The Week With Nothing to Show For It

Seriously. It was one of those weeks where I took almost no pictures of anything and life was busy but I have nearly nothing to show for it. 

Monday, I was excited because our maintenance guy who drives me absolutely nuts isn't my favorite moved his big old van that has been parked in our lot for over a month. Only he brought it back and it was then parked in MY SPOT!

Which is somehow worse than the past 2 weeks of him being in the spot next to my spot, which meant the teacher who typically parks there was in my spot. I couldn't be mad at her for taking my spot when the dumb van was in hers! 

But later when I came back for baptism class, he had moved to the far side, which is where I prefer it. (I mean, honestly, I wish it were gone but if it has to be here over there is better.) 

And now that all is right in the parking lot... On Tuesday I met someone from a different parish for a brunch meeting. And it was totally awkward because I didn't know who I was actually meeting since we had only spoken on the phone. So I just waited and hoped someone would show up. 

C has been mad that Village Inn redecorated and said that he bet it was boring inside too, so I took a pic of the inside. 

I think it looks nice enough. And the meeting was NOT at all awkward once we got past the fact she brought a friend with her and I only had two menus and silverware. It was an easy enough fix! 

And then I legitimately took no more pictures. But last night M took pictures of the no bake s'mores bars we made for C's 6th grade bake sale today. It's our last bake sale of the year, thank goodness! It's kinda the worst part about 6th grade... having to make 2 dozen treats every other month. 

But the money raised pays for their big field trip. (And the money from the bazaar.) So it's all a good lesson. Hopefully the treats make all $12 they're supposed to. 

**Please ignore the bottle of Vodka and DayQuil Kids in the picture of M. DayQuil is for the coughs that won't quit to help get through a school day. 

And the Vodka, I honestly think was in the freezer and Husband cleaned that out a bit ago, and the Vodka never found a new home since we don't have a bar. (And I think the vodka was for pie crust anyway...) 

But again it's Friday and I am ever so hopeful for a restful weekend with lots of sleep to try to get my own cough taken care of once and for all!! 

Made It To Friday

So I alluded last Monday (LAST MONDAY!) That I got some airport germs. Boy howdy was that the understatement of the century. Negative for all the things but not well. 

I am just now coming back to life. 21 days of February I've been out of my norm. (Vacation + sickness.) Yesterday I finally got my appetite back after 11 days of barely eating. That's good! Progress at least!

I am still requiring a TON of sleep. Like on Wednesday night I went to sleep at 9:30 instead of 8:15 (like the moment the kids are in bed) and I could not wake up yesterday when my alarm went off.  

I have taken so few pictures because of it. Here is M declaring her desire to go fishing with my dad this summer. 

This was miserable and sick me at the show I had to review on Saturday. I wasn't fevering and hadn't been for a long time but I still had a wicked cough. Fun fact: I still have a wicked cough. 

The show was good. I managed to write about it and get that published. And then I slept a lot more. And even though my appetite is back, I am still counting down the hours until I am back at home in comfy clothes and I can take a nap!! 

So I made it to another Friday. I am more than ready for the weekend! 

Day 7 and Day 8

So last year, we disembarked, spent the entire day at the airport and got home after midnight. That was terrible. It made the end of the vacation just miserable. 

We got wise. We disembarked and went to WDW for the day. No parks!! Just a casual resort hopping day. 

We had our early early breakfast and said goodbye to Randy and Roman. 

Then we had to get off the ship. Boo. And we sat on a bus for a real long time. Now... I don't see a way around this. Because had we stayed on board we wouldn't have been allowed in our room and we would have just sat around there too so getting off was fine. 

The Wish was also in port. It was nice to say Hello to her too! 

Finally, we got going and made it to WDW.

Let it be known that I was deeply unexcited about staying at Pop Century. But I figured it was only one night. 

We ditched our bags at Bell Services and then sprinted for the restroom which were being cleaned. I was not super kind to the poor guy when I demanded he tell me where a restroom was then! After we used the restroom he kindly directed us to, we hopped onto the Skyliner. 

We rode all the way to Epcot and then walked to the Beach Club. Then took a bus to Disney Springs. 

First, we waited in the half-hour line at Gideon's Bake House. I would never in a million years say it was worth it on a regular Disney trip, but for our day it was nice to finally try these cookies. They were fine. We have a place in town and the cookies are just as good and big. But I am glad we tried it. Then we went to Earl of Sandwich for lunch. Yum! 

