I know it isn't the easiest thing transitioning from being footloose and fancy free to having to take care of a busy almost 7 month old... so thank you Meme and Papa! We know you enjoyed your one-on-one time with Wyatt... But we also know he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with y'all too!
And... Nana and Pop... I know there are probably a MILLION other cruises you two would rather be on: Mediterranean, Alaskan, Caribbean, ALL ADULTS (lol), etc... But nope. Y'all opted to take not just one or two but all your kids and their families on a Disney cruise. Thank you so much for this amazing experience!!! One we will remember for our entire lives.
Here is our trip captured by yours truly:
James' first airplane ride was easy peasy. Not entirely sure why I was so nervous. He was a rockstar.
Of course this mama was waaaaaay over prepared. I had wrapped toys, candy galore, movies, headphones, books, toys, games, etc. There was no keeping this almost 3 yo bored! :)
James got his first pair of "wings!"
Our crew. Anxiously awaiting our number to be called.
(It is pretty hard to tell a bunch of kids they are about to go on this amazing boat and meet all these cool people like Mickey, Donald, Daisy, Minnie, Goofy, etc... But then when you finally see the boat. Finnnnalllyyy see the light at the end of the crazy traveling tunnel.... you have to wait. With nothing to do but to stare at that cool boat and anxiously await the fun that awaits. :)
(It is pretty hard to tell a bunch of kids they are about to go on this amazing boat and meet all these cool people like Mickey, Donald, Daisy, Minnie, Goofy, etc... But then when you finally see the boat. Finnnnalllyyy see the light at the end of the crazy traveling tunnel.... you have to wait. With nothing to do but to stare at that cool boat and anxiously await the fun that awaits. :)
Finnnnallyyy on the boat. But where's Mickey?
The sure know how to draw his introduction out!
(James was NOT impressed. He was READY to meet THE mouse.)
Dad trying to distract the anxious little guy...
Hahaha... Family photo - so exciting!
Sisters!
Fran and I and our oldest!
Oh good thing Uncle David was disney cruise experienced... He knew there was some free ice cream that could make the wait just a yittle bit better!
Still waiting... but the waiter got sweeter ;-)
Music has started. Any time now.
Nana got there just in time!
Attempted family photo - FAIL - again. lol :)
"Where's Mickeeeeyyyyy?!" :(
"Seriously... Daddy?"
"Mom. I'm not looking for you. I'm looking for the big mouse."
"Oh. There he is!"
James' face lit up whenever he saw his biggest hero - Mickey Mouse!!!!
Mickey and the whole gang!
Dancing - right as the boat is taking off!
Bon voyage!
Enjoying the show :)
Gooooooofffyyyy!!!
Pluto!
Donald!
Finally. Ate lunch. Saw Mickey. Boats cruising.
We're ready for a GREAT time.
"YEAAAAAAAAAAA!"
(PS: Thanks Feefee for the cool, personalized shirt!)
Ellie and Mickey coordinated outfits.
James' first official Mickey greeting.
He was tickled to meet him!
Oh and hanging out with his "favorite people."
(That's what he calls his cousins. How sweet is that?)
The Howard clan with Mickey.
Dinner with the other Howard clan.
James loving on his Nana and Pop!
He loves some one-on-one time.
Oh and hanging out with his "big kid cousins". James was in HOG HEAVEN.
See that huge ghirardelli dipped ice cream mickey mouse bar? Yeah. James got one....after - every - single - meal. When we got home James very sweetly and innocently asked me, "Where's my dessert, mama?" HA. Vacay's over kid.
Yay for first night's dinner! The food on this boat was AAAAAMAZING.
After dinner we stumbled upon Pluto. He got more than he bargained for. Not one Howard grandkid - but the whole crew!
Our attempt at a pic.
Those forced family photos are so annoying... to James. Every-time.
James loved his big boy bed.
Post dinner and fun in Nana and Pop's pimp room. Balcony and all.
James made me PREEEEETTTYYYYY nervous on that ledge.
We scared him by telling him about all he sharks out in the water. Woops.
(But.... it worked!)
Next day. Early morning on top of the boat. We happened to see a raft... in danger.... Just found on the ocean off the shore of Cuba. Errrrr.... Oh and James proceeded to proclaim how the raft needed to be careful because of all the sharks that we warned him about last night. Woopsiessssss!
Next day we met Jake! He was super excited!
A little creepy looking.... but James was super excited.
But then he put his hands on him. Lol. He gets that from his daddy!
"Seriously. Jake? Hands off."
bahahahahaha
That night -- dinner at the animators studio. So cool!
James and daddy enjoying the show!
My dapper son. :)
Another family photo attempt - FAIL.
But capturing James' smiles? Always easy on this trip!
Everyone enjoying the after dinner show. It was so cool...
Post dinner fun in Nana and Pop's with the cousins!
Sunset. Beautiful!
So good ol' blogger got my pics out of order... Pics from dinner - our family always is so charismatic! .... if that's what you want to call it! hehe...
That boy. Ohhhh.... melts my heart when he smiles like that.
Makes all his mischievous behavior okay. Well. almost. ;-)
More cousin snuggles in Nana and Pop's.
My mom and sissy... Love them so much. Wouldn't be able to navigate life without 'em!
Pop and his guys. Love this.
This is also pretty awesome...
Soo.. Blogger did it again. Pics out of order - but no worries. Before the late night hang out in Nana and Pop's... We had a dance party with Daisy!
Do you think this mama ATE UP her son's amazing dance moves?
YESSSSSSSS.
One of my proudest moments to date.
To say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree is an understatement.
