Adventure In The Great Wide Somewhere

Waking up on our last full sea day seemed like a good time to take another run around deck. Even though I'd slept in quite a bit after pirate party, the promenade deck still sat abandoned. Which suits me fine, as it makes my average slow running seem more acceptable. Sea air has a wonderful way of waking me up, which is good, because running into a head wind is not the easiest thing in the world.  Until finally. The sun peeked above the clouds and it was time for me to go inside and shower for the day. On my way back down the stairs, I passed one of the Cast Members cleaning out the elevators and caught a glimpse of Mickey clear through the elevator. I love this ship. Anyway, I showered while Ben went for a jog and then we headed out to breakfast. Since it was a lovely cool morning, we sat outback behind Topsiders and enjoyed the sun rising reflecting off of the Gulf and the peace of the early morning quiet. After a quiet morning of perambulatin...

After another early morning jog, Ben and I enjoyed another leisurely breakfast on the sun deck behind Topsider buffet. We popped up to deck nine to get a better view of Cozumel as we came into the dock. Sea days and port days feature entirely different energy on the ship. While the sea days feature a much more sleeping in and hanging out vibe, port days there is a purpose and focus as people wake up earlier, eat breakfast in a bit of a hurry and queue for their appointed Port Adventure meeting times. While on sea days the first announcements may not begin until the late morning, port days involve all ashore announcments sometimes quite early. Thankfully, these can only be heard in the hallways and public areas, so you won't be getting an unintentional wakeup call. (Intentional wakeup calls can be scheduled on your stateroom phone.) As the lines and craziness of the all ashore groups died down, we embraced our plan of the day, which consisted mostly o...

Here's one of my new favorite blog hops today: Three Things Thursday! (Be sure to link up on her blog !) Since I already have a blog (and three blogs preceding this one) what haven't I already shared? Once Upon a Time There Was a Princess Who... 1.) Gives away type A+. I figure it helps so much to donate blood that it is really one easy way to make a big difference. We let both kids accompany us on the blood bus and they've made pretty good friends with Marisol (one of the phlebotomists who usually works our blood drive.) Christopher was so excited when he turned six because he thought he was finally old enough to donate blood as well. Sorry kiddo, it's sixteen,  not six. 2.) Enjoys a good typeface. I have a very extensive fonts board on pinterest . I love finding just the right font to go with a project and for some reason have a very hard time letting go of my old font collection pins. 3.) Unashamedly embraces the perks of having a type A...

Welcome Wordless Wednesday Blog Hoppers! This week's theme is the Disney (Cruise Line!) letter W. Waiting in lines Wind Waves Water Thank you Deb and Focused on the Magic for hosting!  

It's been a while since I wrote on this particular trip report, so if you need to catch up, you can check under the Adventures tab or here at Couples Only Cruise . I can wait. All caught up? We found ourselves with some free time with Casey and Chris, so we headed down to Diversions where we discovered Giant Jenga. This game replaced shuffleboard as my favorite on deck activity. On land, I am wonderful at Jenga. If you add in a slight rolling and rocking of a ship, it is quite a different game! So while we waited for Disney Tunes Trivia To begin, we created more and more perilously unstable towers until the inevitable point where gravity won. Chris enjoyed some minor good-natured heckling during Jenga. We laughed so hard. When Disney Tune Trivia began, Casey and I (and ostensibly our husbands) formed a team. For each clip played you needed to provide a title of the song and the movie. Although the men sat through their fair share of Disney films over the years and a...

What, you're homeschooling? Um, yes we are...or will be shortly. After a seemingly interminable spring semester at our current (very excellent) private Christian school, I fielded a fair number of questions about all aspects of our upcoming adventures. Here's the background on how we came to this decision: I grew up knowing that my cousins homeschooled with my aunt and that our family didn't do that but that my mom respected her efforts to find the best option for her sons. I felt oddly envious that they did not have to endure the endless doldrums of going at someone else's pace and through someone else's lunch schedule.  I occasionally made friends with homeschoolers, but we moved a lot when I was young, so I didn't get to know them very well. After I married and stayed home with my toddlers, I got to know the family across the street. All five of their daughters played outside in the morning and afternoon and homeschooled during the day. ...

Here's one of my new favorite blog hops today: Three Things Thursday!  (Be sure to link up on her blog !) Since I already have a blog (and three blogs preceding this one) what haven't I already shared? Once Upon a Time There Was a Princess Who Loved Summer, Even Though She... 1.) Sunburns indoors on a cloudy day. Therefore sunscreen is essential year round, but especially in summer. It makes me very thankful that our YMCA features an indoor pool and the waterpark boasts a nice wide covered porch area in front of the main pool. My kids are used to sunscreen every day and extra on swim days. Shade is my friend. 2.) Only recently discovered sunglasses. I know, you're wondering why one would need to discover sunglasses. I never really had a pair growing up so when I got a pair a few years ago it was kind of a revelation. 3.) Lives in Texas but still mostly wore jeans outdoors during the summer. I blame this on attending a variety of summer ca...

