So far, since our newest addition was born, we've been incredibly busy. We got a new car to accommodate two young children (yay minivan...never thought I'd love a minivan...but I do!) We baptized our son...and we are now getting ready to see daddy get confirmed.
We will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary on April 24...and, as the kiddos have no daycare for a few consecutive days, we will go to Duluth (where we spent our Honeymoon) for a few days, then take the kids to see their great grandmother in Wisconsin.
Later in May, our niece will be having her Quinceanera...so we will travel to Oklahoma to attend her party...and, as I am the photographer, to take her photos.
Then...it's a few months of peace and quiet until our first family vacation in October... that's right, we are going to San Juan, Puerto Rico and then departing on a 7-day Southern Caribbean cruise.
At this point, we aren't certain if we are going to go back to Oklahoma for Christmas this year or not...only time will tell.
I can't wait to update with photos and trip particulars for our adventures!
Friday, April 11, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Packing. Oh, how I loathe you.
So, we are almost to "go time". Every time I have to pack any sort of bag, I re-visit the realization that I absolutely 100% detest packing. I know, it's necessary, but the rules and regulations make things so darned tough these days.
We purchased a little handheld scale after our last trip - when we had to pay the extra fee for 1 lb over... on 2 bags. Airlines apparently think the average traveler is just bursting at the seems with extra cash to spend, because they don't skimp on the charges in this area, that's for sure!
So, I'm frantically running about trying to get all of our desired items into the luggage so that I can easily travel with my 2-year-old... somewhat worry-free. Add into this my tendency toward OCD when it comes to being organized and finding things that I need in any given bag I carry, and you can definitely see the dilemma.
You have necessities you should always carry when traveling with a toddler...
diapers sippy cup for beverages
wipes extra clothing/shoes
powder blanket
desitin favorite stuffed toy(s)
sunglasses travel pillow
activities snacks
Just to name a few. Then, there are the sanity savers for mommy....
reading (Nook)
ipod/ipad
cell phone
wallet
crafts (only if they fit)
Then... we come to the forgotten items that daddy left behind...
brush
phone charger
camcorder and charger
So, as you can see... room is needed - but airlines don't allow for much wiggle room when it comes to your luggage/carry on... and it seems the seats get closer to the ground every single stinkin' time I travel. So, I have a little carryon... and then realize that everything I absolutely need for a trip to Florida is not going to fit in that tiny little bag. I've already taken the time to weed out those items I don't really need... leaving only the absolute necessities.
So, I search. I search until I find an alternative. I search until I'm ready to cry...thinking I will never find a bag suitable for this task. Then, I open a random closet and find it. An old camera bag containing my old SLR camera. I had forgotten I even possessed such a beast! Is it just my eyes, or is that bag glowing with a silvery shimmer? No, I'm just tired... so it has to be my eyes.
I clean the bag and am able to get my camera equipment secured. Yay! Now, on to getting the blasted carry on packing completed. I will get the things we need into this bag. I'm determined to do so. I will... just you wait and see.
We purchased a little handheld scale after our last trip - when we had to pay the extra fee for 1 lb over... on 2 bags. Airlines apparently think the average traveler is just bursting at the seems with extra cash to spend, because they don't skimp on the charges in this area, that's for sure!
So, I'm frantically running about trying to get all of our desired items into the luggage so that I can easily travel with my 2-year-old... somewhat worry-free. Add into this my tendency toward OCD when it comes to being organized and finding things that I need in any given bag I carry, and you can definitely see the dilemma.
You have necessities you should always carry when traveling with a toddler...
diapers sippy cup for beverages
wipes extra clothing/shoes
powder blanket
desitin favorite stuffed toy(s)
sunglasses travel pillow
activities snacks
Just to name a few. Then, there are the sanity savers for mommy....
reading (Nook)
ipod/ipad
cell phone
wallet
crafts (only if they fit)
Then... we come to the forgotten items that daddy left behind...
brush
phone charger
camcorder and charger
So, as you can see... room is needed - but airlines don't allow for much wiggle room when it comes to your luggage/carry on... and it seems the seats get closer to the ground every single stinkin' time I travel. So, I have a little carryon... and then realize that everything I absolutely need for a trip to Florida is not going to fit in that tiny little bag. I've already taken the time to weed out those items I don't really need... leaving only the absolute necessities.
So, I search. I search until I find an alternative. I search until I'm ready to cry...thinking I will never find a bag suitable for this task. Then, I open a random closet and find it. An old camera bag containing my old SLR camera. I had forgotten I even possessed such a beast! Is it just my eyes, or is that bag glowing with a silvery shimmer? No, I'm just tired... so it has to be my eyes.
I clean the bag and am able to get my camera equipment secured. Yay! Now, on to getting the blasted carry on packing completed. I will get the things we need into this bag. I'm determined to do so. I will... just you wait and see.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Disney Cruises
I wanted to take a moment to briefly explain the magic of a Disney cruise - moreso for those who have never had an opportunity to go on one... so, here goes.
