Christmas Cruise...Part 1

We're back home, back in the country and back to reality! It was an amazing vacation...great weather, good company, fun ports, tasty food (more than enough!), and wonderful memories from the week together!

Our ship, Holland America's Oosterdam, left San Diego on Saturday afternoon, but we all met up around 11 am to get on the ship early enough for lunch and time to explore. The check-in process was smooth and easy...and by noon we were "all aboard" the ship. We had been upgraded to some balcony suites for the week and those were nice...and great to have all our balconies connect so we could wander from room to room outside...not to mention, enjoy the great weather while sitting on the verandas! Of course, lunch was our first order of business...and as usual with cruise ships, the selection was endless and amazing...I think that those who hadn't cruised before were in awe of it all!

As you can imagine, I took a lot of pictures and have lots I want to share with you (if you want to see them all!), so will break this down into probably three posts over the next week or two...so here are the first two days...there will be more and some fun photos (we had some exciting adventures!) ahead...for now, here are the first two days!

The Hege clan is ready to get on board the ship...first cruise for Sam and Syd...I think they'll enjoy it!

San Diego skyline from our ship...beautiful weather which was nice to start off the week...love the sunshine, especially this time of year!

Lunch time...enjoyed and devoured by all...of course, being our first meal we ate more than we should have...oh, wait, we did that all week long!!

Couldn't resist this shot...love all the chairs and tables...and imagine someone had already started drinking shortly after noon...I think that many start as soon as the cruise begins and don't stop until we return to port a week later!

Beautiful sunset as we prepared to sail out of port in San Diego...I just love winter sunsets!

This boat came out to pick up the pilot who maneuvered the ship out of the port...he did a fine job, didn't take out any piers, boats or pilings!!

Ahhh, sunrise, up early the first morning at sea was rewarding and beautiful...although I couldn't figure out while it was on the same side as the sunset?? Was I turned around??

It wasn't look until an announcement was made telling us that we had actually been heading back to San Diego for about three hours (that explains the sunrise!) as one of the passengers became ill and needed to be airlifted to a San Diego hospital...so we were meeting the Coast Guard and they were going to airlift them to the hospital. I opted to skip my shower (for the time) and head up to the deck to watch the airlift...and although we couldn't see it actually happen, I was able to see the helicopter hover over the deck along the side...very interesting to watch, but sad for the passenger and family who had to go through that.

Eggs Benedict...they had an "Eggs Benedict Bar" that had at least six different kinds you could order...and every day we ate in the buffet area...that's what Rick had for breakfast!! His favorite...and to be able to have something other than the traditional was a real treat!

Shuffle board...that was fun to have a little fun family competition...although I was on a losing team...not my best sport, but tons of fun to play...great competition among everyone!

Love the never-ending waters of the Oceans...so blue and the details from the ship passing through...another simple beauty of nature!

Inside the center of the ship...the first three floors are open to the ATRIUM with a beautiful globe at the top. It was interesting because most ships we've been on have it open most if not all the way from bottom to top in the center.

A rough game of basketball - it began as a challenge from Josh and Sean to Sam and Syd and then Scott and Betsy joined in...a pretty competitive game...fun to watch and of course, photograph!!

Again...they're all out win...in the end, the girls (with Scott) won...and Josh, Sean and Betsy lost...Sam and Syd were pretty tough out there!

Jayden is "styling" Sam's hair before the first formal night (our first full day at sea)...she was pretty patient with Jayden...who was quite serious about her "job!"

GREAT cloud formations as the sun began to set...setting up to be a beautiful sunset...yet again!

Jayden is all dressed for our first formal night...and besides an adorable dress...there's a beautiful sunset to compliment her this wonderful night!

Josh, Mandy, Sis (Terri's mom), Sydney (Scott's youngest daughter) and Jayden...who literally shadowed Syd and her older sister, Sam, the whole week.

