CRUISE!!

I've been so bad at blogging lately, but I have to blog about this. I went on my FIRST cruise ever and it was so much fun! I want to do another one VERY soon. I know that being with my family is REALLY what made it the most fun I've ever had, but the cruise itself, was pretty awesome too! I love my family, we have such a good time with them. They each are so unique: funny, serious, weird, laid back, everyone just brings so much personality and love to the family!

All the couples and those with kids got to be there:

Mom, Dad, & Isaac

Nate & Steph

Matt, Lu, Ellie & Baby boy on the way

 

AJ & Lauren

 (Don't pay attention to AJ's face. He tried closing his eyes in every picture and in about half he succeeded, it was pretty funny we didn't realize til we saw all our pictures.)

Nick, Me, Katelyn and even.. Jacob!

 He did so great for being 6 mos old and stuck on a boat for a week. The only time he would get mad is when he had to sit in his stroller during dinner time! He did not like it.


We took a 7 day Mexican Riviera Cruise on the Carnival Splendor down to Cabo San Luca and Puerto Vallarta, all provided by my parents. It was awesome!

The first couple of days we hung out on the ship and tried out all the fun activities. The food was AMAZING! I was in heaven. I mean, tons of food, everywhere and however much you wanted. I won't say how many pounds I gained on the cruise. :) Our favorite thing was the FROYO! I swear AJ, Lauren, Me, Nick, and Isaac went to the machine three or four times a day just to get frozen yogurt in a cone. THE BEST! And the worst if you're worried about gaining weight. ;)

 Jacob crawling around in our room. He had just learned how to crawl so he really was anxious to move around!

We first went to Cabo San Lucas.
The view is seriously beautiful. You know those pictures you see online sometimes and it's like "How would you like this to be your view?" OR "Make this your next vacation spot" And it looks like heaven with the gorgeous blue water and the sparkling white sand? Well that's what it was. Beautiful.

 We went to the beach in Cabo San Lucas. There were these little like sea stinging creatures that stung all of us. Most people just got a little pinch on their leg or something, mine wrapped around my hand and it hurt and stung really bad! That got me out of the water for a bit, but I loved being on the beach! Nate got it bad too one like wrapped around his whole waist and it looked like it he had a ton of huge mosquito bites all over him. Luckily it doesn't last more than a day. Mine was gone in about an hr.

 Being crazy and run out into the water

 Just hangin out with Gamma.

 Going back to the boat to get back to the cruise ship

 Cabo San Lucas

 Our huge ship. I really was so amazed that we have these huge ships just on water and it's like you're walking around a super nice mansion the whole time or something with a few thousand other passengers on board.

 The Carnival Splendor!

We spent two days in Cabo San Lucas. The second day we did our excursion. I think everyone can agree with me that this, was by far, the high light of the trip. We had SO much fun on it! We all got to go together on this fast boat. It's hard to describe, but you straddle your seat and there is a bar in front of you that you hold on to. We didn't know why at first, but we came to find out soon. :)

 On the boat getting ready to go out-- I think I was putting sunscreen on my shoulder or something..

We first stopped at a beach called, Lover's Beach. You are on one side and cross over and you're on the other side looking at the other direction of the ocean. It was neat. This is where it gets funny.

We had to run across the sand to get to the this cave, but you had to run when the tide was low and before the waves came crashing back up on to shore. There were these huge rock formations so you didn't want to be slammed into one of those. So the first group runs across, this is AJ, Lauren, Nate, Steph, and Isaac.

Nick & Isaac!

 They all take off running and then the wave starts coming back and I look at little Isaac and think "Shoot, he's not gonna make it!" So we're screaming "RUN! RUN!" and the poor little guy slips and the wave comes crashing into him and the water rushes forward on the other side of the rock so we can't see him anymore. Luckily it just pushed him up on to shore on the other side so it kind of helped him get up closer, but we all were scared to death wondering if he had made it!

  Matt & Lu! Silly Matt ;)

SO THEN

We're in the next group, Me, Nick, Lu, and Matt. And here's cute little preggo Lu. Like 24-25 weeks or something like that. And we're all standing there waiting then we say, "Ready? Run!"
Well we get to the other side and turn around to make sure everyone made it and we're all like  "Crap, where's Lu??" She had started, but then didn't think she would make it in time so kind of stopped and the wave caught her and kinda took her down, but the tour guide caught her and helped her up! She made it to the other side though :) My cute sister.

After that we went back onto the boat and went cruising across the huge beautiful Pacific Ocean. We were going so fast! And the waves were bumpy it was fun. Then, the guy starts turning in toward shore and he then flips around right as the wave is building up. He pushed the gas and we start zooming toward this HUGE wave and we fly up into it and seriously our boat comes 15 or so feet out of the water and we're like floating on this huge boat with 15 people in the air. It was SO FUN! Everyone was screaming and laughing.

We did that a couple of times and I loved it.

AJ!

Then we stopped and went snorkeling at another beach. One of the guides let us hold a sea urchin, it was cool. Then they would feed the fish so they would come right up close to us. I swallowed way too much salt water. And so did Lu. She started throwing up so she had to go back on the boat. I can't blame her being pregnant and all.

After that we drove to another spot to go snorkeling, but by this time I felt like my head was spinning and I was about ready to toss up my breakfast. So I sat in the boat with my head down.

The last little bit of the excursion they were going to drop us off at a boat and teach us how to make fresh salsa and tortillas and give us an authentic Mexican lunch with enchiladas and chips and dip. However, I was feeling so icky I didn't think I could go and Lu didn't want to hang around either. Steph had a head ache too so basically all us couples left, but the troopers, AJ, Lauren, and Isaac hung out and stayed. I really wish we could have! And of course as soon as we stepped on solid flat land and I got a drink of water I felt better. I think it was just all the rocking and watching the water go back and forth and back and forth that I just couldn't take it anymore.