If you're like me and find yourself wanting to change your reservation there is are a couple quick and easy ways to do it. My first choice in this situation is to call up Disney Cruise Line directly. They can be easily reached at (800) 951-3532 on weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. EST and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the weekends (also EST). Unfortunately, if you're using a travel agent, all adjustments must be made through them rather than Disney whether by phone or computer. Breakfast and coffee non-optional. Let's pretend for some reason (like, say, the recent release of the 2015 holidays itineraries jamming the phone lines or a sudden severe bought with laryngitis) you would rather adjust your dates or rooms on the computer. It is easy, peasy to adjust your cruise vacation yourself. All Castaway Club Members: 1) Sign into the Castaway Club (Castaway Club link at the top of Disney Cruise Line's website ) and click on "View Your Cruises." 2) Select...

Welcome Wordless Wednesday Blog Hoppers! Weenies: Large icons throughout the parks and resorts designed to draw the viewers forward into another part of the property. Like so: Giant dragon visible all around the lake. Thank you to Focused on the Magic for hosting!   

I'm so very pleased that Disney Cruise Line moseys back into Texas for another season in fall of 2015! It seems to be a short and sweet sampler season for the Wonder. Basically the calendar goes as such: September the Wonder hosts two ten night cruises one from Vancouver to Hawaii and one from Hawaii to Vancouver. For the month of October, the Wonder cruises from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera. Then at the end of October and the start of November, the ship heads through the 40 miles of the Panama Canal. If you didn't just sing that, then go watch the clip. It's okay, I'll wait. Better? November and December see the return of the Wonder in the great state of Texas!!! My kids and I jumped all over the kitchen when I found out Monday morning. Are you excited about any of these upcoming itineraries or is it just me???

If my post on the recent warnings about the dangers of the stick figure family on the back of your minivan failed to move you (and you're in good company, I still have mine) then you're in luck! Especially if you like freebies. Disney Parks launched " Build Your Disney Side " on their website last week, allowing those of us with a #DisneySide a mile wide to debate the merits of our stick figure avatar carrying a dole whip, magic wand, churro or pirate sword. After customizing and recustomizing, you receive links to share your Disney Side family on Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, Twitter or Pinterest. What? No DCL background? They offer a link to download your picture and also order your decal for your car free! Just make sure you like it before your order as you may go back and edit anytime, but once you've ordered, it's one per household.

With Star Wars Weekends upon us, one can never be too careful. According to the Harrisburg Pennsylvania police , this stick figure family may be doing damage to your family unit.    Do? Or Do Not? Actually, not the Solos in particular, but any stick figure family. By letting criminals know how many people are in your family, whether you have a dog etc. they caution that you could be setting yourself up as a target. Our stick figure family does let possible perpetrators know that my husband is a complete nerd and so am I and our two children. Also that we don't care much if you know. You could figure out the same thing if you saw us in person on any given day I don't view any of this as particularly private information, hence the stickers, but if you do, maybe skip the stick figure family.

Welcome Foodie Friday Blog Hoppers! I just returned from a lovely girls only trip to Walt Disney World and one of my favorite new things we did this trip were eating our way around the World Showcase through the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchens!   I wanted to be sure to try out the Beijing-style Candied Strawberries at China's Food Booth, Lotus House. These fan favorites from last year's festival served on a bamboo skewer were a bit harder to eat than I had anticipated. Basically after trying to delicately pull berries off with my teeth I gave up on that pretension and just used my fingers. Things went much more smoothly and after washing my hands we wandered off to see more of the world. Yep. It's that shiny. The yellow cast to the berries is from the color of the glaze rather than under-ripeness. The candied shell is hard and crunchy rather than sticky as I'd originally suspected. With the soft but ripe strawberry center, it hits jus...

#SilentSunday

Welcome to those of you joining me from Disney Donna Kay and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the Final stop on our Magical Blogorail . My dream Mother's Day? Any day that someone else washes the dishes. That's really all I need to be happy. Breakfast in bed would be nice. Hey, while we're at it, if someone cleans my kids' room, makes the beds, offers sincere service with a smile, then perhaps I could take some time getting a pedicure, laying by the pool and getting a couples massage. I'd really feel wonderful. If someone could arrange to deliver flowers to my room, It'd certainly be appreciated. It'd be nice if we could get some childcare that my children adore and get some alone time and maybe take in a live stage show. (With my musical theatre background, I'm extremely in love with live theatre.) Basically, I want the entire day to be carefree and magical. Is that too much to ask? Oh, wait; that's every day I'm on a cruise....