Instead of buying gifts for everyone, we just drew a name and each had only one to buy for...Jayden got this Barbie (which she loved!) from Sis...and of course, it was a beach Barbie...perfect for the cruise!

And Scott got a bottle of Bailey's (shhh...don't tell the cruise line that we smuggled it on board!) for his gift from me!

Rick and I...I was the "Santa" for the evening...so was chosen to wear the special hat....and Rick couldn't be left out, so put on Sean's hat (gift) to pose with me for a picture...and you might notice the bottle of Jack Daniel's behind us...that was Rick's gift...which he really enjoyed!

All dressed up and ready for a great meal...don't we look great!

I love this photo...myself, my mom and Scott...what a great looking family we are!!

Another photo I really like...Scott wore my dad's tux and in it found a ticket to a Christmas Dance from 1992 - what great memories the tux held of parties and dances that my parents had attended while he wore this! He looked great and I know that my dad was watching over us during the week!

Well, two days down and five more to go. The first two days highlights were setting sail; the lighting of the ships Christmas tree and "snow;" enjoying a wonderful meal, all together; watching the Coast Guard helicopter; shuffle board; basketball; lots of food; a formal dinner....all dressed up (though Mandy and Sean both ended up having to leave dinner...it was a bit rough that evening...thankfully, that was it for the motion sickness for everyone); and just being able to relax and enjoy the company of family! Until the next post...which will be as loaded as photos as this one...enjoy and Happy New Years, everyone!

Merry Christmas...early!

Just a quick note to everyone to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and if you are traveling...safe travels! Tomorrow morning we will board the cruise ship and set sail for 7 days...to the Mexican Rivera! Needless to say, we are VERY excited and looking forward to a week of fun, relaxation and family time! We'll have 12 in all, Terri's mom, Sis, her brother and his family, Scott, Betsy, Sam and Syd; us, Josh, Mandy and Jayden; and Jess and Sean!! Five rooms, all in a row...and two tables for dinner...what a time we'll have!!

A week ago, Terri flew to Spokane to stay with her mom and then head south via car. Before they left Spokane, she celebrated and early Christmas with her sisters and their families - the usual Christmas brunch her family has...it was wonderful to see all of them and we will miss them on the cruise...sorry they couldn't come! Terri drove down to California with her mom and brother...and arrived on Wednesday evening. They are staying with friends of Sis' until tomorrow morning...the rest of the families fly down today...thank goodness we don't have the weather of last year...or no one would probably make it out of the Northwest! Their drive down was fairly uneventful...some rain one night and most of the next day, but just a tad of snow when they left The Dalles on Monday. Terri of course took photos, thinking it might be the only snow she would see for a while...and who knows, maybe all winter! Their first night was in Crescent City and the next day it was WILD...wind and rain, but guess who ventured out for photos! Yes, Terri and Scott (imagine Sis stayed inside!!) and Terri got SOAKED...clear through, but the photos and video were great fun to get...and thankfully, she packed some sweats in her luggage so she had something dry for the day to wear...otherwise, it would have been her pajamas!! The next night we stayed in Pismo Beach...and awoke to clear skies, calm winds and a beautiful ocean view...quite a contrast!!

This will be the last posting for at least a week, maybe until the new year...so until then...we want you all to know we are thankful for our family and friends and appreciate all of you...our best to you and your families!!

We love you all!! Here are some photos from Terri's trip down...The Dalles; Multanomah Falls; Crescent City; Pismo Beach; Santa Barbara beach and our lunch one day...at In-n-Out Burger!!!

December...already??

Wow...as I look at our last posting, it was about 1 1/2 months ago...where did the time go and how did it get to be December so fast?!? Actually, it's been a busy month...November has flown by and this month will as well. It seems every year we get to this point and aren't quite sure what happened to the year...and this year isn't any different...but we are REALLY going to try and slow the pace down a bit for 2010! Just to soak in a bit more life, appreciate the simple things in life and spend more time with family and friends...a New Year's Resolution that we will work hard at...because it is important...life is precious!