So this whole time my parents watched Ellie, Katelyn, and Jacob. My parents were seriously the best EVER! We let them go out after the excursion and that night to enjoy their time just the two of them. However, almost every night they would come to our room and watch Katelyn and Jacob while they were asleep so we could go out and enjoy the night activities, like comedy shows, games, dancing, etc! It was so nice to have their help and I can't thank them ENOUGH.

 The next day we were making our way to Puerto Vallarta! Puerto Vallarta was also very beautiful, but we didn't go to the beach there, we had a tour of the city, did some shopping, ate a Mexican lunch, and did ZIP LINING!

 Isaac & I in the streets of Puerto Vallarta

 Me & my baby girl

Heading to go Zip lining! The place we went I guess was a set for a movie so there were a ton of people.. I forgot the name of it.

Katelyn & Uncle A showing off their war paint.

 Katelyn got painted as a warrior! Even though she didn't go zip lining.

Nick and I (ok just me) acting tough!

I had never done zip lining before so I was really excited. We went so high up and some of the lines went super fast!! It was so much fun we really, really enjoyed it! And again, my parents watched the kids so we could do this. They are so so amazing!

 The zip lining clan

 Hey, there I am!

 And there's Nick!

After zip lining and lunch we shopped and got souvenirs. Nick bought a hammock, that I guess he has always wanted, so that was good.  I bought some matching bracelets for Katelyn and I. We got Katelyn and Jacob a maraca. And I think that was it.


Puerto Vallarte was the last stop of our cruise :( The next couple of days we'd make our way back to the states. So sad. We had fun doing various activities on board though!

Playing in the arcade

Hanging out with Aunts & Uncles

learning the thriller dance and performing it, playing the gender game (the girls won),

swimming

taking the kids to the splash play ground (Katelyn LOVED it),

 Although I'm not sure who love it more, her or Uncle AJ :)

eating FROYO

walking around the decks just goofing off,

 Being sucked into the vents!

 Baywatch Run.. who comes up with these ideas? ;)

going on the elevator and trying to get from the top to the bottom (12 decks) with out getting stopped by anyone (we never made it)

playing rook late at night with everyone

karaoke (Lauren is amazing)

showing Katelyn all the animals they would make for her every night out of the towels.

The dinner parties were so fun too!
Every night the lady would get on and say hi and then she'd play a fun song and we would all get up and dance!
The formal night were really fun too, it was exciting to get all dressed up and have a nice dinner (all the dinners were really good!)

 Our view at dinner. It was so nice!

 All dressed up and looking fancy

 Dancing with Jacob!

 Two cute little girls looking all pretty

 Handsome little guy with the girlies

Everyone!!

The cruise was just so much fun and I wish I could write down every little detail to keep and remember. It's definitely a vacation I will never forget though. I love my family so much. They are so fun and enjoyable to be around.


UNTIL>>> OUR NEXT CRUISE!

5 Years

Nick and I have been married for 5 years (as of September 1, 2012). Pretty crazy if you ask me. I think about the past five years and what all has happened and it brings a smile to my face. I wouldn't change anything.
I'm so happy to be married to the man of my dreams and have two amazing children who make me smile every day. My little family makes me so happy, and I know the only reason why is because I married this wonderful man 5 years ago:

 I was skimming through our engagement pictures and I realize how the little things Nick did back then, he still does now, and that's what makes me happy.

Nick loves Audi's. Since we first started dating he's always told me the specific car he is going to buy. He had an Audi when we were dating and he has one still. When we were taking our engagement pictures Nick wanted to take some pictures next to our green Audi. That's how much he loves cars. It makes me laugh, because he's still the exact same way today, and still has an Audi. I think if he didn't have me his happiness would come from having his Audi around. Here we are by our car during our engagement pics.

 Nick and I have an insane amount of fun together. I remember growing up and the number one thing on my list of what I wanted in a guy was always 1. He has to be funny. I wanted someone who could make me laugh. And I know there isn't anyone better than Nick who can make me smile and have fun.

 Nick always watches out for me. If I have a tag sticking out, or something stuck on my shoe, or my hair is messed up in the back he's always fixing me up or letting me know. I love that. I didn't even realize how much he did it then and still does it until I was going through these pictures and noticed our photographer even caught him doing these little things for me. I love him.

Here he is getting grass off of my foot.

 And fixing my shoe.. I couldn't have got any one much better.

 I still love to kiss him, that's for sure.

He makes me feel like the prettiest girl in the world. He compliments me so much. Anytime we go out he always tells me how good I look. He tells me what he loves about me and I love him for making me feel special.

Five years down, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him. He is perfect for me and I'm glad he chose me.

We took a trip to Dallas as a family to celebrate five years together. It was so much fun. We explored Dallas and visited some family of Nick's. It was such a fun trip!

 Downtown Dallas

 Nick and Katelyn by the John F Kennedy Memorial

 The street where he got shot

 I was taking pictures of one building thinking that's where the guy shot from, but then Nick said it was the building on the other side of the street, so I started taking a picture of that one. Then we saw people taking pictures of the one before... so we got both buildings, still unsure of which one it actually was.

Building One

Building Two

 More of the Memorial

 We got to visit Nick's cousin, Carlie and her husband, Seth. And Nick's Uncle David, and his wife and kids Yuliet, Nicole, and Seth. I didn't realize how close they were to us! We will definitely be going down there again to visit. It was so fun seeing them. 

Jacob is very unhappy in the picture. :)

We also ate at the Cheesecake Factory, which is my favorite. We decided that's a once a year thing, it's so darn expensive!

Well, that's about it. Happy Anniversary, Nicholas!