Day 2 --Jackson's debut!

This juggler guy was awesome.  He made us laugh and could do the most incredible things while juggling.(and juggle some weird stuff -- tennis rackets, machete knives, kitchen sink etc.)  Jackson got pulled out of the audience to help on stage.  I only had my little camera to record so it is not the greatest but it is still fun to watch Jackson and his cruise ship acting debut.  

Day 2 - Key West

Grandpa wanted to go and see where Ernest Hemingway lived.  He left all of his money to his cats so they all live in his home and the caretakers take care of it and the tourists get to tour the home and see the cats. The kids didn't really care about who the guy was but they did enjoy searching for the over 30 cats that lived on the property. Kaci and Chase thought it was funny that this cat was sleeping on the bed.

Chase wanted some sunglasses and he chose these Mickey ones that open. Don't they just match Chase's personality perfectly!
We visited the southern most point of the U.S. and we were only 90 miles to Cuba, not that you could see it because it was not a clear day.  
Key West was fun but not a lot of beach and swimming time.  Mostly we walked around, shopped and enjoyed being outside on this beautiful but windy day!!

The Disney Princesses

The cruise was worth every penny when we saw Kaci's face the first time she saw the princesses. She was so excited! Every time we saw a princess (there were only 3 Cinderella, Snow White and Belle) we had to stop and talk to her and take a picture.  I bet 50 of our pictures are with Kaci and the princesses!

SNOW WHITE

BELLE

CINDERELLA

I'll spare you the other 47 pictures!

Day 2 -- Character Breakfast

Our first breakfast was the character breakfast.  The characters came from table to table signing autograph books and taking pictures with the kids. Notice how there are few character pictures with Jackson. I had to beg, plead and threaten to get the family ones with the characters.

These are supposed to be Goofy ears. The waitress made different napkin hats for the kids. Chase had a Peter Pan hat and Kaylee and Kaci had Minnie bows.  

Chase ordered the Mickey Waffle and Chocolate Chip pancakes.  YUM!!
Kaci loved kissing all of the characters. She tried to kiss one of the princesses on the lips. The poor lady just pointed to her cheek and Kaci kissed her there instead.  
Here is the man himself. 
Here is everyone with Goofy! The kids just loved seeing all of the characters!!

DISNEY CRUISE

Are you ready for vacation overload? I will spread it out over the next few days. We took about 600 pictures so I will spare you most of them. We had a great time and we were NOT ready to come back to the snow, school and work. I have 8 suitcases of dirty clothes and an empty fridge to clean and fill today. Trust me, I would much rather be on the beach, laying out, reading a book  and playing in the sand then doing house chores. I guess at some point you have to go back to normal life. Hope you enjoy reading about our trip.

Day 1 -- Getting on the boat

In the terminal while you are waiting to get on the ship, you go from line to line getting everything you need done.  The highlight for Kaci was her first (of many) sighting of Mickey and the gang!!  

Here is my favorite shot!  

She ran right over into Mickey's arms and gave him a big hug!
Here is Minnie!!
Chase was pretty excited too!!

After lunch on the ship, we headed to the top of the ship for the Anchors Away party starring the gang!!  Kaci was so excited to see everyone.

Here is the gang getting everyone excited to head out to sea.
Grandma and Grandpa Gardner came with us!  We are just about ready to leave.
It was REALLY WINDY that day.  We were hoping that the wind would quit but it didn't the WHOLE 7 DAYS!  At least it was warm and sunny and not snowing!!

My beef of the day!

6:26 am  YES   6:26 am

That is what time the phone rang.  Now, most of you know I am NOT a morning person. Also, if the phone rings before about 7 you realize something is not right.  Well, this phone call was from the SCHOOL DISTRICT informing me that the school busses are running late.

LATE!  We don't even ride the bus.  Plus, school doesn't even start until 7:40.  We are still asleep!(Well not anymore!)  

I realize that for some parents this was an important phone call.  But with technology today you would think that the district could have had the computer call only those who rode the bus and maybe called the junior high kids and elementary kids, that start later, at 7:00.

Now, maybe, if that call would have informed me that school was cancelled, I would have been only a little perturbed, rolled over and gone back to sleep. 

WHY THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY LOVES ME...

1.  I have been the 8:30 a.m. (that's when the phone lines open up) caller to the doctors office the last 5 out of the 9 days!  The front desk people love me!

2. I have baffled the doctor with this pink eye that WON"T GO AWAY!!!!  ( 3 times Jackson  3 times Kaylee  1 time mom)

 

3.  I have spent over $150 on prescriptions at Walgreens over the last 4 weeks.  

4.  Poor Kaci had to miss preschool 2 times last week due to a cold and then a miserable ear infection.  She keeps telling me that her ear is all better so she doesn't need to take the meds anymore.  5 more days!

Thank goodness for health insurance and a hard working husband so we can afford these kids. Who wants to come to my house?