We are fun! Won't you miss us, Emma?

Earlier this year (probably about the same time we were receiving COVID checks from the government) we decided we needed to have one last big family vacation before Emma left us for college.  Of all the choices, the kids were most excited about a cruise, so we booked something for fall break.  Then, the itinerary changed, and changed again, and our departing port changed, and COVID protocols changed.  We decided to go ahead through all the changes and hope for the best.  Everyone except Taylor had been vaccinated (11 year olds hadn't be allowed yet), and thankfully, our COVID tests were all negative.  So, we packed our bags (turned out we seriously under packed) and headed out.

The flights there were awful.  Firs,t one was nearly 2 hours late, but we were still able to make our connection in Texas.  However, after sitting on that plane for 2 hours, we de-boarded and had to get a different plane.  

Skip ahead to our flights home where we missed our connect in LA, had to stay overnight without any luggage, only to fly back to Texas at 5 am, where we were able to get a flight to Tucson.  It was awful!  My kids now hate flying!

But, the actual cruise was a blast!!  The ship was only 30% full, so we rarely had to wait for anything.  Our poor waiter, only had our one table all week.  The kids were blown away by the idea of free food anytime anywhere.  It was so much fun!

The kids loved the fancy dinner each night!  Turns out, Aiden loves shrimp and dessert.  I ordered the cheese plater every day. Our drink waiter was from the Philippines and loved to talk to Brent about it.

The five of us did indoor skydiving.  It was actually kind of hard, but so fun!  Taylor couldn't stop smiling and came out each time with her face covered in slobber. lol

North America's tallest waterslide on a private island in the Bahamas.  I loved this ride!  Brent loved the Pina Coladas!

Several kids entered a few of the soccer shoot out tournaments and got some medals

.Brent and the girls loved the trivia games!  Sydney totally rocked the Broadway name that tune!

Aiden, Taylor and I really liked this surfing simulator.  It was really fun!

We took an excursion in Costa Maya, Mexico to some really cool Mayan ruins.

See the four kids walking back to the boat?  This is the biggest cruise ship in the world.

Not pictured are the 4 cookies Aiden got every hour, the rock climbing wall which Taylor did every chance she got, the fancy food and fancy towels, watching movie poolside, and the spa-like adults only pool area and the snorkeling excursion in Cozumel, which left us all exhausted and water-logged.

In an effort to keep it real, I will say it was A LOT of family togetherness.  By the time dinner came each day, we were snappy and tired and sick of each other.  Sometimes, we would have to split up or let kids go sit in our cabins for some alone time.  But, I do feel like it was mostly a great chance for us to make some great memories!  This may be my favorite family vacation of all time.  So glad we were able to get through all the hurdles to make it happen (mostly thanks to Brent on that!)