Caribbean Vacation

New Orleans

 Allen and I were able to enjoy a wonderful vacation with Stacy and Dell. It is the first time in forever that  we have left the kids for this long.  The morning we flew out, we had a terrible snow and wind storm.  We left from the Provo airport and flew to Denver, and then on to New Orleans.  When we left home at 5:30 a.m. it was about 27 degrees.  The roads were horrible and when we arrived at the airport they spent a great deal of time de-icing our plane.  When we landed in New Orleans, it was very humid, overcast, and about 79 degrees, what a difference.  We went directly to our hotel and then to find food.  Our hotel was only a few blocks from Bourbon Street, so we walked down there.  New Orleans is very interesting, and that's the nicest way I can put it.  It was dirty and crowded, as I had expected.  There are some very lovely buildings though.  We ate at an outdoor cafe right on Bourbon Street.  I had a catfish po' boy, Allen and Dell had a fried fisherman's platter- fried catfish, shrimp, okra, and fries.  Stacy ordered Jambalaya and did not like it at all. The Harris' bought beignets for all of us for dessert and they were really good.

Saturday morning we wandered around for a bit and bought some souveniers, then we grabbed our bags and took a taxi to the port.  It was only a few miles, but too far to walk with our large luggage.  Check in was a breeze and we were on the ship in no time.  It was fun to wander around when the ship was virtually empty.  We had outside cabins this time and it was wonderful having the large window.

Voyager of the Seas

Our dining table

Spa and Fitness Center



The view from our room

The ship left the port around 5:30, and we traveled down the Mississippi River.  It was midnight or later before we were in the Gulf. 

Sunday we spent the day onboard enjoying the sun, the food, and the entertainment.



Elvis impersonator- fun show.

late night treats at Cafe Promenade

Cozumel Mexico

Monday we docked in Cozumel Mexico.  It was warm, but windy and overcast.  We took all of our stuff so that we could snorkel if the weather cleared up.  We rented a car in the port and drove around the entire island in about an hour.  We stopped at a beach, but the wind and waves were so hard that we didn't stay long.  It was a pretty area and we were disappointed that we couldn't snorkel.  (Stacy wasn't too disappointed.)

Our awesome rental car.

After our tour of the island, we shopped in town for a bit before returning our car and getting back on the ship.  It was warm but the wind never stopped that day.

George Town, Grand Cayman

On Tuesday, just like every other morning, we started out with a great breakfast.  It was a beautiful, sunny day.  With our beach gear in tow, we took a tender to shore and headed for Seven Mile Beach.  We started out walking, thinking it wouldn't be too far.  In the end, we hailed a taxi to take us the rest of the way.  The beach was beautiful and we were finally able to go snorkeling.  It was so fun and very different from the other places we have snorkeled.  It was a great day even considering the injuries we sustained from the reef.  The weather and the water was great.  The color of the water is amazing. 

After the beach, we took a taxi the few miles back to town.  We stopped in a few shops, things were more expensive here than in Mexico, which we expected.  My sweet husband bought a beautiful sapphire ring for me.  They had amazing jewelry stores.  Oh, the diamonds we saw!  Grand Cayman was beautiful and I hope to go back someday.

Jamaica

When we woke up Wednesday morning, it was raining.  We had planned to do a river rafting excursion in Jamaica and hoped that it would clear up.  We arrived at the brand new port in Falmouth and left the ship, even though it was still raining.  The new port was beautiful, nice new buildings and beautiful landscaping.  We walked through some of the shops while waiting for the rain to stop.  When it did stop raining, we walked outside the port and tried to find a taxi to take us to the river.  I have to admit, I was a little afraid in this area. 

Arriving at the river, we were assigned to our 'river captain' and boarded our raft for the 1 1/2 hour trip down the Marth Brae River. This was a very slow moving, clean river.  The river captains make there living taking tourists down this river.  The rafts are made of bamboo and they last about 6 months.  Our captain has been doing this for 42 years! The area was so lush and green and our captain pointed out different things as we floated down the river. 

Leroy Brown, our taxi driver and Dell

Getting the rafts ready for the day.

The Raft Captains

Ashley- our raft captain

Akee fruit tree

Sugar cane and banana trees

Vendor along the river.

About halfway through our trip down the river, it started to rain.  And not just a little sprinkle.  It poured.  We must have been a sight.  I pulled the umbrella from the backpack and we tried to huddle under it, all while trying to keep the backpack and camera dry.  

   It only rained for a few minutes but we were still pretty wet.

At this point, they take the rafts out of the river and
haul them back to the top.