We went to the World of Disney and I realized how much I saved by going to that hour-long presentation. 

After that, we rode a boat to French Quarter and I got my girly some Mickey Beignets. After all the Disney trips I'd never been to French Quarter before. My one bit of feedback was for a place that literally is just churning out beignets all day you'd think they'd be faster. (Kinda like Raising Canes... you only serve Chicken Tenders and Fries...) 

I should note here, at this point C was falling apart. He was over tired and had a cough and just wanted to rest. So we got on a bus to Hollywood Studios and then rode the Skyliner back to Pop Century where we were staying. Our room was ready. 

Now I did in fact pay extra for a preferred room but I was INCREDIBLY happy with our room and it's location. For our one night and what we needed, the room was great. I liked it significantly better than Art of Animation and I would actually consider staying at this resort again. 

We all rested and C was very happy to do so. And then we all went for a swim because why not? We were still in Florida after all and it was going to be cold when we got home. I am glad I got in the water myself even though it was cold to me because the novelty of swimming in February just couldn't be beat. 

Then for the last and final time, we all showered and dressed for dinner. We hopped a bus to the Magic Kingdom. We were there with all the cheerleaders and for the most part it was fine. I would never plan a trip during cheer competitions though. 

Then boarded the monorail for the Polynesian. 

Where we killed a lot of time waiting for our reservation. 

C was cold and tired so I had him lay and try to rest. That really helped. Admittedly they were pumping the air conditioning and even I was getting chilly and regretted not bringing a sweatshirt of my own. 

Then it was our time for Ohana and oh how the Holy Spirit covered me. You have to know that I do not care about fireworks at all. But the Happily Ever After fireworks make me cry. For MONTHS I had been plotting eating at Ohana during the fireworks. 

And my dream to be eating Ohana Noodles while watching the fireworks with the music patched in... absolutely came true. We had a castle view. And I cried. And sang along. And ate noodles. It was everything. The cherry on top of an almost perfect vacation. 

After we went back to Magic Kingdom, got a bus back to Pop and we were all in bed rather quickly. 

It was a much better day than spending it all in the airport. And definitely made leaving the cruise more bearable. 

Day 8 we woke up, packed up, and waited for our bus in the fog. 

Funny enough, the first time we weren't on Disney Cruise Line Transportation is when we got a Disney Cruise Line Themed Bus.

We had an uneventful flight from MCO to CLT. The highlight being MCO let us check our bags all the way through to Moline for free. Then had to walk to the third-world country under construction area of the Charlotte airport. 

And then before you knew it we were home. In all it's gray and dreary glory. 

And that was the trip. It was a success. I am still sad it's over. Life is just more fun when you have a vacation to look forward to isn't it?

Day 6

Day 6 was a first for us, we've never had a sea day before. But we were really excited about it. M and I woke up extra early because it was Churro Mickey Waffle day and I had been waiting for them. We got up to the buffet as like the 4th people. They were delicious. 

And I was very very happy!! 

It felt like a lot of people slept in at sea, so we got some time to just look at the water the two of us and it was very peaceful. 

We went to a Trivia.

We actually split up and did a few different things. M and I went to the Royal Gathering. I know there are a lot of cruise lines. But Disney has my heart because it's just so family-oriented. I love that my sweet girl wants to meet princesses. 

I love that my kids can wander about the ship and I know that almost everything is family friendly. (There are a few adult only spaces but truthfully I think the activities there are still fairly safe. And the alcohol tastings are in small settings where you need to RSVP.) 

One of the activities we all went to together was the apple strudel demo. That was much more interesting than I expected and I realized that first, I have never actually made a strudel and second there were some excellent tips!

Later was the Jack Jack Baby Races. Which was just as hilarious and wonderful as C and I had been hoping. We both loved it!!! 

Let me tell you a story. For days, M had been asking for a Hei Hei shoulder pal. To add insult to injury, C got the parrot shoulder pal with his pirate costume the day before. But no one sold the Hei Hei. But she kept seeing them everywhere. Well, it turns out it was the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) special gift. So while she was at the kid's club and Husband and C were at a different trivia, I went and listened to the DVC talk so I could earn a coupon that would let us get a Hei Hei shoulder buddy. 

If I ever make a lot more money than I currently do, I would totally join DVC for real. 

Later we went to Broadway trivia. At one point we met the cruise director Ashley. It's funny, before every show she gets up and says "Oh I'd love to chat with everyone." And I had literally been thinking, yeah that would be great but how do you just run into her? Well... just like that actually. And we stopped to talk for a while and that was that. 