Embarkation Day - your vacation begins the minute you arrive at the cruise terminal. Minnie and Mickey and some of the other characters are always on hand for photos... and the check in process is a breeze. There are often loads of people milling about, but we have found it much less painful to arrive at a later time at the terminal. You then get to walk right onto the ship after checking in. As you complete the check-in, you walk down the gangway and into the ship - where the cast members are on hand to greet you and announce your arrival.
Once you've boarded, you have a choice as to where you would like to eat. We often find the seafood buffet - we're really quite into seafood. But there are all sorts of foods available - so it's really not hard to find something that fits into your tastes. After stuffing yourself silly, you are released to await the rooms being prepared. The ship usually comes in early in the morning, the passengers go through Debarkation, and then Embarkation begins... so the crew members in charge of staterooms have a task getting the staterooms prepared for the new round of guests by 4pm.
The party is just beginning! Once you're settled, the Sailing Away Deck Party is usually going on up on Deck 10 (Magic and Wonder) or Deck 12 (Fantasy and Dream). When you hear the ship's horn blast "When You Wish Upon a Star" (this varies with the larger ships who have digital horns that can play several tunes), you know we're officially pulling out of Port Canaveral.
Fun in the sun and paradise are on the menu as you embark on your vacation. We usually opt for longer (7-day) itineraries... but there are 3, 4, and 5 day options as well. Aboard the vessels, you have nothing to worry about. You have beverages, food, and anything else you can imagine at your disposal. Souvenirs and alcohol are on your dollar - you use your "Key to the World" card to make purchases.
The ships are really like tiny versions of the amusement parks... only MUCH more pristine.... and loads friendlier. You rarely run into guests that are having cranky pants parties... it's like they spike your first meal with pixie dust to assure a great vacation.
In short, if you ever have an itch to go on a cruise, give Disney Cruise Lines a try. I know we don't regret it!
Embarkation Day - your vacation begins the minute you arrive at the cruise terminal. Minnie and Mickey and some of the other characters are always on hand for photos... and the check in process is a breeze. There are often loads of people milling about, but we have found it much less painful to arrive at a later time at the terminal. You then get to walk right onto the ship after checking in. As you complete the check-in, you walk down the gangway and into the ship - where the cast members are on hand to greet you and announce your arrival.
Once you've boarded, you have a choice as to where you would like to eat. We often find the seafood buffet - we're really quite into seafood. But there are all sorts of foods available - so it's really not hard to find something that fits into your tastes. After stuffing yourself silly, you are released to await the rooms being prepared. The ship usually comes in early in the morning, the passengers go through Debarkation, and then Embarkation begins... so the crew members in charge of staterooms have a task getting the staterooms prepared for the new round of guests by 4pm.
The party is just beginning! Once you're settled, the Sailing Away Deck Party is usually going on up on Deck 10 (Magic and Wonder) or Deck 12 (Fantasy and Dream). When you hear the ship's horn blast "When You Wish Upon a Star" (this varies with the larger ships who have digital horns that can play several tunes), you know we're officially pulling out of Port Canaveral.
Fun in the sun and paradise are on the menu as you embark on your vacation. We usually opt for longer (7-day) itineraries... but there are 3, 4, and 5 day options as well. Aboard the vessels, you have nothing to worry about. You have beverages, food, and anything else you can imagine at your disposal. Souvenirs and alcohol are on your dollar - you use your "Key to the World" card to make purchases.
The ships are really like tiny versions of the amusement parks... only MUCH more pristine.... and loads friendlier. You rarely run into guests that are having cranky pants parties... it's like they spike your first meal with pixie dust to assure a great vacation.
In short, if you ever have an itch to go on a cruise, give Disney Cruise Lines a try. I know we don't regret it!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Sailing... Sailing Away... Take 2
To celebrate the first birthday of LM, my parents decided the family should go on a cruise. What better way to enjoy each other and celebrate? IMO, there really is no better way! So, here we go on another journey... just three months after the last!
The next morning, my father brought LM down to us and I had to ask that he keep him longer, as we weren't feeling well. Thus began one of the longest days of my entire life. I was lost without LM there to cuddle and make me laugh when I was feeling down. It wasn't until later that I discovered the ick had decided to maneuver its way through our entire party.
Of course, being ill assured us that we'd miss lobster night... double boo!
7/19/2012
At Sea....
Thankfully, another day at sea followed our excursion to St. Thomas. It gave everyone the time to rest, relax, and recuperate from the horrid ordeal we faced with the Noro Virus (that was what we were told was going around the ship). Let me tell you, if I never have that crappy virus again in my entire life, I will be one happy girl.
We decided to treat LM to a trip to Nemo's Reef and some fun on deck. We also got him entered into a diaper dash... which he did well at. He actually won his heat and the one after. But he lost the overall because a pretty little girl distracted him. (Yes, he was a day away from his first birthday... and already a pretty girl distracted him!)
