Winter Break Vacation

 

This is my favorite family photo - formal night on the cruise

We had a MUCH needed Winter Break getaway!  The Leary family ended up joining us for a week away (Alex, Tonya and Harrison).  Summary and photos below, but all the photos are up on the DARE photo site

It started last Saturday morning (the 19th).  We left home around 8am and stopped at the Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, GA on the way down to Orlando.  We had Groupons for it, but it was SO AWESOME.  We rented one of their zebra-stripped vans with bars on the window, and we also bought some of their food.  The animals just come up and put their heads in to get the food.  We had some great moments, some caught on camera but most not...a Giraffe actually stuck its whole head in the driver's window into Alex's lap to get food and 'slimed' him with all the saliva!  AWESOME!  Loads of Pictures from the Safari

We got into Orlando just in time for a quick dinner and bed.  Sunday was our BIG surprise to the boys....UNIVERSAL Islands of Adventure.   We actually taped their reaction as they discovered where we were going.  It was mixed and not as enthusiastic as I had expected, but it was a GREAT (long) day!  We were at the park just after opening of 9am and left around 9pm after having dinner at Universal City Walk.  Here's the video:

Loads more pictures from Universal

Ethan is VERY happy to be here despite the photo - he was just annoyed we had to leave!

Then on Monday, we went to the World's Most Unique (Largest?) McDonald's and then made the hour drive over to Port Canaveral to embark upon our cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas.  What an adventure we had already had leading up to that point, but we were just beginning!!!

Monday:  Got on the ship around 2pm and got settled a bit explored that ship and had a snack. We had early dinner (5:45) so we went there.  We dropped the kids off for activities in the Adventure Oceans Kids Club after dinner and went to a 70's music trivia contest and some karaoke (no, we didn't partake!)

Tuesday:  We were in Coco Cay, one of Royal's private islands for the day.  Got off the ship, dropped the kids off for their activities (building sand castles in a nice shaded area), relaxed for a while, got the kids for lunch.  After eating, we took the kids to a special 'hot wheels' track they have just for them...

 

Then we spent some family time in the shallow, clear waters...it was a GORGEOUS day with ideal weather.

Got back on the ship in time for a shower and then dinner - it was formal night.  After dinner, we dropped the kids off at the kids activities again and spent some time in the casino and shopping and just exploring the ship.

Wednesday:  We were in Nassau, Bahamas all day.  We decided to let the kids do the morning kids activities and the adults got in good workouts in the big gym....on the elliptical, bikes and treadmills overlooking the harbor and Atlantis (heavenly!)...then, drum roll please, we did the rock wall!  The 4 adults and Ethan and Harrison (Ry didn't even want to try)  The kids did pretty well and got about half way up, but all the adults made it the full 43 feet up to ring the bell!!  There are photos and video but it was all on Tonya's cameras, so you will have to wait. 
Then we went into Nassau and walked around a bit - went to a neat pirate museum which  made for tons of great photos!!  

Stopped in a Dunkin Doughnuts which was a highlight for Ethan!  We also stopped at a Senor Frogs on the way back to the ship - a chain, but always VERY entertaining!!  Lots of photo ops there too!  Got some conch and the clown made some balloon creations for the boys.

Then back on the ship to get ready for dinner.  We went to a Captain's reception before dinner for returning RC cruisers....it was interesting and plenty of free drinks and sushi.  Then we dropped the kids off to have dinner with the kids club and the adults enjoyed a nice long dinner...then a couple of shows/activities afterward.


Thursday was our day at sea.  It was really nice to have a more casual day.  We had the breakfast buffet (omelets made to order!) then found a nice spot by the pool which was no small feat!  We are skilled though and scoped out chairs then an ideal spot in between both kid pools.  The kids had a blast playing in the less than 1ft water with their toys and snacking for about 2 hours.  Then it started to drizzle a bit - to that point the weather had been ideal....sunny and warm but not hot every day and that day had just been enough overcast to be comfortable lounging by the pool.  We took that as a sign to move under the cover to be closer to the ocean and we also took the kids to the kids club for a while to have some fun.  Then a nice dinner and then to the farewell show where the kids, dressed as pirates, participated...it was too cute!


Friday we had breakfast and then got off the ship and on the road home by 10am...made good time and got home by 5:30pm.  Exhausted but very happy!!!
Loads of photos from the cruise

Disclaimer:  I know I forgot some things especially on the cruise - we were literally going non-stop and had plenty to do but I didn't make notes, so this is all from memory and photos...which I will have more once I get the ones from Tonya.