Our Caribbean Cruise!

I am back after 4 nights and 5 days of vacationing with my honey! We had a wonderful time and Samuel did great while we were gone. Big thanks to Mimi and the gang! We sailed aboard Royal Caribbean International's Navigator of the Seas. I believe it is the 2nd largest ship on their fleet and it is truly amazing. The ship holds over 3,000 passengers and over 1,000 staff members. The staff of the ship come from 70 different countries and they treat you like kings and queens! We had a chance to sleep, nap and eat lots of delicious food at our leisure. We also watched a few theater performances, an ice dancing show, went to an art auction, mini golfed, got a massage at the spa, played in the arcade, sunbathed, snorkeled and relaxed on the beach. Needless to say, we feel restored and reconnected. Enjoy the slide show!

We are going on vacation!!!

It's finally sinking in...alone with my husband, sandy beach, yummy food, sleeping in, tropical weather. Thank God I only have to wait a few more weeks before we go on our cruise to Cozumel!!! I can't believe we are actually taking a vacation -alone!!! I never in a million years thought we could leave Samuel for that long (4 nights). But it's actually happening and I'm OK with it surprisingly. We tried to plan a family vacation but each time I tried it just didn't feel like a vacation. It just felt like we were going to do the same things we do at home in a warmer climate and in a strange place with no babysitter. Not my idea of vacation and God knows I'm ready for one. I look forward to taking a family vacation when Samuel's older. When naps, booster seats, diapers and the like are not part of the equation. So home he will stay with Papa and Mimi; and I'm sure he will have FUN, FUN, FUN! I know it will be hard leaving but I'm certain that once we are relaxing it will all be OK. I'm ready! I'm really ready! I'm ready to celebrate my 5th anniversary with Tim. I'm ready to lounge by the pool or the sea. I'm ready to be pampered at the spa. I'm ready to take my luxuries before our little "chick pea" arrives in May. And I'm ready to not have to pay for our vacation. Yup, that's right -F-R-E-E! I earned an all expense paid trip for one to Hawaii through Lia Sophia this year and we are unable to go because you have to take the trip in April. Not going to happen at 8 1/2 months pregnant so we took the cash alternative and paid for this cruise. What a blessing! You know, Tim and I took a lovely tropical honeymoon and we are about to embark on another tropical anniversary. I'm thinkng this every 5 year trend sounds really good to me! Maybe next time we'll make it to Hawaii!

We survived Long Island

We made our annual trip to Long Island last week. We packed the mini van (yes, we have a mini van and we only have one child) full of every possible thing you could imagine: luggage, food, toys, laptop and more. It's trips like this that make me realize how much I LOVE that Ford Windstar. I actually swore that I would NEVER drive a minivan and now it is my best friend. I really do love that car despite the strange odor that I can't seem to remove, all of Samuel's crumbs on the floor and that annoying vibration in the floor that just doesn't go away no matter what speed you drive. It's like driving a small room around town.

We stayed in a really posh hotel with a suite and all those fine amenities. Samuel's favorite part was counting the numbers on the elevator as we went up to the fourth floor. We visited my Mom and George, for a few days then we visited my Dad and Lorraine. Samuel got his fix of cousins, aunts & uncles and grandparents to last him awhile. I think he might have picked up that Long Island accent too! Just kidding...