Cruise Conclusion

Wednesday was a sea day. Thomas Anna and I went to Johnny Rockets, the others went to the buffet. Anna and I tried to do trivia, but the room was completely full. That’s one thing I’ll say about this ship-- the spaces seem to fill quickly and there are lots of lines. So we went to the trivia that started a half-hour later and got a seat. Marta joined us. It was movie quotes and we did okay. Thomas and Luke played chess in Central Park. Anna Marta, Kara, and I played Uno, also in Central Park. Anna and Kara got specialty drinks from the Pesky Parrot, a fun little island themed bar, complete with a talking parrot. 

I got a picture of the parrot, but not the cute area

Thomas and I had a specialty lunch at Giovanni's, the Italian restaurant which was good. 

Then we came back to the room and I finished a book I was reading. The kids did various things, including rock climbing and Johnny Rockets milkshakes. Anna, Thomas and I went down the Abyss again (20 minute wait). Dinner was good. It was formal night. 

Everyone wanted a picture with Luke, since he put on a jacket. The most dressy he's gotten.

Such handsome fellas!

After dinner, we walked around a bit and then Thomas and I saw an adults only comedy show, featuring two comedians. Unfortunately, we did not think either was funny. 

A few other pictures from the night:

Beautiful sunset

Beautiful Anna in the beautiful sunset

On our after dinner walk, we paused at this cool wall-o-windows.

Our last day on board was Perfect Day at Coco Cay. I love, love, LOVE CocoCay! 

Traditional photo from the top of the ship. 

We had breakfast in the Wind Jammer and were off the ship around 9. Everyone except Anna snorkeled. We saw some really cool fish and it was super fun. The water was pretty cold, but it was manageable. We had lunch at the buffet and then Thomas, Kara, and Jack went back to the ship. 

Luke played on the play structures for a while, Anna and I sat in Captain Jack's, listened to a guitarist and had a Coco Loco, non-alcoholic, of course; I'm sure it goes without saying, but no children (or adults consumed alcohol.  After that, we went back on the ship. We rested for a bit and then did some fun afternoon activities. Some of us did the Abyss (twice for me and Thomas), played mini golf, rock climbed (Luke and Jack) etc. We had a snack at El Loco Fresh, Anna and I shared a milkshake from Johnny Rockets, Thomas played arcade games, the girls met up with Marta and Frank in the diamond lounge, and soon enough it was dinner time. 

After dinner, everyone except the girls went to both the ice skating show and then a new (to cruise ships) show--Name that Tune. It was really good. They had live musicians, singers, and a DJ. If I understood correctly, it was the first time they'd ever done it and we all really enjoyed it, although our favorite contestant did not win. 

It was a very, very fun day. Two more bonus pictures:

It was a very quick cruise. Four nights on a smaller ship feels relaxing and like a decent amount of time. Four nights on the big ships feels quick and a bit more rushed. But, we still had a great time and were sad to see it come to an end.

Spring Break Cruise, Days 1 & 2

Embarkation day, which also happened to be Luke's birthday! We got to the ship, Utopia of the Seas, around 11 AM. From the time we arrived to the time we walked on the ship, it was about 20 minutes. It was seemingly crowded, but everything moved quickly. As soon as we got onboard, we went to guest services to transfer our refreshment packages to the girls. Thomas and I really like the Vitality Café smoothies, which is where we get the value from the refreshment package, which includes all non-alcoholic drinks, but the ship did not have one. We bought the package during a black Friday sale, so we had a good deal on it and fortunately they let us transfer it. That made the girls pretty happy, they can get sodas, milkshakes, mocktails, etc. 

Then we went to lunch in the windjammer, which was delicious. They had a ton of seafood. I’m the only in our family who likes seafood, so it was fantastic for me. Jack is deathly allergic (literally) to shellfish, so obviously it is not something I eat much at home. But, onboard, I had lobster and shrimp and clams. Yum! Thomas tried some vegetarian options that he thought were good. And, the kids were happy with their choices. I sat at a different table from Jack and thoroughly washed my hands.

