Cruise 2010 (our last for a while?)

We went to California in January to board a ship called the Carnival Splendor. It took us on a 7 day adventure down into Cabo San Lucas and into a couple of cities we had never seen before: Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

One of the kids' favorite parts of their trips is seeing what the towel animal will be every night. Here Collin poses with a dinosaur(?). He had just lost one of his front teeth and you can see the other one is not going to hang on much longer either.

Exploring the cool ship:

This ship was unique from the ones we had been on before. It was the largest so far and had a retractable roof over the lido deck so that the deck and pool area would be protected from inclement weather. Though we enjoyed incredible weather most of the seven days, the last couple of days were a little stormy but we were still able to sit on the deck and watch the huge jumbo screen.

Looking out on the pool/deck area:

Swimming with Mom and Dad:

Hanging out with Justin and Lauren at the pool:

Playing miniature golf on the Sports Deck. It would have been better if the wind hadn't been blowing so hard (see Syd's hair).

Ice Cream Eating Contest with Camp Carnival kids:

Decorating our cookies first: Collin and Sydney piled theirs high with frosting, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, carmel syrup and M&Ms, .

Ready, set, eat!!!

"Iggy Wiggy I'm a Piggy!!!" Sydney didn't win, but it was a close contest.

Another highlight: the International Chocolate Festival. The kids tried a little of almost everything: chocolate-covered fruit, donuts, truffles cake, etc.

This is the BEST!

The kids are finally old enough to enjoy relaxing with a book - for an hour, thanks to Diary of a Whimpy Kid volumes 1-4. I love it!!!

Limbo on the Lido:

The kids from Camp Carnival enjoyed a little limbo contest. Collin did really well and in my opinion was the true champ but with a minor technicality was eliminated in the final round.

Collin's Tooth (Teeth):

Collin had had a loose front tooth for weeks and weeks. I hate loose teeth and so does he. It grosses us all out especially Jay. He didn't dare wiggle it very much and it was so loose by the cruise that all he needed was someone to give it a good twist or pull. And that is exactly what he had a kid at Camp Carnival do. When we went to pick him up, this is what he looked like.

This was worse than we expected, however, because the tooth next to it was loose also and had been held in place by the other tooth. So now our little boy had only one front tooth that stuck out pretty good. I think this grossed out Jay more than anything!

Sydney's Turns 7!

Sydney turned 7 this month! In my head, I still think we have "little" kids. Yet it is amazing how big they seem to me lately.

The one thing Sydney had been wanting for her birthday was a new bike. I kept thinking her old one was still fine. After all, it was only a couple of years old. The other day, however, I saw her riding it in the cul-de-sac. The seat has been raised as high as it would go but she looked like a giant on it! So when Jay and I went bike-shopping we opted for a much bigger one. We over estimated, however, how big it needed to be and ended up having to exchange this one for little smaller one. It is very girly and she loves it.

Fortunately for Sydney, the weather has been fairly mild lately and she has been able to go out and ride the last couple of days.

Sydney has been planning to go ice skating on her birthday since last year. I wasn't too thrilled about ice skating in the middle of the winter but she had her heart set on it. She invited a couple friends from school and Dresden and Logan, of course, and we all set off for the Olympic Oval. Thanks to Shannon, Larry and Nana for helping keep the kids all together and in (more or less) one piece.

Dresden seems to be thinking what Larry had been saying the whole afternoon, "I wonder how much practice you have to put in in order to start enjoying this." I know he was joking but my tailbone is still very sore from the one and only fall I took (and it only took one to end the activity for me). Actually Dresden and Collin seemed take to ice skating pretty quickly. They were old pros. It didn't take them long before they were cruising around the track.

Rachel, the instructor, ended up being one of my old students from my first year teaching here. She was showing the kids (and adults) how to stand, skate, fall without injury, etc.

Falling with grace...

In the birthday room waiting to open presents and eat our treats. Left to right: Justin, me, Collin, Dresden, Larry, Logan, Sydney, Lauren, Emily, Savannah. Other than the cupcakes, the treats were provided for us: huge ice cream sandwiches and the thickest, sweetest hot chocolate I have EVER tasted! And just in time to drop the kids off at home...

The girls:

Later that night...

We had family over for dinner. Sydney wanted her favorite, lasagna, so that is what I fixed. Carlee and Soupie watching Syd open her gifts.

Grandma and Grandpa were able to be there. Grandpa has been doing pretty good lately.

Sydney's chocolate cake (made by me). Ooops! There were eight candles.

The little girls. It is nice to see Sydney and Tayler playing together. Syd usually opts to play with the boys but Tayler is getting a little bit older now. She looks so cute (and grown-up) in her glasses.

Carlee and Tayler on the drums! Sydney's favorite instrument too. Musical talent runs in the family??? Maybe the three girls can start their own band.

Sydney's actual birthday night:

I had PTC on her birthday for the second year in a row! Jay took the kids out to dinner earlier in the evening and when I got home that night, we were able to open some presents.

Sydney likes our presents but she thinks that money is pretty cool, too. That way she can go shopping and pick out what she would really like. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!