Pirate Night was fun. LM dressed up as a pirate and we enjoyed supper and the festivities and fireworks. I wandered into the buffet and found some scrumptious turkey legs. Since I hadn't eaten much at supper, I indulged in one. It was delicious!
7/20/2012
Castaway Cay, Bahamas
Disney's Private Paradise
LM's big day... his first birthday! Thankfully, our entire party was feeling a lot better by this day... so we were all able to get off the ship and enjoy the peace and tranquility of Castaway Cay. Of course, no birthday would be complete without a picture with some characters... so LM was able to get his birthday picture with Goofy and Captain Jack Sparrow!
We enjoyed watching him build sand castles and play in the water. After a fun-filled afternoon, LM fell asleep in the shade, so we loaded him into his stroller and took him back to the ship.
Again, we faced the last night of the cruise. We had supper... my parents had purchased a captain's uniform for LM on St. Thomas... so I cleaned it up during our sea day and he wore it for dinner. A fitting outfit for his first birthday celebration!
After dinner, the crew came around and announced LM's birthday. They brought with them a Mickey Mouse shaped birthday cake. After singing Happy Birthday, they went to get plates and forks... and LM decided to take it upon himself to dig in! It was precious watching him grab at hunks of cake and shove them into his little mouth. He really enjoyed it!
After dinner, we watched the character goodbye in the atrium before going upstairs to make final preparations for debarkation and head to bed.
7/21/2012
Debarkation Day... a.k.a. fast train back to reality...
We all begrudgingly went down to breakfast this morning. Knowing we'd soon be parting ways with the Disney Fantasy for a while... we were all rather morose.
After breakfast, we disembarked from the ship... and took a cab back to my parents' resort. We decided to spend an extra day or two with them... and go to Walt Disney World.
As soon as we got things situated at the resort, we got comfy... and LM decided to take it upon himself to take his first excursion on foot. Of course, he'd experimented with walking plenty... but on this particular day, he took off. He didn't wobble... or bobble... he just walked like he'd been doing so for ages... completely without assistance or support. Little stinker!
7/22/2012
Walt Disney World...
Of course, no first birthday celebratory cruise would be complete without a trip to Disney World??? At least, LM's wasn't going to be complete without a day spent visiting his favorite character friends.
We spent the day at the park, enjoying the antics of LM... he was so funny and jovial. Back to his normal self, for sure. He seemed to enjoy the rides. His very favorite was "It's a Small World". I didn't know if he'd enjoy the ride or not... but when we went to get off the gondola, he literally threw a fit. He did NOT want to get off the ride, and kept saying "No, mommy. Nony ride again, please. Please mommy." I was thankful the people waiting for the gondola seats were patient as I talked to him and told him we'd maybe get to go on the ride again later in the day. Finally, he agreed to get off the ride and come with me.
After riding more of our favorite rides, and having something to eat... we decided to expend a bit more of our waning energy shopping some of the shops. (Hey, it was cool inside... not so much outside.)
After a day of fun at the park, it was time to enjoy the Main Street Electrical Parade... which is by far one of my favorite parts of a day spent at Walt Disney World. We enjoyed the parade... then the fireworks... then made our way out of the park to head back to the resort.
Sadly, the next day, hubby, myself, and LM were set to return home. *sigh*
Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Aboard the Disney Fantasy
July 14-21, 2012
7/14/2012
Embarkation Day...
Another journey begins! This is the first time for most of the party on the larger vessel... we went on the Maiden Voyage... so we're veterans. :)
This time, it's a bit more packed than it was on the Maiden Voyage... at least it seems more crowded. But the larger vessel accommodates the guests nicely.
7/15/2012
At Sea...
Just a day to explore. I think Rob, my brother, and our nephew went on the Aqua Duck at least a dozen times each. I was going to try it out, but didn't get the opportunity.
The remainder of us just milled about and explored the ship. Shopped. And took LM to Nemo's Reef.
7/16/2012
At Sea...
Another day at sea. More exploring, more shopping, more fun in the Nemo's Reef with LM.
7/17/2012
St. Maarten...
We docked in St. Maarten and were on shore by early afternoon. We got a cab and went up to the French side of the island, where we encountered Rosemary's. They have been featured on Anthony Bourdain's show on the travel channel.
We had some lunch - for me it was red snapper, rice, beans, and salad. Amid lunch banter, LM got sick. At first we thought it was the heat. I whisked him off to the nearest bathroom to clean him up, only to find him getting sick more... and a bathroom troll demanding $1.00 (us) to use the facilities. I was frantic, in tears, and holding my crying child who just wanted to be clean.
I managed to talk the bathroom troll into letting us in, just to use the sinks. We cleaned up the little man... and went to find the cab driver... only to have a repeat performance. Again, a sobbing mess of a mommy pleaded with the bathroom troll to just let us clean the baby. I even showed her, we cleaned up after ourselves. She let us in again, but this time called security. Whatever, lady!
