A special person...

Today's entry is sort of bittersweet...it's been two years since I lost my dad and I think I miss him as much today as I did that day. He was an amazing man - a loving husband, caring and protective father, an incredible golfer, smart bridge player, SUPER bartender, faithful and giving friend...and so much more! I really could go on an on about him...just know that I thought the WORLD of him and although I know he's doing just fine and my tears are my sadness...I'll never stop missing him. I can still hear his voice..."teeny-bear" which is what he used to call me and feel his hugs as we walked in the door and see his wonderful smile! There are so many things I want to tell him, share with him and more cocktail hours to enjoy at the lake, but I think he's there for it all, and was there for the cruise, happy to see we are all doing well and continuing on with our lives. And, I must say, that my mom was a HUGE part of getting through the past two years...her strength and courage with continuing on has inspired me and only makes me stronger and want to do better...so today I honor my dad and my mom...and just thought I'd share a few photos with you of him!

January Celebrations!

January is a month of a few celebrations for our family! We started off the months with Josh and Mandy celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary...wow, has it been five years?!! What a great thing for them...we've happy to see them doing so well, of course, are very thankful for the beautiful granddaughter they gave us and looking forward to seeing them celebrate MANY more anniversaries!

Next up was Josh's birthday...the big 25!! Wow, was it really 25 years ago when I delivered him...in Yakima? It's amazing to see what my first baby has grown into...it isn't possible that we've aged that much in 25 years, is it?! We had a dinner with him, Mandy and Jayden the night before...since it feel on a work day and it was easier to get it in then....or put it off, which is tough with schedules!

Next up...Rick...and that would be his birthday....TODAY! Unfortunately, he has this little thing called, "work" that keeps him away from home today, but he and I will have a nice dinner tonight and tomorrow night the kids will all join us for a family dinner to celebrate together!

A couple more happenings for the family this month...Mandy got a new job and started a week ago, working as a CNA at a local nursing home! Her goal was to have a new job by the end of January...and she was actually hired before the end of December...so she definitely beat that goal! She's really excited to be using her certificate and working in a field she's interested in and plans to further he education while working! Way to go, Mandy!  Also...Josh and Mandy moved this moth from their apartment to a house in Puyallup. They definitely we were ready to get out of the apartment...that lifestyle was not for them...or was it a very healthy one...with loud neighbors, threats of apartment break-ins (they did have a car broken into while there) and no yard for Jayden or their dog, Madie to play...it was time. Their new home needs some TLC, but is a great home, large with a huge back yard and now they are feeling as though they get lost in the house...it's probably 2 1/2 times the room they had before! We all helped with some painting and then moving a couple of weekends and although they still have work to do...they are getting settled and happy to be there!

That about wraps up January...hope you all have had a good start to the new year and will have a GREAT 2010! Until later.....

Final Cruise entry...a month later!

Well, here it is, nearly a month since our cruise ended and I'm finally finishing up the last entry for the blog - it's hard to find the time to do this...although, when I get into the photos, it seems to take forever as I want to go through EVERY photo and remember the great times we had...ohhhh, what a wonderful week...can we got back again...soon?!!

Christmas day was our last day on the ship and we were at sea...a perfect way to end the week...a day or relaxation and quality time with our family! Shortly after breakfast, someone very special made a visit to the ship...a rather large older gentleman with a big white beard....yes, Santa even found his way to the ship and each of the kids on board got to sit on his lap and received a gift...talk about perfect!! For lunch, my mom, brother and I were invited to the captain's lunch in the dining room...it was nice to share a great meal with them...definitely a nice gift for all of us to be together. The afternoon found Rick and I in the Crow's Nest...a lounge at the front of the ship where we enjoyed a drink and the view...quiet and relaxing! And, how could I leave without one more "mixology" class...I joined my mom for the last one of the cruise...and we had some very tasty martinis!! If anyone is interested, I'll share the recipes they gave us!

