vacation

Jim's cousin got married last Wednesday.  I know right, who gets married on a Wednesday?  Well when you invite your guests on a week long Caribbean cruise, you can get married any day of the week because they all feel like Saturday.  

Let's take a few moments to view what was going on last Jan/Feb...

snow

ice

Now a few photos of this January...

shuffle board on deck

wedding party

perfection

sunshine & palm trees

st. maarten



ice cream after a swim in the pool

 

Lucky for us our captain decided to stay on course, you know, as opposed to sailing up next to the shore and then tipping over.  Though hearing about that story while your in line to check on for a cruise trip does cause a slight bit of nervousness.  Now, the trip wasn't all sunshine and palm trees.  Our first port, a small private island, had to be skipped due to rocky seas and high winds.  We sailed on.  After three days of sailing we docked in St. Thomas.  We couldn't get off in St. Thomas because the wedding was that day, on the ship and there wouldn't be enough time to really do anything.  However, we didn't feel sad about not getting off because it rained most of the day.  The wedding was beautiful and the reception was very fun and Oliver tore up the dance floor. 

Oliver had a great time.  All his favorite things were right there.  Mama, dada, grammy, pop-pop, water, swimming, ice cream and food.  He didn't get sea sick and he wasn't fussy.  Lovely.  We also learned that Oliver loves shows.  In the evenings the cruise ships always have some sort of semi cheese ball singing and dancing sort of show.  Jim and I figured we would take him to a show and if it didn't work out we would just take turns seeing them.  The moment the intro song started to be played by the live orchestra he was hooked.  Sat still on my lap, watched, and clapped when he saw others clap.  The last night of the cruise the show was different, not a song and dance show, more of a variety show.  At one point a comedian came out.  About three minutes into his set Oliver calls out "It is showtime!"  Meaning, this guy should step aside and let the show begin.  Hilarious.  

 

Sleeping arrangements. 
When we got to the room and unpacked our stuff we then went and requested a pack and play for Oliver to sleep in.  We left and walked around the ship.  When we got back there was no crib, rather a bed that had been pulled down from the ceiling...kinda seems like the opposite of a pack and play.  The moment Oliver saw it he was in love.  The ladder was so fun to climb and he thought being up high was best.  "Hello down there mama."  We figured we would give it a try for a night and if it didn't work out we would ask for a pack and play again.  But it worked just fine, and he didn't fall off.  I totally forgot to snap a picture of him up there, but you can kind of see his bed in this pic where he is checking out a towel elephant.   

 

Today, is the one year anniversary of the judge in Russia giving us a yes!  Relive the joy and tears right here.