After lunch, we explored and played games at Playmakers, including foosball and some older video games. The girls also tried their hand at pool. Then we went to our rooms and unpacked. We got an afternoon snack at El Loco Fresh, then Luke, Thomas and I waited in a 30-minute line to try out the Abyss (10 story slide). It was pretty amazing but a bit bumpy and made a headache I had worse. Thomas and I went back to the room to relax before dinner. The girls hung out with Marta and Frank in the Diamond lounge. We all met up at dinner, although we were disappointed to see that Frank and Marta were not sitting with us. We talked to the staff and hopefully it will be resolved tomorrow. Dinner was good, they sang to Luke in honor of his birthday. After dinner, we went to the evening show which was their production show called All In. We all thought it was okay, it had cool effects, but no plot, just singing and dancing and the effects (like drones). I prefer the Broadway style shows.  After the show we played a round of mini golf and then Luke and I called it a night. Thomas and Anna went to Central Park and Jack and Kara went to the teen club. It was a good first day!

Tuesday was our first full day on board. We started with breakfast at Johnny Rockets. It is so fun to sit outside on the boardwalk with the ocean breeze while we have a nice breakfast, one of my favorite experiences on a cruise ship! After that, Luke played on the play structure, we played mini golf, rode the Abyss (20 minute wait), and had lunch at the Wind Jammer buffet. After lunch, the boys and I played laser tag. Luke and I were on one team and Thomas and Jack were on the other. My and Luke’s team won, but Jack and Thomas were quick to point out that they had the two highest scores for both teams. In fact, Thomas would like it noted for the record that he had more points than Luke and I combined. I would like it noted for the record that they were still the losers. The ship was in Nassau, but we opted to stay onboard. It was only a 4-night cruise on a massive ship, so we needed the extra time to explore.

Dinner was good, they sorted out our tables so we were with Marta and Frank. After dinner, Thomas, Luke, Anna, Marta, Frank and I saw the aqua show which was set to 80s tunes. I really enjoyed it, although it was very very loud. From there, Anna and I went and listened to a piano singer in one of the lounges. 

Throughout the day, the girls made good use for the refreshment packages. Luke enjoyed a Johnny Rockets milkshake and at some point we went and got a snack at El Loco fresh. Always one of our favorite places to eat! 

Pictures from throughout the day. 

Abyss in the background, Johnny Rockets on the left. Two of our favorites.

I don't think any of us rode the carousel, but it gives the boardwalk a fun vibe.

Taking this very seriously.

Goodbye Nassau!

Aqua Show

Luke and Jack shared a window room. I took this picture peering from our balcony.

Happy Birthday to Luke!

Menchie's cake

Luke turned eleven on March 17th. His birthday always falls on Spring Break, so celebrating can be a little odd. We had a short cruise planned for Spring Break, which left on his actual birthday. And, he had a tournament the weekend before. Plus, this year he decided he really wanted a party. It was a busy time!

He asked for Dairy Queen for his birthday meal and an ice cream cake from Menchi's. We did those on Saturday after his tournament. Jack was in DC on his band field trip, but the girls gave him gifts and we enjoyed his cake (our gift to him was his party). 

One last cuddle as a 10-year-old (birthday eve)

On his actual day, we boarded the cruise ship. That night, they sang to him in the main dining room and brought him birthday cheesecake. 

Party people in the house!

We returned from the cruise on Friday and had Luke's party on Saturday. He chose a laser tag party. Our neighbor recommended the host, who comes to your house and runs everything. Luke invited his baseball team and a couple of friends from his class. With Spring Break, a few people were out of town, but he had 7/10 teammates and 3 friends from school. They played laser tag for 2 hours. I wasn't sure how laser tag could be played for two hours, but no one seemed to get tired of it. There were three different varieties of games and the kids had a great time. Jack is even considering it for his birthday. If you are reading this from Maryland, his son does the same thing in Maryland--Tomslasertag.com.  Most of the parents stayed and chatted. We had pizza, cupcakes, cookies, fruit, chips, soda and water. It was our first time hosting a birthday party in many years and I was happy it seemed to go well. Although, I realized that we forgot to sing happy birthday. How weird is that?

Strategizing for their next game

His friends were very generous. When asked what he wanted, Luke said "cold hard cash". He's saving up for a baseball card set he wants.

Luke is an amazing kid. He is smart, caring and fun. We are lucky to have him in our family and I hope he felt well-celebrated as he turned 11!

Kara served as party photographer and took these with her new camera:

This one is my favorite. Gael peeking from around the bushes.

