultimate Gift.

3. Check out Smilebox, make some fun greetings for your nephews & nieces w/ pictures you've taken over the year. They've got some fun templates.


4. Re-read a series of books by your favorite author. Any of Nora Roberts are great, Suzanne Brockman and Linda Lael Miller. If you need any come on over and check out my "library"!

5. Try a new recipe for supper or make up your own recipe. It's fun to experiment!


6. Or do what we did and book a cruise and start packing early. God knows you won't be needing your summer clothes in this tundra. It's making us feel better starting to pack making us think it'll be here before we know it!


Stay Warm!!!!