Cruisin' to Mexico

I don't really know where to begin in relaying our adventure aboard the "Paradise". I guess I should go back to where this all began. About a year and a half ago Jared decided he wanted to make our 5th anniversary a big one. I agreed, or course, but thought that big was in the realm of an overnight stay at a fancy hotel and an expensive dinner, but Jared had other plans. He started saving for a cruise without my knowledge. To make a long story short I began to suspect a cruise and Jared did an excellent job of covering his tracks. I had completely ruled out a cruise by the time our Anniversary trip week arrived. Jared had only given me three bits of information about our getaway. First that we would be leaving on Monday morning around 6am. Second that we would be home the next night (Tuesday). And third that we were driving about 5 hours away for our getaway. I assumed we were going to California to stay in beach front hotel. I was sure I had it all figured out. I was wrong and I didn't know it until we arrive in California and we drove up to a huge sign that said "Carnival Cruise". I was shocked...for lack of a better word. I have wanted to go on a cruise for so long...words couldn't describe my astonishment and joy. Jared completely got me...I almost couldn't believe it! I, Marcie Austin, was going on my first CRUISE!!!! If that wasn't exciting enought we were going to be gone for 5 days! No kids, no cleaning, no diaper changes, no cooking, no worries for 5 whole days!!!

My first question after I calmed down enough to think clearly was...what about the kids? They were staying with our neighbors house across the street while we were gone overnight...or so I thought. I didn't think it was fair to ask our neighbors to watch our boys for 5 days. Jared told me that was my Dad was flying down to watch them for the week...didn't see that one coming...my Dad had told me he had jury duty the week of our trip and I completely believed him. :) He does have jury duty next week s it wasn't a complete lie.

Waiting to board the ship "Paradise"

Almost there...the door is just ahead...I was a little excited if you can't tell!

The ship...inside and out

Arriving at our room

After we got to our room we spent the remainder of the evening exploring the ship and eating tons of amazing food we also attended a show.

The next morning, Tuesday March 15th, we arrived at Catalina Island (which was beautiful, by the way).

On a small boat that took us ashore

A view of the ship from our small boat...see how clear the sky is!

Then the fog set in about an hour later.

Our snorkeling shore excursion got cancelled because of the weather

so we hung out on the beach...

went shopping and explored the island.

We returned to the ship by 4:00pm. We ate a huge dinner and then played a game of mini golf. Playing miniature golf on a rocking ship with a lot of wind was a bit of an adventure.

Jared and I decided that whoever lost would be thrown overboard. Guess who lost...

At least I had the ship and the wind to blame my terrible score on. Oh and in case you were worreid Jared decided he might get kind of bored if his cruising buddy was gone so he didn't actually throw me overboard. :)

That night was formal night in the dining room. We got tons of pictures taken by the ship photographers and forgot to take a picture of our own so I don't have a picture of us dressed up for dinner. Maybe next time.

The next morning, Wednesday the 16th, we docked in Ensenada, Mexico. Since our shore excursion was cancelled from Catalina Island we went on a tour of Ensenada that featured a bus ride to a blow hole and a stop at what once was a beach front Casino.

Jared "jumping the boarder"...

On the bus ready for our Ensenada tour

On the way to the blow hole we walked through tons of vendors and a three story

restaurant/ gift shop called the Habana Banana.

The ocean near the blow hole

Right by the blow hole two guys were playing the xylophone and they had a sign that said for $1 they would allow you to get a picture with them and play a song with them as well. Jared went for it and he actually did a fabulous job! After the blow hole we went on a tour of the old Casino that was built in the 1920's. Famous American dancers and singers came to preform there like Frank Sinatra. It was a very neat building. Mexico outlawed gambling so now the casino is used for weddings and other community events.

After our bus tour was over we found a shuttle that took us to the nearest public beach. The weather was a little chilly so we didn't get in the water at all. It was wonderful to be on the beach anyhow.

The shuttle came by an hour later so went went back to the ship and enjoyed a delicious dinner. We went to a couple of shows and ship events to wrap up the evening.

Thursday was a "day at sea". We started our day in the hot tub for an hour or so. Then we ate breakfast and spent the day participating in events on the ship...

like attending a workshop on how to make animals out of towels. Each evening the cleaning staff had a put a different animal on our bed with chocolates and the next day's agenda. We thought the workshop to learn to make the towel animals was neat. Jared and I made a monkey and an elephant.

Aside for the activities and shows we also really enjoyed the food...a little too much! Jared ate 18 ice cream cones over the corse of 4 days. He was trying to get his money's worth, at leas that's what he tells people.

Thursday night flew by and before we knew it we were sitting down to our last dinner on the ship. We had to be up by 6:30am for breakfast on Friday morning. Before I knew it we were off the ship and in the car driving back toward Phoenix. By 4:00pm we were home.

We had a WONDERFUL time! Thanks again, my love, for the gift of a lifetime. It was the best surprise ever! I don't know if Jared will ever be able to top this one. I love you honey! Thanks again for the best trip of my life.

Where the Wild Things Are

We went to the Phoenix Zoo this Saturday with some friends. The boys loved it, especially Ethan. Ethan found his favorite animal at the zoo. You can probably guess what it was. Here's a hint in case it isn't obvious. Ethan is just like this animal. Yep...you guessed it...a monkey. He LOVED the monkeys. In fact, he is still talking about them today. Just before his nap he picked up his monkey stuffed animal and hugged it. Then he said, "monkey climbed the tree". I was surprised. He totally remembered the monkeys from yesterday climbing and swinging from the trees.

Here are some pictures from our zoo adventure...

Ethan didn't know what to think of the carousel. He wanted to ride the shark but the shark was occupied and seemed to have a waiting list...so he got the pink and yellow sea horse.

Cameron meets a goat...

Ethan with the goat

Being from Idaho and around farm animals I found it a bit funny that the zoo had an entire section dedicated to farm animals....farm animals at a zoo? I thought the zoo was a place where exotic animals were shown off. I just cant place goats and farm animals in that category, but that's just me.

Cameron - 9 Months

Cameron hit the 9 month mark on the 27th! This milestone is a big one for me personally. It's that milestone when I realize Cameron has been with our family now for as long as I was pregnant with him. Cameron is getting much more active these days and I am not quite sure how I feel about it . He isn't crawling yet but he pulls himself everywhere in an army crawl. He doesn't like being held as much. He wants out of mommy's arms so that he can get down explore. He is growing up fast. Here are some of his 9 month pictures. (I took tons of pictures but don't worry I am only posting 4.)

I had to add this video of Cameron as well...nothing of real consequence...just some adorable laughs and smiles from my 9 month old after dinner the other night.

And while I was talking pictures of Cameron I HAD to get some of Ethan too...

I finally got a smile from Ethan in the photo on the right!! I can never seem to get him to smile for the camera. I literally took more than 30 pictures to get one where he is smiling.

Here are the boys playing together...they are just now getting to that stage where they interact with and entertain each other. I LOVE it!