Long Time, No Blog

I haven't blogged in about a month. It's been a difficult month. Thomas and I are back in the office. Honestly, that part is fine. I prefer to work at home, but going in person is no big deal. I get the same work done in the same amount of time, so whatever. But, other things are frustrating. The tone of the administration is unlike anything I've experienced in my 20+ years of working for the Navy. And, I am not talking about the quest to find areas where reductions can be made. While I personally don't want to lose my job, I am more fearful that we have gone down a partisan road and are further dividing ourselves along party lines. It is really hard to articulate without saying too much. 

In better news, the kids are keeping busy with good activities. In fact, Luke is at a baseball tournament as I write. Moving up to AAA has not been great for his team; their record is 3-13. They have lost many games by just 1 run, so the kids don't want to move down. Personally, I am tired of them being the bottom seed and thus having the 8am Sunday morning games, so I wouldn't mind returning to AA.

Kara is enjoying lacrosse. She is a varsity starter (most games) and scored her first goal! She usually plays defense so generally isn't in position to score, but occasionally plays mid, as she did the game where she scored. Unfortunately, I was not there to see it. But, Thomas and Anna were and they said it was very exciting. Their team has a great record of 7-1, but they do have some stronger opponents in the second half of the season. Regardless, it has been a great experience for her.

Anna has been helping us out a lot with Luke and babysitting in the neighborhood. She also started posting Vlogs on YouTube. 

Jack has been busy with band and track. He set a new PR for the 2-mile and did it in 11-minutes flat last week. Right now, he is on a bus, traveling back from a band trip to DC. We haven't heard too much about it yet, but Jack said it was a 9-9.5/10 experience.  Among other things, they went to museums and got to do a wreath laying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier. The trip made Jack homesick for our life in Maryland. They also went to a concert at the Kennedy Center, which later made the news because the crowd booed the VP (Jack said he was not among those who booed).

Other happenings: we have done a few trips to the theme parks (Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Universal). We also went to Leu Gardens one Saturday. I went to lunch with my sister and visited my dad. I met a friend for lunch at Red Lobster. Jack's band had their MPA, they did great and got straight superiors.  The weather has been beautiful. 

And, to conclude, a few photos from the month:

Luke in "The Scream" at Epcot's Festival of the Arts

Kara doing the draw

On the Skyliner

I love the sandhill cranes

Anna and I saw an otter in one of the neighborhood ponds. We watched him scurry from the water to the woods.

Kara Turns 16, Return to the Office & Mardi Gras Parade

Kara turned 16 on Wednesday. Her big celebration was the cruise, so her actual day was pretty anticlimactic. She thought about skipping school, but didn't want to miss lacrosse practice. I made cake pops that she took to school and shared with her friends. It was also the night of Jack's first pre-season track meet. So, Thomas went to that and I took Kara to her chosen dinner--Taco Bell. Luke made her a bracelet, Anna gave her a camo hoodie, and we gave her a $25 Starbucks gift card. She likes to make her own cake, but I think that may not happen this year. Obviously, I offered to make (or buy) one for her, but at first she planned to make it over the weekend, now she is saying she doesn't really want one. We shall see. So, like I started with--it was kind of an odd birthday. It is hard to believe she is 16. I can still see her in my mind as a cuddly 3-year-old, full of personality.

Other happenings have been a bit crazy. Thomas and I are back in the office. On our second day, there was a small electrical fire. They sent us home to telework for the afternoon, but had us come in the next day even though there was no internet. The internet came on late that afternoon, but was out again the next morning. The return to office feels very rushed. I know some people think that teleworkers don't actually work. I have many personal opinions on the matter, but I will keep it short and just say that I firmly believe diligent workers are going to be diligent, whether they are working from home or an office. And, lazy workers are going to be lazy, no matter where you put them. Anyway, it's been a big change. 

There have been mass firings of federal workers. I am not sure why we've become the enemy.  I have been up since 3am trying to figure out what Thomas and I will do if we lose our jobs. We have both spent our entire adult lives working for the Navy, which doesn't translate well into the civilian world. I feel like we will have to start over completely, which is terrifying when I thought we'd be retiring in 10-15 years. I do not like what is happening in the world and that along with the fear of extreme personal upheaval has created a level of stress that I've never experienced. I wish I could say this was my first or last sleepless night, but there have already been many and I imagine that there are still plenty in front of me.