Once we got the LM cleaned up again, we rushed to the cab and had the driver take us back to the Dutch side of the island, where most of our party went to the beach... while myself, hubby, and LM headed back to the ship. The cabby was a wonderful person, who offered me pointers, and made sure we made it back to the ship without incident (so we gave her an additional tip).
Once back on-board, we contacted the health bay and asked to have them see LM. They gave him an anti-nausea shot... and some antibiotics for what they thought might be tonsilitis... and we went to our cabin to rest, bathe the tiny boy, and hopefully get him to nap.
I was a bit upset that we missed the Dutch side of the island... and not really certain if I'd want to return to St. Maarten after the experience with the bathroom troll...
Life was quiet that night. My parents took the LM down to their cabin so my father could tend to him. They were just down stairs a flight and over a couple of cabins, so it didn't bother me to have him down there. They had kept him every night during the cruise anyhow.
7/18/2012
St. Thomas/St. John....
After a fun battle with the sick bay folks, we were released to go on land. We had to buy some diapers (as they were almost $13 for a package of just 15 on the ship), so we were anxious to get out and about. We managed to mill about port a bit, and found some diapers (packages of 25 for $8... so I bought 3). Did some minor sight seeing, then decided to get LM back on the ship for a nap.
I felt fine for most of the day... but that evening we discovered the episode from the previous day did not end our fun. You guessed it, that evening, the hubby and I both got ill. We immediately contacted sick bay and got anti nausea shots for ourselves... the shot worked for me, not so much for the hubby... so he got another shot. My parents loved watching LM overnight in their cabin... which was downstairs and a couple of rooms away, so I was glad they had him that night.
The next morning, my father brought LM down to us and I had to ask that he keep him longer, as we weren't feeling well. Thus began one of the longest days of my entire life. I was lost without LM there to cuddle and make me laugh when I was feeling down. It wasn't until later that I discovered the ick had decided to maneuver its way through our entire party.
Of course, being ill assured us that we'd miss lobster night... double boo!
7/19/2012
At Sea....
Thankfully, another day at sea followed our excursion to St. Thomas. It gave everyone the time to rest, relax, and recuperate from the horrid ordeal we faced with the Noro Virus (that was what we were told was going around the ship). Let me tell you, if I never have that crappy virus again in my entire life, I will be one happy girl.
We decided to treat LM to a trip to Nemo's Reef and some fun on deck. We also got him entered into a diaper dash... which he did well at. He actually won his heat and the one after. But he lost the overall because a pretty little girl distracted him. (Yes, he was a day away from his first birthday... and already a pretty girl distracted him!)
Pirate Night was fun. LM dressed up as a pirate and we enjoyed supper and the festivities and fireworks. I wandered into the buffet and found some scrumptious turkey legs. Since I hadn't eaten much at supper, I indulged in one. It was delicious!
7/20/2012
Castaway Cay, Bahamas
Disney's Private Paradise
LM's big day... his first birthday! Thankfully, our entire party was feeling a lot better by this day... so we were all able to get off the ship and enjoy the peace and tranquility of Castaway Cay. Of course, no birthday would be complete without a picture with some characters... so LM was able to get his birthday picture with Goofy and Captain Jack Sparrow!
We enjoyed watching him build sand castles and play in the water. After a fun-filled afternoon, LM fell asleep in the shade, so we loaded him into his stroller and took him back to the ship.
Again, we faced the last night of the cruise. We had supper... my parents had purchased a captain's uniform for LM on St. Thomas... so I cleaned it up during our sea day and he wore it for dinner. A fitting outfit for his first birthday celebration!
After dinner, the crew came around and announced LM's birthday. They brought with them a Mickey Mouse shaped birthday cake. After singing Happy Birthday, they went to get plates and forks... and LM decided to take it upon himself to dig in! It was precious watching him grab at hunks of cake and shove them into his little mouth. He really enjoyed it!
After dinner, we watched the character goodbye in the atrium before going upstairs to make final preparations for debarkation and head to bed.
7/21/2012
Debarkation Day... a.k.a. fast train back to reality...
We all begrudgingly went down to breakfast this morning. Knowing we'd soon be parting ways with the Disney Fantasy for a while... we were all rather morose.
After breakfast, we disembarked from the ship... and took a cab back to my parents' resort. We decided to spend an extra day or two with them... and go to Walt Disney World.
As soon as we got things situated at the resort, we got comfy... and LM decided to take it upon himself to take his first excursion on foot. Of course, he'd experimented with walking plenty... but on this particular day, he took off. He didn't wobble... or bobble... he just walked like he'd been doing so for ages... completely without assistance or support. Little stinker!
7/22/2012
Walt Disney World...
Of course, no first birthday celebratory cruise would be complete without a trip to Disney World??? At least, LM's wasn't going to be complete without a day spent visiting his favorite character friends.
