I had very grand plans of updating earlier this week however I found a new obsession and have been somewhat engrossed in the daily doings of the Women's Litchfield Prison System.
For those who have no idea what the heck I'm talking about- I promise that does not mean I was in jail. No, no.. just obsessed with Orange is the New Black show. Like the rest of the country I was sucked right in.
This has had the unfortunate result of me pretty much neglecting everything the last 5 days outside of work. And doing things like "can I make my kids dinner in 15 minutes? and shower then in 5? So I can get back to another show".
For those of you silently shaming my parenting. Eh, I get it. The good news is I'm almost done and can return to parenting duties. Also, your honor, I'd like to state for the record I do not watch this show in full view of my children - I watch it on my computer with headphones. Thank you- goodbye (anyone who watches knows why this is an important statement). Anyone who doesn't watch it- should.
OK- Prison rants over.
Back to the report with some cute pictures and stuff. You know ,when I WAS being a good parent and not neglecting my children for prison women.
So. It was finally our first dinner on our first day. We had gotten early seating (5:45pm) and our rotation was AERAERA Which means we were in Animator's Palate, then Enchanted Garden, then Royal Court. For non-cruisers- Disney has three restaurants on board and you rotate each night. Your serving staff moves with you. Our rotation, in my opinion, was the best one! Got you in Animator's 3 nights.
So we dressed and headed down to Deck 3 to find the restaurant. On the way, we passed portholes. Love me some good porthole pictures. I probably took 100. The bad news is my lighting was never 'great'. So none of them are anything to write home about.
We were handed our sanitizer wipes and seated. Our table number was 19 for the cruise.
The serving staff was already one step ahead of us before we sat down and even met them. They had water with the kids names on it......
Aww look, this my cruise friends, is my favorite of Char's W T F looks. (Remember I told you were working on that picture smile!).
Our wait staff introduced themselves and I have pictures later. But the server was Renauldo from the Phillipeans and Asst server was Gilbert from Tanzania. Renauldo was good at his job. No complaints really...but Gilbert- oh Gilbert was WONDERFUL. He was so, so good! I can't say enough about this man!
I used this time as well to do an impromptu world geography lesson with my children (see, good parenting right?) on where Tanzania was. Based on the blank looks on their faces I would hazard to guess my children didn't care all that much. But, hey, I tried......
Anyways- food p#rn.
I will use this time to state as well that I was mostly underwhelmed by the Disney food. This was agreed by all of us in our party. (um..mom and DH). I think this is a trend on many cruise lines & not Disney alone. Back in our heyday of first cruises (eh, circa 2005/2006) the food was better even on Carnival ships.....
I will say this first dish I had probably was in my top two favorite of all food I ate on this ship. Had I known this later in the cruise, I would have taken the time to order 19 servings of it. But it was still early, and so I only ordered one.
This was the appetizer.. Black Truffle Pasta Pockets in a sauce that I have written down but can't read my own writing (excellent job Nicole!)
It was so. very. wonderful.
Oh, look at this cute little butter knife in the shape of a paintbrush...
Next course was salad/soup and I tried the Baked Potato and Cheddar Soup.
It was OK. No Panera Soup, that's for sure!
My main dish was Pennete Bolognese. Some pasta dish. (I like pasta...ok? Carbs are one of my best friends. Right after sugar).
Also only, ok.
I only took pictures of my food because my family was giving me a hard time as it was with that- and wouldn't pose. Plus, their food never changed.
Kurt and Becca got steak every.single.night.
Sometimes they spiced things up by replacing the baked potato with white rice.
And Sarah and Charlie got Mac and Cheese- every.single.night. (PS- I've been programing a lot lately at work and making database names with periods. SO I like to throw periods in everywhere. It's fun..try it!)
Mom changed stuff up..but I was too busy shoving my face to get her food.
Dessert Time came..and all the choices underwhelmed me (I LOVE MY SUGAR TOO!). I decided to try the Crunchy Walnut Cake.
It was better than I expected but not fantastic. I'm such a sugar critic. I know my sugar.
My mom got some ice-cream thingy....
And the rest got the tried and true... good old fashioned Mickey Bar!
The restaurant ran the "Crush" show (much like Turtle Talk at WDW). It was funny and cute.
And then dinner was over. The kids were SO crabby from two very long days... but Becca went up to try Edge for a bit. And we dropped off Charlie and Sarah at the club. Mom and I went to deliver our fish extender gifts.
Finished up and got the kids to go see the first show called "Fantasy Come True" at the Walt Disney Theater.
We went up to the balcony (this was outside).
And got seats in the very back of the balcony.
There will never be pictures of the shows because no pictures allowed. I'm a rule follower!
This particular opening show was AWFUL. I was so disappointed. Come on Disney- first night.. WOW me with shows. Show me what I overpaid a cruise for! Don't give me a walking, singing commercial of your ship.
I think I mentioned the kids were crabby. Charlie started crying at some point because Daddy yelled at her to sit down. I was bored out of my mind at the show & so at that point I just got up and left with Charlie to put her to bed. Yes, leaving the show was the better option than staying.
Anyone interested in a better use of your time- don't go see this opening show. Go swimming in an empty pool up on Lido.
My entire family agreed when they showed back up at the room. Which, funny enough, I guess I failed to say I was leaving when I popped up and walked out with Charlie. They thought I was taking her to the bathroom and just never returned. Opps. And then we went to bed- crashed.. all of us tired.
Woke the next morning around 8am. This is, in my family, sleeping in! I got the kids sunscreened up & put on swimsuits... it was Sea Day #1. I love me some sea days!!
We had B-fast at Cabanas. They have the usual breakfast buffet fare. Some days the eggs were more runny than others. And the bacon was thinner than my husbands balding hair (oh, shoot. did I say that) but it was fine.
And right after b-fast we headed out to get chairs for the pool! It was pool time!!
I'd like to take this time to show some examples of my good parenting in an effort to make up for a woman's prision show replacing my motherly affection this week to my children.......
See, I apply sunscreen.
And make sure they are hydrated AND safe with lifejackets.
And I give them ice-cream as soon as the ice-cream machine opens up.
Shoot, I even remove all traces/signs of children from my mother so she can read in peace. I'm even a good daughter like that.....
I am, however, fairly certain that my mother would disinherit me if she knew I posted a picture of her in her swimsuit on this page. So we'll keep it our little secret, ok?
Becca went up to try the Edge again. And was back down shortly after in a swimsuit. That was her last attempt at Edge. And the girls swam, ate ice-cream and rode the Aquaduck for a few hours. Ah, I love sea days.
We ate at Flo's for lunch again. And then after lunch we retired back down to our rooms. I showered. Charlie looked cute....
Then she and Kurt took a nap. And my older two begged to do this....
This is a fun scavenger hunt around the boat to find 'who did it'. The Fantasy offers 3 experiences. Sarah, especially, loved this on the Dream when we cruised... and was anxious to get back on it.
Sarah teamed up with me and chose to do the Stolen Art one. Becca teamed up with Gram and chose to do Stolen Puppies.
Choosing their adventures...
Sarah activating her badge.
And off she and I went all over the ship to solve the case of who stole the art!!
You get clues and complete adventures via ship paintings.
Our criminal was Captain Hook. Great fun albeit a lot of exercise. Up and down decks finding paintings. The boat is very big.
We made plans to come back to do the Muppets one. Guess what? That never happened. Go us!! Woo.
After solving the crime, Sarah needed to detox and headed to the Club. To go on the computer. Ayi.
With that, my limit is reached. And I shall leave you wondering where the rest of us went............................
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