Vacation- part 3

part 3

Disney Cruise

It's time for the main event.  We drove from Orlando to Port Canaveral on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Our cruise went to the Bahamas stopping in Nassau and Castaway Cay (Disney's own Island).  I gave the kids matching shirts the night before so we all wore them onto the ship. 
(Yeah, we were THAT family)
 A few of our friends had been on Disney cruises before and told us how awesome they were.  You know how sometimes you build something up in your head and then get disappointed because it doesn't live up to the dream.  Well not a Disney cruise.  We had the best time! The food was amazing, the entertainment plenty. It was great sharing this time together.  The only thing that was wrong was that it was too short, we all wanted to stay longer.
 Be prepared for major picture overload!

Arriving on the boat

Outside the stateroom

Beautiful Sunrise

In Nassau

 

Parasailing

 

Castaway Cay Island

 

Love Millie's reaction

 

 

Look at the cutest baby ever!

Saying goodbye before we had to separate to catch our flights home

Vacation- part 2

part 2

Orlando

After my dad's house we went to Clearwater Beach at the Gulf of Mexico.  It.was. beautiful.  I was seriously in heaven.  After a day at the beach we traveled to Orlando and stayed at the Wyndham Hotel.  It is right next to Downtown Disney where we went for dinner that night.  Lauren, Travis and Millie came that night.  Now the whole family is complete!  Millie is a doll.  I'm a lucky grandma.  

The next day we separated in our activities.  Heather, Tyler, Randy and I went to Magical Kingdom at Disney World.  I have to say I liked it a little better than Disneyland, CA.  The next day we all went to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, aka Harry Potter land.  All the kids loved it.  It was a good long day.

Clearwater Beach.  So many fishes and birds.  The water was so clear you could see the fish swimming.   We saw dolphins just beyond the buoy.

 

 Our hotel in Orlando.  Took this picture from our room overlooking the pools.

 Heather and Tyler at Snow White's castle

 Tyler in Dr. Seuss land at Universal Studios

 

  Lauren, Travis and Millie at Downtown Disney. 

Tyler after a long day at Disney World.  He's still holding onto his goofy hat and his sparkly spinning souvenir.

 

 

Hogwarts, Butterbeer and fun rides.  

 

Vacation- part 1

Our vacation trip was a celebration of our 25th wedding Anniversary.  When husband and I were thinking of where to go and how to celebrate we decided to go on a cruise and bring all the kids.  They are what bring us our greatest joy so it just seemed right.  We decided on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas. Since the cruise ship left out of Florida and the plane tickets cost so much to travel across the country we decided to spend some extra time in Florida playing.  Everybody flew in on different flights since we were coming from 3 different states.  We had to rent 2 cars. (5 kids, 2 spouses, 1 grand daughter, 1 newly engaged daughter in law and Randy and I.)
We had the greatest time!!  I'll be splitting up the posts into 3 parts.

Part 1

Tampa

Our first stop was my dad's house, Grandpa Fritz.  He has lived just outside of Tampa for some time now but this is the first time I've been to his house.  He lives 15 minutes from the Gulf.  

 Here is Dad and Bonnie in front of their house.  Tyler loved swimming in their pool.

 Tyler licking his plate clean. 

 Nicole's birthday was just a day before we left.   Bonnie spoiled us with delicious meals. 

 Finally after years and years of wishing to go to a Florida beach.  Being from NJ many of my friends vacationed in Florida but we never did.  It's been a life long dream to get here.
  Florida did not disappoint.  I loved it there.

Michael and Nicole at the Gulf of Mexico.  The water was so warm and the sand so white.  It was humid but not too bad.  There was a light ocean breeze.  Perfect I'd say.

 

An observation tower close to my dad's house overlooking the Gulf.

Andrew and Brennan came the next day.  As we were welcoming them I noticed her sparkly ring.  Andrew proposed the night before back in Arizona.  I knew he had the ring but wasn't sure when he was going to propose.  A picnic and fortune cookie were involved.  So happy for them.  They are a good match for each other.  She's a lovely girl who I love already.

California Trip

This is where we stayed. Sunset Beach, CA I had to borrow this picture because nobody brought a working camera! Our beach house was just beyond the sand. All other pictures were taken with a cellphone.

Here's a round up of the fun week:
Day one- pick up 4 from the airport. Lauren and Travis, Mela and Shane (Travis's mom and dad) I saw pregnant Lauren for the first time there and about died. She's a beautiful pregnant momma! Went to dinner on Angela's (daughter) official birthday. Had a business meeting that Mela put on. It's an awesome business opportunity that you can do at home. She signed up 4 people.

Day two- Lauren's baby shower. (pictures to come)  Nicole came during the shower. My girls are all here! Nicole gave us presents from her Taiwan/China trip. I got a green bag, a red bracelet, a hanging shell decoration and a bunch of chop sticks. Love them all. Pack up the car.

Day three- go to the cemetery for a family prayer and birthday cupcakes at Angela's grave , receive the best miracle phone call while there (prayers Do come true), drive to CA , arrive at the beach house. Enjoy the ocean.

Day four- Beach day. Boogie boarding, surfing, laying out, volleyball, building sand castles, covering Travis and Tyler with sand. Burnt bodies. Shane and Heather got very burnt. In and Out for dinner. (Mela and Shane's first time)

Day five- spent the day at Knottsberry Farm. The kid's had a fun day. I'm not one into amusement parks anymore but it was fun seeing them have fun. Heather's sunburn is better but not Shane's

Day six- Indonesian food for lunch, a priesthood blessing for Shane, back to the beach for more laying out (with lots of sunscreen), boogie boarding, surfing, flying kites, the biggest sand castle. Dinner at Pizza Rosa and a Bonfire on the beach with smore's. Oh, and watching the Olympics every night cheering for the USA.

Look at my pregnant Lauren and sun burnt Heather!

 Heather's Indonesian lunch

 Travis trying to feed the birds goldfish on his back

 Travis and Tyler in the sand.  (that's my husband's knees behind them)

Day seven- Shane is much better. Packing up to head back home. Another business meeting, signed up 2 more people.

Day eight- Lauren and Travis, Mela and Shane fly out, Nicole fly's out.  Bummer,  family vacation time is over.  Luckily I get to see Nicole soon at her graduation.  Can't wait to see my oldest child become a college graduate.  So proud of her.  Utah here I come!