Okay, moving on. As mentioned--Jack had his first track meet. He did the mile in 5:22 and the 1K in 3:08. He was happy with those times and has set some lofty goals for himself going forward. The lacrosse season has started. Kara is really enjoying playing. In last night's game, both of the regular goalies were out, so she played the position for the first half and had about about a 50% save rate. Their team won 23-3 and Kara got the game ball!

It's a great time of year to sit outside and watch a game.

On February 3rd we got to toss beads from a float during Universal's Mardi Gras parade. They let passholders reserve a date and the signups were released at noon in January. I got the link around 1205 and had a significant wait in the virtual queue. By the time I got in, there were two days left to chose from, both weekdays in early February. When we first did this a few years ago, they had lots of spots for passholders and you could sign up for two nights. But now they sell the opportunity to be on a float as part of a dinner package, so the free passholder spots are very limited. I was happy that we were able to snag one and was excited when the night arrived.

It was actually the day our passes expired and we had to renew in person (we changed our passes slightly). So, we raced to the parks after work, renewed our passes and checked in for the floats. Then, we grabbed a quick dinner. It was very rushed, but totally worth it. Unfortunately, Jack and Kara didn't want to miss their after school practices, so it was just the 4 of us. We missed, them but those of us who went had a great time.

Even on a Monday night, the parade draws a crowd.

January Wrap-Up

January ended well. Kara made the Varsity lacrosse team and Jack is doing distance for track again. They are both very busy with after school practices. It is so incredibly nice having Jack drive and not having to go to the school every day for pickup.

We bought a new couch and a new tv. Between that and the cruise, January was a very expensive month. We are going to have to live lean for a while to make up for it. We bought our last couch right before Luke was born, so 11 years ago. It held up relatively well, but had some weak spots, separating cushions, and was making creaking noises; I was ready for a new one. We found one we liked, but it was way over budget. Then, I found it online for a much better price and the store price-matched. We like to support brick-and-mortar stores and are willing to pay a bit more, but this was not an insignificant difference. Anyway, we have a new, non-creaky couch to enjoy.

Our old couch, looking good in its final picture from our living room. We gave it away on freecycle, where another family was thrilled to get it (even in its much used condition). 

New couch and rug. It is more cream colored than it looks in this picture, but I don't want to wait until morning to take a picture with better lighting.

We probably could have got some more time out of our tv, but the one we have in our bedroom has been black-and-white for close to a year now. We don't use it very often, but it is nice for occasional use. And, our main tv has some minor image issues. Plus, there is a lot of speculation that electronics are going to increase in price with the new tariffs. So, we bought a new tv and will move the old tv to our bedroom and get rid of the black-and-white.

Luke had two baseball tournaments this month. His team has gone 2-5, so not a great start, but they moved up a division, so it is not unexpected. At school, he got an award for exhibiting the Cambridge trait of "Innovative". Last quarter he got the "Responsible" award, so we were not expecting that he would get anything this quarter (each class has three awards for 3 quarters). And, he was the only kid in his class to get straight As. All the kids did very well the first semester. 

Luke and his teacher, Ms. Carter-Mello.

Kara spent the day at Universal yesterday (Saturday) with two friends. Anna and I went up around 4, rode a few rides, had dinner at Burger King in City Walk, and then met up with Kara and friends to watch the parade (then drive people home). It was incredibly crowded. People were lining up for the parade 90 minutes before it started! It was Mardi Gras opening day and a T-Pain concert, so maybe that is why? We are used to lighter crowds in January.

We had fun sitting up here and people watching.

I mentioned in my first blog of the month that we went to Fort Christmas and to lunch at Steak-n-Shake. I was going to write in more detail later, but obviously that didn't happen. It was a really fun day and a great way to spend the last day of winter break. We played tennis, looked around the houses and fort, then had a nice lunch (and milkshakes) at Steak-n-Shake.

I'm sure I am leaving something out, but that is a good enough summary. Thomas and I got new glasses. We had some really cold days, which was fun. There was lots of school and work and Thomas and I enjoying what are likely our last weeks of telework.

One random picture to end. When we took down our tree, I snapped this picture of my snowmen ornament collection. I love them.