With the events of the past week in our area - the tragic loss of four officers who were sadly taken from their family and friends - it makes you realize just how important each and every day is. We need to be thankful for what we have now...take time to be with those we love. You just never know what tomorrow brings...so live life to the fullest and don't take the simple things in life for granted. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are mourning the loss of some wonderful people who were taken far too soon.

Upon returning from Hawaii, we had to adjust from a warm tropical climate to a typical fall in the Northwest, cool, damp (or wet!), wind and not a lot of sunshine...it sure is a contrast to Hawaii's weather. The nice part about returning home was the wonderful fall colors...which are beautiful and a sign that winter will soon be here! We've adapted now, although as I write this, we are probably about to hit our coldest spell so far this fall...with some strong winds that make it feel even cooler. This will be okay, as long as the snow stays away...at least until after December 18th. We are all heading out of town and really don't want a "replay" on last year's snow season that delayed (or canceled) many holiday travel plans. The forecasters say that it usually happens every 14 years...so we're just hoping that holds true and there aren't any travel delays this holiday season!

Terri had a busy November...lots of photos session for families, seniors and children - trying to get everything in, with the crazy weather we had a few weekends. Some have been new clients, others returning...and some new ones coming up...she is doing well with her photography business and really enjoying it all.

Rick has done a bit of traveling this month and has one more trip before the holidays...all unusual as he typically doesn't travel much with his job.

November had us celebrating two birthdays here...Jess turned 23 and Mandy turned 26 - and there were several other family and friends also celebrating birthday's in November...it's a great month to celebrate...not to mention Thanksgiving. We had a quiet day with with Josh, Mandy and Jayden joining us for dinner and then Jess and Sean coming over for dessert...it really was a great day...a time to be thankful for our family and time together.

After returning from Hawaii, Terri has been working on her office, which was remodeled during the month of October...with the finish work done after returning. It's really different from before and she's loving it so far...of course, there are still things she has to figure out what to do with, but it's a good thing...projects like this force you to clean and purge!

Of course, with being gone for Christmas, it means that we aren't decorating the house and hopefully, our neighbors won't think we are "scrooges." Some of you might know where we are going, but others might ask where we'll be?!? Well, we are going on a cruise (Mexico) with Terri's family...all of us...her mom, brother, his family and our kids...twelve in total! It will be a different Christmas...no snow, no stockings hung by the chimney or cookies and milk on a plate for Santa under the tree this year. It seems odd to not be decorating, baking or shopping this year and it will be different, but we are looking forward to it...just spending time together, enjoying one anothers company...and relaxing for the week! It's tough not to think about how nice it'll be to not have to fix meals, do dishes, make our beds or clean the bathroom...for a week...to be spoiled and to have the biggest worry be what to order for dinner! Ahhh...we can't wait! And, to have the kids with us...and Jayden...we're so excited to see her reaction to everything...it will be a memory to last a lifetime!

So, a confession...we aren't going to get our Christmas cards out until after the first of the year...we just ran out of time and figured that it was best to wait until we had more time...so look for the cards "next year!"

Most likely this will be the last entry for the year...so we'd like to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas...that is blessed by sharing it with those you love...and full of lots of joy (and some great cookies!). Enjoy and until 2010.....CHEERS!

Here are some photos from the past month...a little of what happened in our lives!

Josh and Jayden enjoy a walk (or run!) in the park on a nice fall day!



Mandy and Josh at Thanksgiving dinner.

Jess and their "youngest" son, Frankie, who was treated that day to spending Thanksgiving with family, while big brother, Angus, stayed at home! Frankie is a real sweetheart!!

Jayden with her "cousin" and aunt...the three of them had a great day! This hat she's wearing is new and she love it...inside or outside!! This was quite the outfit she dressed up in (not what she arrived in!).

Josh and Jayden looking at some photos from the day!