I get my dancing from my parents... James gets it honest. This was my attempt to capture the soaking - sweatiness of both Pop and James at the end of the dance party with Daisy. Fun night :)
I get my dancing from my parents... James gets it honest. This was my attempt to capture the soaking - sweatiness of both Pop and James at the end of the dance party with Daisy. Fun night :)
Dancing the night away...
The next day we had our first (and only - ha) excursion to a beach on Grand Caymen. Ellie was super excited. hehe ;-) It's hard to leave Mickey!
We took a little ferry boat off the cruise ship and were able to get some cool shots of our cruise ship!
On our ferry boat. Me and my almost 3 yo. :)
Whoa. Talk about out of order. Another sweaty Pop-James shot from the prior night. Peeeeeee----uuuuuuuu but we looooveeee youuuuu! :)
Off the boat - family photo in front of the cruise boat - SUCCESS!
On the beach. White sandy beach. Clear water. Pure amazing-ness.
Love those smiles... and that's one good lookin' Nana! :)
Family photo with a busy James.
Those sand castles aren't going to build themselves!
Good thing James had a trusty helper, Ellie!
Feefee and David getting their sun on.
Does it get much prettier?
Nana and Pop chillaxin'.
.. James taking a note from Nana and Pop. Straight chillin'....
James, Pop and I enjoying the water.
Daddy and J enjoying the shade :)
... and a little water!
When we got back - we napped... showered... Then met a very friendly and sweet Peter Pan.
Then off to dinner for -- PIRATES NIGHT!!!!
.... Nana and Pop took the Pirate level to a whole new level :) ... and that's why I love them so!
Two captain hooks.... bahahaha.....
Family photo attempt... Not a FAIL... or a success... just okay.
Captain Hook and his sweet side kick Craig-ee-poopieee :) bahahaha
Guess what time it is?? Dessert TIME!
That night we celebrated Tricia and Zan's birthday's... Lots of bday celebrations in April!
Post dinner fun with the cousins!
Sooooo.. after dinner we put the kids in "kids club" for a little bit and enjoyed some adult time in Nana and Pop's before the big Pirate / firework show!
So we staked out our places on the boat so that we could have great seats. That was the REAL reason we put the kids in kids club. Not that we needed a break. We just knew they would be bored waiting in one spot on the boat for the big show. Riiiiiiight. :)
(James... you will get it. One day ;-) haha)
We had a great spot! And the crowd started filling in...
So we got the little rug rats out and started another LATE round of fun!!!
I love this guy so much! :)
Family fun candids waiting on the show!
.... our sweet little rugrats started getting a litttttttle tired....
But there is no one other than THE MICKEY MOUSE to get the 2nd (... or 3rd... or 4th wind) going ;-)
He always lights up whenever he sees him!
One of my favorite pics :)
Finally made it to bed... almost MIDNIGHT!!!!! yikes
The next morning was - APRIL 21, 2014. James' THIRD birthday. Big day!
Who else to celebrate with but Mickey?!
James trying to show him how old he was... That pinky is so hard to get down some times.
Then we headed on to the top of the boat for pool fun!
We docked at Cozumel - but instead of getting off the boat we figured we would take advantage of everyone else off the boat! We practically had the pools to ourselves!
WOOPS! Photo out of order again. Pre-pool fun... We had to tell Goofy we were the big 3!
He couldn't believe it!
.... back to pool fun!
A yummy birthday lunch complete with James' favorite: chicken and french fries... Oh and lots and lots of ketchup and honey mustard. haha
Post nap snuggles... oh and ice cream (delivered to the room... gratis!)
JAMES' THIRD BIRTHDAY "PARTY/DINNER!"
Our whole crew - ready to celebrate our sweet big boy!
Me and my sweet hubby. Love him so much :)
Ellie boo- and Da'vid!
Bro-Lo's for life playa! :)
And a sassy Feefee....
Attempted family photo - fail. at least Jimmy and I are paying attention :)
I'm not so sure the cruise waiters were so excited for all the b-day fun that I brought and covered the tables with to celebrate James... Haha... but I'm certain all the cousins enjoyed them!
Remember that sassy Feefee shot?
Sassy Ellie shot. Bam.
We got him an awesome bday cake!
Everyone sang :)
He swiped the face off the cake in two seconds - lol!
A pic of the cake pre-James snatching the chocolate face off! :)
Everyone wants a piece of mickey mouse!
Sooooo... I think he enjoyed his cake :)
... as did everyone else!
Post dinner dances!
My two big studs:
More bday fun!
BIRTHDAY SUIT FUN!
**James don't kill me when you are older for this!**
:)
:)
These bro-lo's know how to have a good time!
Next day - fun by the pool!
Last night - adults only dinner.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh... Why didn't we do this sooner? No offense kids :)
If it weren't for these two.... None of us would be here. Thanks Naners and Pop! We love y'all!!!
Hunter... and his "eye"... I don't know? Don't ask me.
Bro-lo's!
Our adult crew. Happiness.
Post dinner on the deck - enjoying the sunset.
Jam & Cimmy. :)
Last night views.
The cool pool from afar.
Post dinner drinks before we get the kids for the last show of the trip!
Dad always has to get his kids souvenirs (the hats)... No matter how old we are! :) Love you dad!
Da'vid was channeling his inner-Forest Gump with his pop-treasure!
After our adult fun we grabbed the kids and watched an awesome show.... But to say my little guy was worn out is an understatement. He was zonked! But he (and we all) had the absolute best time!
I'm so thankful for my family - intermediate and extended. Love to them all. Always. :)
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