We took a taxi back to town and our driver just dropped us off in the middle of a very crowded road.  As we turned away from the taxi, we noticed a large crowd of people.  We had heard that morning on the ship that Prince Harry would be visiting Jamaica, and wondered if that was what the crowd was waiting for.  Indeed it was.  We waited only a few minutes and soon Prince Harry arrived.  He stepped off a small trolley and into the street.  The street was very narrow and I was surprised at the lack of security. No ropes keeping the crowd back and only a few local police officers.  Not at all what it would have been like here.  It was fun to catch a glimpse of the Prince.

We then walked through the streets, shopping a little on the way back to the ship. 

The other Royal Caribbean ship in dock.

Overlooking the port from the top deck.

Looking out from the other side of the ship.

Thursday and Friday were sea days.  We had beautiful weather.  We spent much of both days on the 12th deck in the lounge chairs.  (With a topless, sunbathing woman from Europe and her Speedo clad husband.)  It was heaven- the sun, the sound of the ocean, live music from the pool, and the smell of the wonderful pool deck barbeque.

Thursday night at dinner, we celebrated Stacy and Dell's anniversary.  Our dining room staff brought them dessert and sang "Happy Anniversary". It was an interesting rendition with a Chinese accent, Indian accent, and European accent.

We enjoyed the shows and activities every night and of course the food was never ending and wonderful.  (And yes, we did eat this many desserts.)

Ice skating show.

Quest game show

Midnight pool deck buffet

Toga and dance party

The ship was beautiful and the service was great, as usual.

Looking down at the Promenade

  

Helicopter pad

The week was wonderful even though it went incredibly fast.  It was great to spend time together!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year !

What a fun and busy time of the year.  Our family had a wonderful Christmas.  It was great to spend so much time together.  On Dec. 16th  Josh, Allen, and I were able to attend the annual Tabernacle Choir Christmas Program. President and Sister Monson were in the audience and the spirit was incredibly strong when they walked in.  Of course we had to have dinner before the concert.  After the concert, we walked out on one of the upper floors of the Conference Center and were able to see all the lights at Temple Square.  It was a beautiful night.   

This year, we went to Stacy and Dell's home for our family Christmas party.  I always look so forward to getting together with everyone.  It is always so fun.  As usual, the food was great and there was a lot of it.  Stacy had made shredded pork and chicken with all the fixings for salads or burritos.  We also had chips and salsa, fruit salad, jello salad, dessert and homemade candy!  We all stuffed ourselves.   The kids all played the gift exchange game and had a blast.  I am so glad that all the 'cousins' get along so well.  They are great friends.

This year, Allen decided that he would like to take the family out to brunch on Christmas Eve.  We went to the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake.  It was wonderful.  The food was delicious and it was a very warm, cozy atmosphere.  It was a great way to spend a few hours together on Christmas Eve - relaxing and talking.  It is something that could become a family tradition!

 

 

We had a quiet Christmas Eve.  Zac and Alisha went to a party for her family and the rest of us just hung out at home.  Instead of buying pajamas this year, I found a children's picture book that I loved.  It's a message about 'my' love will follow you wherever you go.  I bought a copy for each one.  That was the one gift they opened on Christmas Eve.  I'm hoping they will keep them and read it to their own children one day.

With Christmas being on a Sunday this year, we went to 1 hour of sacrament meeting before coming home to open all the presents.  It is interesting how things change the older the kids get.  They were all very grateful and gracious as they opened their gifts. 

Colby received a much awaited for cell phone, a PS3 game, lots of clothes and an awesome watch from Josh.

 

Parker has taken up snowboarding this year, so he received a snowboard, a leather jacket, clothes and some wake boarding gloves.

Josh got a new tv for his room, several shirts, most of which didn't fit so we had to exchange them, a hoody and some sweaters.

 

We bought Zac a pea coat that he has been wanting for a couple years. I think he was happy with it, and it looked great on him.  We also gave them a restaurant gift certificate, and some dishes.  We gave Alisha a cute jacket that looked darling on her.

Allen has been wanting these 'five-finger-toe' shoes.  He saw them at a sporting goods store in Mesquite over a year ago.  He wanted them so badly but the ones down there were very expensive.  He has seen them several places since then and still wished for them everytime he saw them.  They are pretty cool but I wasn't so sure that they would be a good 'fit' for him.  I found some several months before Christmas in a size 13, so I bought them and hid them away.  He was pretty excited when he opened them, and wanted to try them on right away.  Then the fun started.  He couldn't put them on himself.  So, Josh tried to help.  Josh was pulling and Allen was tring to push his feet in, but his toes wouldn't go into the right holes.  It was worse than putting gloves on a 2 year old.  I took a turn trying to put them on- not much more luck.  We were all laughing hysterically!  We finally managed to get one on and his toes were sticking up and hitting the ends.  So back to the store, dreams dashed.  It was totally worth it just for the entertainment of it all!