Cruise!!!

For our Christmas present this past year, my aunts decided to take the WHOLE family on a cruise in June!!! What amazing and generous aunts I have!!! :) So on June 5th all 21 of us got on the Carnival Fantasy in Charleston, SC and set sail for a fabulous 6 day cruise to ports of call of Key West, FL, Freeport and Nassau Bahamas!! We had a wonderful time and it couldn't have been more special to spend time with my family!! Parker had a BLAST and was entertained every moment by family members, and the crew of the ship! :) Of course when we got home, he was bored with Bruce and I--but did enjoy the freedom of moment and the space!!

We started off going to Charleston on Friday night and staying with my good friend Shelley and her family so that we didn't have to drive/board the ship in the same day! It was great to spend time with them (although short) and see their beautiful house and let Parker play with the kids! Thanks again Talbott family for letting us stay with you! Then Saturday morning, we went and visited Dave, one of Bruce's good friends and his precious wife Alice for a little while! They were gracious to us and let us keep our car in their driveway while we were gone and took us/picked us back up and saved us some $$!! Thanks for everything!


We set sail Saturday afternoon a little before 4 and had a full day at sea on Sunday. Sunday night was the Captain's dinner and everyone looked fabulous all dressed up! On Monday we were in Key West, Fl and it was such a neat town--but EXTREMELY HOT and HUMID!! The heat index was 103!! So needless to say, we tried to stay in the shops and restaurants as much as we could. I had read online on some cruising blogs from some very savvy parents to bring a squirt bottle and a hand-held fan for the kiddos--and I'm so glad that I brought those for Parker!! He was a trooper though considering the heat. He just hung out in his stroller with his shade pulled down and went with the flow--drinking plenty from his cup and eating all of the ice chips we could give him! Key West is very pretty and it had a ton to see, but we only stayed out for a couple of hours and then headed back to the ship for naps! :)

Tuesday was Freeport, Bahamas and most of the family went out and went shopping. But Bruce, Parker and I decided to stay on the ship and try to get Parker back on a more normal schedule. The previous few days he had only had one nap and was staying up later than normal--so even though he hadn't had any melt downs--we wanted to prevent them from coming!! It was a good day and just chilled on the ship and went up to the waterworks area and let Parker play in the water fountains, etc. He LOVED them!! He would just stand there with his hands held out and splash and play! I had also read online that some parents brought small little blow-up baby pools to use on the decks for the babies to play in and also to use as bathtubs in the showers. Another great idea and I was so thankful we had ours! Luckily for us, Jamie stayed on the ship too, and gave Bruce and I a break while he stayed with Parker during his afternoon nap. In fact, I think Parker and his Papa took at least one nap a day together!! :) But I think both of them loved it!

Shelley's kids: Eli, Carson and baby Isaac with Parker :)

Saturday night's dinner--Parker looking at the menu to decide what HE wants! :)


Cousin Bailee keeping Parker entertained--and Papa making sure that Parker doesn't eat the crayon



My Uncle Ed playing with Parker

The first night's towel animal--a seal

Papa and Parker

Playing in the water

I just LOVE this pic!! :)

Getting some precious Father/son time

Tracie and Jamie at the Captain's dinner

Mom and Jamie all dressed up

Captain's dinner pic

2nd evening's towel animal--dog; with Parker in his Captain's dinner outfit :)

Brothers-in-law in Key West after eating at Margaritaville

Beautiful church in Key West

the marina in Key West

Me-Mama and Parker at Monday's dinner

the family pic which was taken on the ship by one of the photographers

Monday night's towel animal--a bunny

more playing in the water

Freeport

So Wednesday we were in Nassau and Bruce and I were going to Atlantis to hang out in the amazing water park!! Because we were leaving early and because we knew that they would LOVE it, Parker spent his first night away on Tuesday (okay, it was just a few feet away, but still, he wasn't in our care for the night) with YaYa and PaPa!! They absolutely enjoyed themselves--all 3 of them! :)

Atlantis is AWESOME!! We've decided that sometime in the future (when we have lots of money-ha!) our family will vacation there!! On the massive property they have several towers of rooms, an aquarium, restaurants, a huge water park and private beaches. It is truly amazing! We had a blast and enjoyed our day out, and the time to play! :) The water slides and rides are really fun!!

The main towers at Atlantis--the bridge in the middle is a massive suite that you can stay in for $25, 000 a night!! Just in case you wanted to stay there....

The structure in the background is one of their slide towers--it has 4 different rides!

Aquarium pics--amazing!!

Bruce is next to a fish---or a large dog--it was huge!! :)

This is a picture from the shark tank--that you ride 2 different rides under!! Yep, you go thru the shark tanks in plastic tubes, just so you can look at the sharks swimming around you!! YIKES!

We rode one of the rides; Bruce was in line to ride the other slide and they had to shut the park down due to lighting :(

You can see the storm coming behind the hotel

Parker's first lemon....

...what a face!!

Thursday was our last full day and it was a day at sea. Unfortunately, Parker got a little cold earlier in the week and I woke up Thursday morning with a terrible sore throat (the way my colds always start out!) So Thursday was a lazy day for everyone and I tried to get plenty of rest so that I could pack up. We did have a great last night and got some really good pics of the family and the sunset!!

Jamie, Tracie, Derrick, me and Mom--just us kids with our parents!!

PaPa and YaYa with their grandson

My brother Derrick and his girlfriend Lindsey with Parker :)

Last night in his make-shift bath tub :)

An elephant!

On Friday we dis-embarked the ship and Alice came and picked us up--thankfully!! We headed home and arrived a little before 3 pm. It was a wonderful vacation and one that we will never forget--and Parker can already say that he has been out of the country! :) Thanks Aunt Linda and Aunt Cher!! We had a wonderful time!

Playing in his pool at home Saturday afternoon!! :)