M and I went to a silent disco. We had a BLAST! 

I was worried that being at sea was going to feel crazy crowded. And we had planned specifically to avoid swimming on this day because of it. But we managed to do a lot of fun activities and I was never overwhelmed by a crowd. (Believe me, I would tell you.) 

I even did a load of laundry so that we wouldn't end up at home with a million loads to do. We also had to pack so that our luggage would meet us off the ship. So much easier than walking around with all of it the next morning. 

By the time we went back to the room to change for dinner I was feeling very sad that the cruise was coming to an end. I wasn't the least bit sick of the ship or my family. Disconnecting completely, not being able to text or be on the internet was such a complete gift. 

Moments after this picture was taking the lobby band started playing "our song" and I pretty much started crying and plotting how and when we could cruise again. 

We had a lovely last dinner at Enchanted Garden.

M went back to change and then straight to the kids club. The rest of us went to see Disney's Believe. A story all about believing in magic and that kids grow up too quickly. Well if that wasn't the most on point be sure to cruise with us again commercial I've ever seen. 

After the show we picked up M and her pillow case she made and then went to the Say Goodbye lobby show. 

I am sad that by the next time we cruise M will no longer be able to go to the kids club. She will be in the tween club age. Now, she may actually attend Edge where C refused to try this time. (And perhaps the two of them together would go.) But it was nice that she had a fun place to hang out. 

Now, she honestly only spent about 7 hours there total the whole cruise. I do think some kids go for a lot lot longer than that. But we always really enjoyed and appreciated the Oceaneers Club. I wish we could cruise one more time before M turns 11! 

I admit, I was sad we didn't take 4 more pictures because then we would have taken 300 with the cruise package we had prepurchased. But 296 pictures isn't too shabby. Clearly I didn't post most of them, you're welcome!

We ordered one last bout of room service in the form of Mickey bars and then went to bed. It was going to be an early morning disembarking. 

Day 5

Okay, before I get to Day 5 I need to share that on Valentine's Day we got to go see Cirque Du Soleil Crystal and it was great. 

Okay, Day 5! Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Disney's new private resort. 

The first thing you should know is that there's about a 10-minute walk from the ship down the pier. I thought this was going to be annoying but the water was the most beautiful color and it was hard to be too upset by the walk.

The sand was so soft and white. The kids LOVED LOVED LOVED this beach and it was really cool. I admit, mostly I was just tired and knew I did not want to swim. I did enjoy a nice beach chair though.

Actually, when we were on board everyone decided to stay dry and that lasted about 6 minutes on Lookout Cay. Good thing I packed the swimsuits anyway isn't it? 

We stayed at the beach until lunch and then we headed back to the ship. It was a more leisurely paced day and I am glad we scoped it out. Our next cruise we will plan for Lookout Cay better--perhaps a shorter Castaway day so we are better prepared for Lookout. The photo spots are darling and the character's Bahamian costumes are so cute!! 

We got back to the ship right about 1:00 and C and Husband went to ride the AquaMouse right as it opened for the day and they brought back food from the pool deck for lunch. We got everyone showered and dressed and then got ready for Pirate Night! 

I booked both kids' Pirate League makeovers and it was a HOOT! M just did the makeup and C did the whole shebang. He was the funniest and wouldn't talk in case he messed up his beard. He got a lot of compliments all night and it was nice to let him have an experience like this. 

We took a lot of pictures on Pirate Night. We were like 3rd in line to meet Captain Hook and I was delighted. 

The Pirate Night menu was delicious but this dessert was SO good. Coconut ice cream with pineapple sauce and Roman our waiter tried to talk me out of it but I loved every single bit. No regrets! 

Last year M was overtired on the Pirate night this year our goal was to not do that so the two of us took it easy and then we all made it to the fireworks with gusto! Fireworks at sea doesn't get old. 

It was the only point of the entire cruise where I was almost a little chilly! 

I will tell you that the pirate league did not give makeup remover wipes like they do for BBB makeovers and as I am not a makeup wearer getting the kid's makeup off was quite the challenge. 

But finally, we accomplished this and were able to go to sleep. 

I swear these past two days seem like they were really boring but they definitely were not! We took so many pictures decked out as pirates and C and Husband went to both Pirate shows. M and I onlyly went to the the fireworks show. There's only so many times you can say "and then we went and got ice cream on deck 11" before it seems like that's all we did.