I'm Back!!!!!

Well, here I am, back in the blogging world. It has been a crazy couple months and I really don't know where to start. I guess first off we went on our cruise and had an incredible time. It was our third and we had the time of our lives. It was my parents graduation gift to Ashleigh and they paid for us to go also, how's that for a graduation present!!

Our ship, you just never realize how big it really is until you are standing next to it.

My Dad and Rusty. Don't you love the shirts. My Mom had them made up for everyone. We had so many family members that went it was like a family reunion. All of our last names are listed on the shirt.

Before the ship sails they make you put on your lifejackets, go to your appointed muster station and then listen to a safety speech for about 3 hours. Well, maybe not 3 hours but it sure feels like it in the heat. We were sure we were all going to pass out from the heat. Doesn't Rusty look happy to be there and Ashleigh's face sums up the way we all felt.

Doesn't everyone look so cute? That's my Pawpaw and his lovely bride Margie.My wonderful Mom who did all the planning and scheduling of our fun family vacation. Way to go Mom!!

On the deck as we were sailing away from Miami. That is the drink of the day and for a mere $7.95 you get the drink and the lovely plastic cup as a souvenir. What Rusty and I did not find out until the end of our first cruise was you can pay $4.95 for the same drink in a regular cup. Needless to say we have alot of those very fashionable plastic cups from the first cruise and only 2 from the third. Live and learn people, live and learn.

Goodbye Miami, see you in 7 days.

Our first stop, Nassau. I love it there, the water is so blue and everything is so bright and pretty. We walked around and did ALOT of shopping. We then hit Senor Frogs for drinks and well more shopping. Steven bought Ashleigh her first mixed drink in a bar, the drinking age is 18.

Ashleigh is always ready to strike a pose.

At Senor Frog's with "the drink".

It had been raining as we were pulling into St. Thomas but nothing stopped us from seeing everything or being on deck to watch as we docked. Not long after this the sun came out and we had an incredible time. We went snorkling around a reef and the underwater pictures we took are really something. I will have to figure out my new scanner and eventually post some of those.
The view from the top of one of the mountains, we rode a tram up to the top. It was so beautiful!




While we were in St. Thomas we took a boat to St. John and went snorkling. That was so incredible, I didn't want to leave that beach.


The bus we rode on, after taking the boat to St. John, stopped so we could take pictures. This is the island we had been snorkling around. Now let me tell you about this "bus". They do not have sides or doors to them. They are open on both sides and THEY DRIVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!! So not only do you have to hang on to your now very friendly neighbor, thank God it was family, you also have to worry about the cars coming toward you on this cow path they call a road. It was definitely an experince and I would most definitely go back. I just might bring a rope to tie myself into the bus though.





Now onto St. Martin.




This was really nice because we got off the ship, you can see it in the background, took a water taxi $5.00 a person for all day use no matter how many times you got on and off, it was a great deal and went right to the beach. Rusty and I spent about 5 hours at the beach. We both love it, he loves it a little more than I do though. You could rent an umbrella and 2 chairs for $10.00 for all day and they would even through in 2 beers. What more could you ask for?


We were at the red umbrellas and we were there so early that for about 2 hours we were the only ones there.


Aren't the fish awesome?! I took this looking into the water from the dock. The water is so clear.



Ahhh, a favorite among our family, FOOD. Eating on a cruise is also an awesome experience. This is our waitress, you have the same wait staff all week and it is so much fun getting to know them. Every night the whole dining staff dances and sings after dinner.


Our whole crew stuffed into the elevator, well minus me because someone had to take the picture.


Steven, Ashleigh and my cousin Michael, just a couple of trouble makers.

Ashleigh and her Grandpa, aren't they cute?





Okay, time for a quiz, can you guess where we are now? If you guessed back in Miami you would be so right. Doesn't everyone look happy?


And then the trip home, we didn't fly to Miami we drove. Crazy I know but we did have a great time.


Yes that is my child with her head inside the mouth of a stuffed alligator. Doesn't she look scared? not... She will do anything for a laugh.


Well that's enough for tonight, I hope I didn't put you to sleep too early in the post. I have missed my blog friends and I am glad to be back.

Good night.