Before dinner all gathered in our room to determine the winner of a contest we had...the girls all got $25 to spend in a port and buy a souvenir while getting the best deal we could...which involved some bartering. It seemed that most of us put it off until the last port (Cabo), but wherever we found our deal....we all had a great time shopping for it! So, the deal was to show off what we bought and what we paid for it compared to what they originally asked for it...and then the guys had to determine the winner! It was fun to see what everyone got...and in the end, the guys said it was really tough, but Jess won with a t-shirt and a carved wooden turtle. Definitely a fun thing to do...something that I'm sure will become a tradition on future family trips!

Our last dinner was a real treat...our Christmas dinner...one that none of us had to prepare (or clean up afterwards!)...and the best part everyone could have what they wanted! It was so nice to all share the last meal together of the week...and celebrate such a wonderful day...the only part missing was my dad, but you know, I think he was there...watching us all and smiling! After dinner it was time to pack and get our luggage out in the hall by midnight...and be sure to leave out clothes for the next day and anything we might need in the morning. Rick and I enjoyed one last drink in a lounge (chocolate martini...yummmmmm) before retiring for the night!

Saturday morning, the 26th, we arrived in San Diego to a glorious sunrise. After breakfast, we had a little time to wait until it was our turn to disembark. Once off the ship, and we found our luggage it was time to find our ride...some friends of my moms, came down to get them...and take us to the airport...it was a little hectic with everyone getting off the ship, but we managed just fine. The wait at the airport was a bit long...it was going to be about 4 hours, but ended up being pretty close to 6 by the time the flight finally left. And, Scott and family were kind enough to come back after we got our luggage all checked in...with "IN-N-OUT Burgers for us to enjoy...THANKS, Scott!! The flight home was uneventful and although it was good to get back home, it was COLD...there was a pretty good layer of ice on most things and the kids' cars were frozen and took quite a while to warm up and thaw out! Reality...after an incredibly fun, relaxing and joyous week...we were back home and had to transition out of vacation mode and get back to work!

What a perfect way to relax on Christmas afternoon...talk about ideal!

Lunch with the captain...and about 200 of his closest friends! We were invited to a special lunch on Christmas and it was a nice treat to have my mom, brother and myself share a nice meal together...really missed my dad that day!

View from the Crow's Nest Lounge...through the glass...loved the blue skies!

Okay...confession...another mixology class this afternoon...we kind of got spoiled

during the cruise with these classes..I miss my afternoon martinis!!!

The "girls" all had holiday shirts...and we gathered together for a Christmas photo!

Sydney, Samantha and Betsy...sorry, Scott...no shirt for you!

Jess shows off her purchase for the contest

Betsy bought for her "souvenir" a shirt for her husband...how thoughtful!

Showing off our shopping bargains!!

Final photo with our waiter and assistant waiter...they were great!

Final drink on the ship!

 

Sunrise on the morning we arrived in San Diego...spectacular!!!!

Wow...we had a lot of luggage!

Sad that the cruise is over!

All passengers trying to figure out their rides!

Jayden gives Sam a big kiss goodbye...she sure misses Sam and Syd!!!

Waving goodbye as we head to the airport.

Last view of our ship as we drive away...we miss you!!!!!!

Look at all of our luggage...kind of crazy, but it worked to our advantage...the line was crazy long, but an employee came and brought us to another line...that had only one person in it....yeah! Of course, this brought many dirty looks from others in the line and I'm sure a few "unkind" words...but it worked for us!! LOL

Trying to kill the HOURS we had before we flew home...thank goodness for IPOD's IPhone's and cell phones...it certainly helped!!

All dressed for warmer weather...quite a change from what she was wearing just one day ago!!

Jayden playing on Jess' IPhone.

Finally on the plane...goodbye San Diego!

Wow...she's still smiling...the rest of us are very sad!!

That's it, folks, our cruise wrapped up...a week after it completed! Again, it was a wonderful week and something that we all agreed we could EASILY do again...someday! We hope you enjoyed our photos...yes, there were lots, sorry, hard to limit it...which I did...there were TONS more!  Now, it's time to get current...it's the end of January...so a new entry will come soon with a quick update for January!