DAY TWO...

Day two was a full day at sea.  We happily slept in and then roamed the ship together to get the feel of where everything was.  Then we let Jax and Brinkley run loose like wild children.  We don't mind if they go off by themselves!  Some people think we are nuts but we trust them to stick together and watch out for one another.  After a few hours of checking out every deck, hitting all the buffets and ice cream machines... and our first workout on the ship....  the pool called our name!!! The weather was absolutely perfect.  The sun was shining and we were ready for some R & R!

Then we checked the munchies into Camp Carnival for mine and Tommy's one and only dinner "solo" on the ship.  It didn't actually  help that Jax and Brinkley had "check-out" priviliges from the Club O2.  Within 5 minutes of us checking them in, they were bouncing around ship again.  Silly kids!!!!  Thankfully they knew they had to go back at 9PM that night to be there for Justice when they would combine the two classes together.

After we had enough of the casino, we collected the kiddos and hit the ice cream machines and jacuzzi, once again...............  Day two.. in the books and of course.... IT WAS AMAZING!!!!

Day One......

It is absolutely never pleasant to wake up to an earthquake and tsunami in another country like we did on Friday, March 11. Especially when you have a cruise planned that is possibly going to be affected because of it!!!!! We had no idea what type waves or ramifications we would be looking at from the aftershocks on our boat....or if they would even be sailing the Carnival Spirit for our 9 day cruise.  A very long phone call awaited very early that morning.


Finally, we got word that the safest place to be during our vacation, would be, on the water.  Tommy and I discussed at length, ok, for like 7 seconds, that we were going on this cruise, and packed our kids up from grandma's house and headed to the San Diego Harbor.............The ship, The Carnival Spirit, was finally allowed to come into port over 2 hours late.  By that time we had to tell the kids that we had sort of "lied" about our vacation plans.  They were getting somewhat antsy and confused as to why were hanging out down by the docks and ports.......  Brinkley is less than thrilled, initially......... then it sank in.  WE WERE TAKING A 9 DAY CRUISE ON A GIGANTIC BEACH HOUSE....  A 1000+ ROOM BEACH HOUSE..........  YOU CAN'T REALLY BEAT THAT!!!!!


We had more than 4 more hours to wait.  Finally, they let VIP's sit inside the hanger.  Within 30 minutes of sitting down and filling out our customs paperwork, we were going through customs..... to wait for another 2 hours to board the ship.  I made great use of the time by standing in the women's restroom charging the
i-touches.  Very sanitary. 


Finally...IT WAS TIME TO BOARD...AND THEN WAIT FOR THE SHIP TO SIT SOME MORE!!!!!! 


I think the unknown of the tsunami was the worst part of all.  We just did not know what was going to happen with the waves and the aftershocks of the quakes.  Better safe than sorry!!!!!


Once we were safely on the ship, all checked in, after we found our balcony rooms, we started the roaming process.  We bounced around.  We got our first round of food!  We hit the bar for Jax's first Pina Colada, Pudgie hit the ice cream bar for his all you can eat brain freeze, Brinkley hit the jackpot with the french fry bonanza and I just breathed the fresh ocean air.  I think Tommy started his phone withdrawal.......Actually we both did...  It was time to start this vacation!!!!  Finally about 8:30 PM San Diego time, the boat backed out of port..... and our butts were in the jacuzzi when it did.  That was a pretty cool scene!!!!!!!  BEFORE WE KNEW IT.... DAY ONE OF BOARDING AND UNLOADING WAS DONE....... ON TO DAY TWO OF CRUISING THE SEAS!!!!!!!

Pudgie and Brinkley eating in the San Diego Harbor before we could even board the ship!

Jax and Binky eating on the ship............ SERIOUS EATING!!!! 

PUDGIE IN OUR ROOM!

PLAYING CHECKERS ON THE CHESS BOARD!

SUNSET!

THE NAVY SHIPS!

BRINKLEY WAS SCARED TO DEATH BEING HELD BY THE RAILINGS... SERIOUSLY...

I HAD TO BEG HER FOR THIS PHOTO... 

 

ABSOLUTELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS EVER!!!!!

SUNSETS!

Crusin' ... just getting home..........

SWEET HOME!

we are slowly recovering and emptying our suitcases...  at least the ones that made it back to Arizona.  One is actually sitting in the customs area of the port of San Diego.  Brinkley is the lucky one who didn't have any clothes to fold from the trip..... I am the one who is stressing over crystal boots and heels sitting in that luggage without me.  But that is how life is and they will be on their way, via Fed Ex soon enough!!!

For now,  we will play catch up and enjoy a few more days off with Daddy and try to re-organize life and then get this blog completely updated.  It was one crazy fun ride.....  waking up on Friday morning not knowing for sure if we were even going to be able to take the trip due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan...... what an amazing experience that was!!!

9 days of cruising, 5 ports of call, 3 cameras (one which sits in the bottom of the ocean in La Paz, Mexico now...... ahemmmmm...thank you Jet Ski speed demons Jax and Daddy!!!) 288 pictures that we actually have, only one sunburn, 12 bottles of tequila, 2 games of Bingo won by Brinkley and myself...... wohoo for $700.00, the opportunity for Jax, Brinkley and Justice to hold a baby tiger and lion.... so much more to write about.....by far the funniest thing right now is...  the kids are so proud of the fact that Jax gained 4 pounds, Brinkley gained 5 pounds and Justice gained 6 pounds.....  while I actually lost 3 pounds!!!!    So much more to come!!!!!