We spent the day at the park, enjoying the antics of LM... he was so funny and jovial. Back to his normal self, for sure. He seemed to enjoy the rides. His very favorite was "It's a Small World". I didn't know if he'd enjoy the ride or not... but when we went to get off the gondola, he literally threw a fit. He did NOT want to get off the ride, and kept saying "No, mommy. Nony ride again, please. Please mommy." I was thankful the people waiting for the gondola seats were patient as I talked to him and told him we'd maybe get to go on the ride again later in the day. Finally, he agreed to get off the ride and come with me.
After riding more of our favorite rides, and having something to eat... we decided to expend a bit more of our waning energy shopping some of the shops. (Hey, it was cool inside... not so much outside.)
After a day of fun at the park, it was time to enjoy the Main Street Electrical Parade... which is by far one of my favorite parts of a day spent at Walt Disney World. We enjoyed the parade... then the fireworks... then made our way out of the park to head back to the resort.
Sadly, the next day, hubby, myself, and LM were set to return home. *sigh*
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Because We're Sailing... Sailing Away
2012
Western Caribbean Cruise
3/31/2012-4/07/2012
Aboard the Disney Fantasy
Disney Fantasy Maiden Voyage
We have done this itinerary before... so this will be a more laid back trip. We know we'll be going on the Disney Fantasy again soon... so we're basically getting a feel for the vessel, as well as testing the waters with LM to see if he likes to travel.
So, here we go... LM is now 9 months old and we've opted to fly out a day ahead of time, in order to give ourselves plenty of time to get to the port terminal on embarkation day. We were both a bit on the nervous side... this is the first time we've traveled with our newest family member, and we aren't quite sure how he will handle the trip. We were pleasantly surprised to find he is a wonderful travel companion! He snoozes on the plane... and knows exactly how to react to such close quarters. Being that he is not a pacifier user, we have come equipped with some juice that he can drink just during take-off and landing to keep his ears from getting too pressurized.
3/31/2012
Embarkation Day...
We are full of excitement on this day. We ride to port terminal with a group who is embarking on a Princess cruise. They are entertaining... and we all experienced a jaw dropping silence when we came over the bridge to the terminals, and laid eyes on the Disney Fantasy for the very first time. Holy cow... it's HUGE!
We boarded and got lunch, then got settled a bit and went to the sail away party. We got a pretty decent vantage point - right next to the stage. I was overcome with excitement and emotion. At one point, I turned toward my hubby in tears, after looking down at LM. I was almost overwhelmed with happiness... I'd never imagined being on board the ship.... with our own child... it was elating.
4/01/2012
At sea...
We used this day to explore the Disney Fantasy. Bonus... we found the Nemo's Reef area for children that are not quite ready to swim in the Mickey Pool... we decided to see how LM would react to the water fun. He was tentative at first, but really enjoyed it.
4/02/2012
Cozumel, Mexico...
We opted to sleep in a bit and them disembark to explore a bit of the island. We didn't stay on land too terribly long, and went right back to Nemo's Reef to enjoy it in the tranquility of few others being on the ship. We did make a point to take LM around the bit of the island by port...and get his passport stamped.
The special fun tonight was formal night. While hubby and I don't really dress outrageously fancy... we did purchase a tuxedo for LM. He looked dashing in his little tux... and garnered loads of attention. (People commented on his cuteness... and he was known as Tuxedo Baby for the remainder of the cruise.)
4/03/2012
Costa Maya, Mexico...
Again, we slept in a little late. We went onto Costa Maya to find nothing more than vendors selling wares. I did find a little spot of beach front to allow LM to play in the sand for the first time. He enjoyed throwing it around and feeling it run through his tiny fingers and toes. After getting passports stamped again, we went back on board the ship and enjoyed some relaxing quiet time.
Overall, I was disappointed with Costa Maya. Granted, we didn't explore much... but it seemed like a tourist trap and nothing more. I would rather hit Key West, Florida than Costa Maya any day.
4/04/2012
Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands...
There is always plenty to see in Georgetown. It was a bit on the hot side, though. We disembarked for a while, shopped around in some of the shops, and enjoyed some of the sites. Then, it was time to take a tender back aboard the ship, as LM fell asleep.
We ate a bit of lunch and did some laundry while LM slept... then enjoyed another bit of time in Nemo's Reef before preparing for dinner.
4/05/2012
At sea....
Another sea day. We decided to explore some of the ship together by doing the onboard scavenger hunt. We had a blast! LM even enjoyed seeing the moving paintings. It was a LOT of fun.
4/06/2012
Castaway Cay, Bahamas....
We've been to Castaway Cay almost every trip. This time, it was different. We had LM with us. We took him on a tour of the island... showing him things I'm sure a 9-month old is going to remember forever... LOL. Then, we ate some lunch, and it was time to play in the water.
LM wasn't too sure of the water at first, but he warmed up pretty quickly. After a while, he really started to enjoy that and the sand. He really had a great time. We got some amazing photos of him enjoying one of our favorite slices of paradise.
Back on board, we napped and prepared for one of our favorite nights of the cruise. Even though it's the last night, we enjoy the Pirates in the Caribbean deck party and fireworks. It's such a bittersweet ordeal - you're racked with excitement and amazed by the fireworks... yet you know that coming in the morning is Disembarkation...and a return to facing reality.
