Sun or snow...cruising

Anyone who knows our family knows that the one thing that we always make time for is vacations.  We may not live in the largest house, drive the fastest cars or wear the largest diamonds BUT the one thing we do have are a few stamps in our passports.  Before long we will be getting Bugga Baby (yes, the official name for baby #2) a passport and trying to figure out how to cram a family of fours items into as little luggage as possible. 

This years travel plans have been downsized for multiple reasons including a not so pleasant pregnancy (more on that later), a possible loss or change of jobs (a whole different post) and the anticipation of trips next year for Kari and Andrew's wedding (many posts to come).  With all of that being said we couldn't not do anything this year, so in January we were off to the Caribbean for 8 days. 

Grant and I haven't cruised in what seems like forever.  We used to do it all of the time, but since we bought our timeshare a few years ago I have found that lounging in one of two places is much more relaxing than cruising.  However I still firmly believe that cruising is the best option for a group of people which is what we had.  Mesick family of 4, Alabama Gasbarros 2, Florida Gasbarro 3 and Adam party of 2 - scratch that 1.  My Mom had unexpected work issues arises and had to stay home that week, so Russ had a huge suite to himself.

 

Our first surprise of the ship, they don't have muster drills with the life vests anymore. 



See you in 8 days Ft Lauderdale.



I hope that you will excuse the order of the photos as blogger isn't always the easiest tool to navigate photos in, so I'll make sure to add many captions.  Our itinerary included lots of eating and three port stops.  Cozumel, Costa Rica and Panama.  Panama was the only port that the Florida Gasbarro family took an excursion and we had a great time.  We chose not to do anything in  Costa Rica because I was lazy and waited too long to book anything and then we've been to Cozumel so many times there weren't too many things that interested us considering we also had a two year old in tow. 

With a last name like Gasbarro, I feel safe in saying that the photo above includes all of the Gasbarros on the ship.

ahh look at the cousin love.

We managed to make it to one after dinner show during the week.  Adelaide did really well, but it was just a tad too long.  One thing to note is that we have been talking about going to the potty a lot these days, so Adelaide took the opportunity to announce to everyone who would listen during a quit pause that, "Dada poopoo".  Poor Grant gets called out on everything. 

If the towel critter gets chocolate so should Adelaide. 



Viva Mexico!  Grant was so impressed with me in Cozumel, I had no desire to jewelry shop which allowed ample time to sit at Poncho's Backyard to eat and drink.  Of course I didn't get to enjoy the cervezas, but I did eat my weight in fresh guacamole. 



Grant pouting, he and Troy went head to head in the ping pong tournament finals and lost the trophy and bragging rights.  Maybe next time.

Coast of Costa Rica, beautiful but don't jump in.  There are barracudas and rocks all along the shore.

What would vacation be without visiting at least one church?

Russ was the sloth sighter when we were in Panama, he could spot them from a moving bus. 



Yes, that is a beer bottle on Grant's head.  He has a real depth perception issue so he hit his head on the window.



Adelaide checking out the inside of a cannon.

Our group in Panama.

Ok, so who would have thought watching boats go in and out of a canal would be interesting?  Turns out, it is.

First you get tugged in and you are chained to little trains on the side that pull the ships through the very VERY narrow space.

Grant got into the spirit and tried to win us a few prizes.  Unfortunately his cruise trivia wasn't what we thought that it was.

Music, a stage and an audience - A went to town.  We are in a lot of trouble when she is older.

no worries, that is not a beer bottle in Brooke's hand.

The last thing a pregnant woman not feeling well wants to do is stand next to their size nothing sister, but I love her anyway. 

Due to a promise I made to my older niece, I have not included a photo of her with a duck balloon hat on.  However I did not make that promise to my mother-in-law.  So here Adelaide is suckering everyone into wearing a balloon hat around the ship.



Boys will be boys -Troy and Grant in the arcade.



Brooke and a little henna equals a tattoo that last for about two days. 


Highlights of the trip:
-Adelaide and Brooke loved the kids camp and their parents loved the teeny tiny little break that it allowed in the day.
-I got to spend the longest stretch of time with my oldest sister since we were kids and no one got hurt.
-Adelaide got all of the attention in the world not only from family, but it felt like everyone else on the cruise too.
-Grant became addicted to a new game on the ipad which now rules his "smoke breaks" at work.  I think it's his way of fighting back since never took them before as neither of us are smokers.
-Hannah was spared from being humiliated by myself ONLY because I just really didn't have the energy for it.
-and many more, but this post has gotten really long.

The trip has now come and gone and now I am jonesing for another.  I told Grant the other day when I was throwing myself a pity party that my problem was that my next big trip wasn't until May of 2012 so it was hard to keep me motivated to be pleasant.  He told me I was spoiled and that if it would make me feel better he would take me to Gulf Shores for a long weekend.