But to heck with that thought... push it aside... because you HAVE to allow yourself to enjoy the festivities first! We wore our Eskimo Joes Pirates shirts... and LM dressed as one of the cutest pirates I've ever seen. We got his picture with Captain Jack Sparrow before dinner... and then off we went to enjoy ourselves.
We were pleasantly surprised that LM seemed to enjoy it just as much as we did!
All in all, this cruise was the same itinerary as our last Caribbean adventure... however, it was made so much more special by the presence of LM. He made everything seem so much more fun! His antics, wandering around the room on foot, grabbing anything he could find to steady himself... crawling when he couldn't walk... and even going up the stairs for the very first time in the main atrium... it made the entire trip priceless. We can't wait to embark on future adventures with our adorable angel.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Cruisin' to... Colder Climates?
2011
Alaska was always on my bucket list. My brother, Tony, went to Juneau for a TDY assignment when I was in high school, and I always said I would go investigate what he loved about it. Now, officially addicted to Disney Cruise Line and the pampering, Rob and I jumped at the opportunity to cruise to Alaska and explore the beauty and wonder of the region.
When I say "addicted", I don't use the word lightly. I don't even think a 12-step program could help either of us at this point. We are so used to the care and treatment that we receive aboard the Disney vessels, we aren't even interested in other cruise lines.
Anyway, we booked on the Innaugural sailing aboard the Disney Wonder. I was about 25 weeks pregnant... and looked like a small giant was growing inside me. But we were cleared to go.
We flew into Seattle (once again, flights into Canada are outrageously priced). Spent a night there, ate at the warf and climbed what I thought was the largest hill I'd ever seen on the way back to the hotel. Climbing these is no small feat when you're pregnant, you know... come to think of it, I think I more or less waddled up the hill, but that's beside the point. We then took the Amtrak to Vancouver, where we spent a night before going to the cruise terminal to board the ship.
Sailing Alaska for the first time brings some interesting challenges for cruise lines. For instance, they are not allowed to sail the inner pass on innaugural sailings. Instead, they have to brave the Bering Sea. I now have a whole new respect for the folks on Deadliest Catch who brave the Bering Sea for their livelihood. Wow.
I had come prepared with Sea Bands, just in case. When I woke up rolling all over the bed... without actually physically rolling myself over (another laborous chore for a pregnant woman), I put them on. I was actually surprised that the listing of the ship didn't make me queezy... as it was so significant I couldn't even walk straight. The staff actually closed the pools due to the amount of listing the ship was doing. (Personally, it wasn't warm enough outside for me to brave the pools, but more power to those who did.)
Once we came to the inner pass, the water was much calmer. Our first stop was Tracy Arm, Alaska... for a party on the dance fjord. (Hehe, just kidding. I have to use that every once in a while - it was coined by my friend Lisa Glavin - we met Lisa and her husband Chris at the port terminal and formed a pretty fast friendship with them.) Anyway, Tracy arm is 45 miles south of Juneau. It is a 30-mile long fjord named after Civil War General Benjamin Franklin Tracy. The inlet, created by glacial activity, weaves past 7,000 foot high, snow-capped mountains and large and small icebergs.
Now... the mountains were truly breathtaking. I mean, that is the first time I've ever witnessed anything towering over a Disney ship. The little icebergs that were floating around and bouncing off the ship... let's just say that, while beautiful, they really made you think of that trivia you hear about only 10% of the glacier being viewable from the surface of the water. Anywho... at the end of the inlet sit the Sawyer Glaciers. They are so white, they appear blue. It's absolutely gorgeous. About once an hour, pieces of the glaciers break and tumble into the water below... we were able to witness this happening.
As we sat at the end of the inlet, taking in the beauty of the glaciers and the mountains... and the icebergs... we began to wonder how in the heck we were going to get OUT of said inlet. I mean, ships aren't exactly the size of fishing vessels. And, there was a media helicopter there taking photo and video of this part of the trip for advertising purposes. Then, we noticed we were no longer sitting still. The captain literally spun the ship from a sitting position completely around. It was utterly amazing. Like a little toy boat in the water, we were spun and on our way. Of course, the ship had to go slower than normal in this task, as they didn't want to harm any of the surroundings, or hit any icebergs. LOL.
We were on our way again, weaving through the inlet out to the pass. Next stop... Skagway, Alaska.
Skagway is known as the gateway to the Klondike due to its proximity to the Yukon and Klondike Pass. It was originally the home to the Chilkoots and Chilkats Native American tribes and part of the setting of Jack London's "Call of the Wild". It was also the setting of the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s.
We chose to take the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad excursion on this leg of the trip. The railroad is a narrow-gauge train built in 1898. The charming railway takes guests on a 3.5 hour journey following the Klondike Trail used by miners during the gold rush. During our trip, we were given a great history of the area... and learned quite a bit. Our charming historian let us know that, as young children, they begin training for the wildlife. Bears are a big issue in the area, so, in order to pass kindergarten, children must spend a night out in the wild with a caretaker. First graders also have a similar ritual, for a longer period of time. There is no hospital nearby, so births are done in the home with a group of local women that come to celebrate and help. They haven't lost anyone in some 50 or 60 years. No medications here, ladies... just natural birth. *shudders* Anyway... education is a very important topic in the area. Kids are required to go to college... and if they don't complete college, they are not welcome to return to the community. That being said, over 90% complete their education and return. They also have to be pretty reliant on their surroundings for food stuffs, as most of their produce comes via ship sent up from Seattle. The barges arrive every 2 weeks and items are often very ripe to past due on their freshness. So, as you can see, we learned a lot on the train ride that took us up to the border of Alaska and Canada. We were not able to go further on the railway because border patrol was closed... as the station was under feet of snow. Yes... feet. As a matter of fact, there were times that the snow was higher than the train itself. (Please folks, no loud noises.)
Next on our itinerary was Juneau... which can only mean one thing.. Whale Watching!!!! We took a whale spotting excursion early on the day in Juneau... which included a bus tour. Juneau is the capital city of Alaska... and the only US capital that is only accessible by air or ship. It's nestled among a rain forest.... (shut the front door, did you say rain forest? Yes... I did. A rain forest. As we were cruising around, we kept seeing gorgeous tropical flowers... and the tour guide actually confirmed this. Didn't think it was warm enough... I stand corrected.) Anyway... Juneau is nestled among a rain forest and Mt. Juneau.
Part of this tour took us to a whale watching excursion. We were in Alaska during the winter months, when Humpback whales are in the area. We actually caught a few glimpses of Humpback whales as they curiously played near the vessel and dove deep for food. They feed on krill which is near the shore line. (The area is also known for Killer Whales, but they are more prominent in the summer months, when Humpbacks migrate to Hawaiian waters for mating.) The tour concluded with a trip to Mendenhall Glacier. Mendenhall is half a mile wide, and boasts an 1800 foot deep ice field. It's the most accessible glacier in Alaska. When we returned to town, we went shopping for a bit and made the "1-mile" hike that seemed like 8 miles, uphill, in the heat... back to the ship. I was one tired mama to be when we got back to our cabin.
The final stop in Alaska was Ketchikan. The town of Ketchikan is named for Ketchikan Creek which runs through town. We chose to go spot eagles and see the Saxman Totem Park. Eagles are my favorite bird. They are so majestic. We went pretty far out in the water and saw more sea wildlife.. including Harbor Seals, Sea Lions and more Humpback whales. The Saxman Totem Park includes about 26 sculpted and painted totem poles, along with a tribal house that hosts traditional tribal dance performances along with other activities.
All in all, we missed the Caribbean climate we were accustomed to on our Disney journeys... as well as the stop at Castaway Cay. However, Alaska was such a breathtaking adventure. It was a magical and enjoyable Baby Moon.
Alaska was always on my bucket list. My brother, Tony, went to Juneau for a TDY assignment when I was in high school, and I always said I would go investigate what he loved about it. Now, officially addicted to Disney Cruise Line and the pampering, Rob and I jumped at the opportunity to cruise to Alaska and explore the beauty and wonder of the region.
When I say "addicted", I don't use the word lightly. I don't even think a 12-step program could help either of us at this point. We are so used to the care and treatment that we receive aboard the Disney vessels, we aren't even interested in other cruise lines.
Anyway, we booked on the Innaugural sailing aboard the Disney Wonder. I was about 25 weeks pregnant... and looked like a small giant was growing inside me. But we were cleared to go.
We flew into Seattle (once again, flights into Canada are outrageously priced). Spent a night there, ate at the warf and climbed what I thought was the largest hill I'd ever seen on the way back to the hotel. Climbing these is no small feat when you're pregnant, you know... come to think of it, I think I more or less waddled up the hill, but that's beside the point. We then took the Amtrak to Vancouver, where we spent a night before going to the cruise terminal to board the ship.
Sailing Alaska for the first time brings some interesting challenges for cruise lines. For instance, they are not allowed to sail the inner pass on innaugural sailings. Instead, they have to brave the Bering Sea. I now have a whole new respect for the folks on Deadliest Catch who brave the Bering Sea for their livelihood. Wow.
I had come prepared with Sea Bands, just in case. When I woke up rolling all over the bed... without actually physically rolling myself over (another laborous chore for a pregnant woman), I put them on. I was actually surprised that the listing of the ship didn't make me queezy... as it was so significant I couldn't even walk straight. The staff actually closed the pools due to the amount of listing the ship was doing. (Personally, it wasn't warm enough outside for me to brave the pools, but more power to those who did.)
Once we came to the inner pass, the water was much calmer. Our first stop was Tracy Arm, Alaska... for a party on the dance fjord. (Hehe, just kidding. I have to use that every once in a while - it was coined by my friend Lisa Glavin - we met Lisa and her husband Chris at the port terminal and formed a pretty fast friendship with them.) Anyway, Tracy arm is 45 miles south of Juneau. It is a 30-mile long fjord named after Civil War General Benjamin Franklin Tracy. The inlet, created by glacial activity, weaves past 7,000 foot high, snow-capped mountains and large and small icebergs.
Now... the mountains were truly breathtaking. I mean, that is the first time I've ever witnessed anything towering over a Disney ship. The little icebergs that were floating around and bouncing off the ship... let's just say that, while beautiful, they really made you think of that trivia you hear about only 10% of the glacier being viewable from the surface of the water. Anywho... at the end of the inlet sit the Sawyer Glaciers. They are so white, they appear blue. It's absolutely gorgeous. About once an hour, pieces of the glaciers break and tumble into the water below... we were able to witness this happening.
As we sat at the end of the inlet, taking in the beauty of the glaciers and the mountains... and the icebergs... we began to wonder how in the heck we were going to get OUT of said inlet. I mean, ships aren't exactly the size of fishing vessels. And, there was a media helicopter there taking photo and video of this part of the trip for advertising purposes. Then, we noticed we were no longer sitting still. The captain literally spun the ship from a sitting position completely around. It was utterly amazing. Like a little toy boat in the water, we were spun and on our way. Of course, the ship had to go slower than normal in this task, as they didn't want to harm any of the surroundings, or hit any icebergs. LOL.
We were on our way again, weaving through the inlet out to the pass. Next stop... Skagway, Alaska.
Skagway is known as the gateway to the Klondike due to its proximity to the Yukon and Klondike Pass. It was originally the home to the Chilkoots and Chilkats Native American tribes and part of the setting of Jack London's "Call of the Wild". It was also the setting of the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s.
We chose to take the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad excursion on this leg of the trip. The railroad is a narrow-gauge train built in 1898. The charming railway takes guests on a 3.5 hour journey following the Klondike Trail used by miners during the gold rush. During our trip, we were given a great history of the area... and learned quite a bit. Our charming historian let us know that, as young children, they begin training for the wildlife. Bears are a big issue in the area, so, in order to pass kindergarten, children must spend a night out in the wild with a caretaker. First graders also have a similar ritual, for a longer period of time. There is no hospital nearby, so births are done in the home with a group of local women that come to celebrate and help. They haven't lost anyone in some 50 or 60 years. No medications here, ladies... just natural birth. *shudders* Anyway... education is a very important topic in the area. Kids are required to go to college... and if they don't complete college, they are not welcome to return to the community. That being said, over 90% complete their education and return. They also have to be pretty reliant on their surroundings for food stuffs, as most of their produce comes via ship sent up from Seattle. The barges arrive every 2 weeks and items are often very ripe to past due on their freshness. So, as you can see, we learned a lot on the train ride that took us up to the border of Alaska and Canada. We were not able to go further on the railway because border patrol was closed... as the station was under feet of snow. Yes... feet. As a matter of fact, there were times that the snow was higher than the train itself. (Please folks, no loud noises.)
Next on our itinerary was Juneau... which can only mean one thing.. Whale Watching!!!! We took a whale spotting excursion early on the day in Juneau... which included a bus tour. Juneau is the capital city of Alaska... and the only US capital that is only accessible by air or ship. It's nestled among a rain forest.... (shut the front door, did you say rain forest? Yes... I did. A rain forest. As we were cruising around, we kept seeing gorgeous tropical flowers... and the tour guide actually confirmed this. Didn't think it was warm enough... I stand corrected.) Anyway... Juneau is nestled among a rain forest and Mt. Juneau.
Part of this tour took us to a whale watching excursion. We were in Alaska during the winter months, when Humpback whales are in the area. We actually caught a few glimpses of Humpback whales as they curiously played near the vessel and dove deep for food. They feed on krill which is near the shore line. (The area is also known for Killer Whales, but they are more prominent in the summer months, when Humpbacks migrate to Hawaiian waters for mating.) The tour concluded with a trip to Mendenhall Glacier. Mendenhall is half a mile wide, and boasts an 1800 foot deep ice field. It's the most accessible glacier in Alaska. When we returned to town, we went shopping for a bit and made the "1-mile" hike that seemed like 8 miles, uphill, in the heat... back to the ship. I was one tired mama to be when we got back to our cabin.
The final stop in Alaska was Ketchikan. The town of Ketchikan is named for Ketchikan Creek which runs through town. We chose to go spot eagles and see the Saxman Totem Park. Eagles are my favorite bird. They are so majestic. We went pretty far out in the water and saw more sea wildlife.. including Harbor Seals, Sea Lions and more Humpback whales. The Saxman Totem Park includes about 26 sculpted and painted totem poles, along with a tribal house that hosts traditional tribal dance performances along with other activities.
All in all, we missed the Caribbean climate we were accustomed to on our Disney journeys... as well as the stop at Castaway Cay. However, Alaska was such a breathtaking adventure. It was a magical and enjoyable Baby Moon.
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