1st Timer Dream Cruise Report Oct 23-27

[ewerstruly]

Hi there! Well, our first cruise was fantastic. We sailed Oct. 23-27th. I obsessed over it and planned it for over a year. And, it was a gift from me to my family. I saved every penny and surprised them with the announcement at Christmas. My name is Tam. I have 3 boys, ages 5, 8 and 10. And, I have a super sweet husband (who was also my high school sweetheart). If you'd like to hear all about our adventures on our first Dream cruise ... then welcome aboard! I'll break this up into days!

Of course, since sewing is my favorite thing to do, we all had to be matchy matchy on our first cruise ... so I was busy in the sewing room for several months before we sailed.

And, here's a sneaky peaky ... a video of our cruise highlights!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcprVdi2Yi0

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

Looking forward to reading more with pics I hope of your matchy matchy wear!

 

[ewerstruly]

Far in advance, I had tried to guess the dates of the 2011 Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Halloween is my favorite time of year. I was told there would be Halloween festivities on the cruises in mid to late October. And, as it turned out, there was a party on the day we debarked! Awesome! I bought our tickets for that the moment they were on sale.

It would be a good week to travel. The kids had a short week due to parent/teacher conferences. Plus, they'd still make it back in time for school Halloween festivities and our annual traditions. The boys' teachers said instead of doing tons of homework when they returned, they could complete and present travel journals, which they were excited about.

I didn't finish everything on my 2-page must sew list, but I don't know how I would have packed it all had I finished it! The suitcases were stuffed. I even managed to flatten out and pack 5 pirate hats.

On the 21st, we took the fish to a friend's house. The guinea pig was a guest in the preschool. My youngest had his school's hayride, so Daddy took him to that while I cleaned and packed.

All year long, I had been throwing things into a box - to be packed later for the cruise. I took our doggie to boarding (he looked so sad). But, at least we got in a good long game of stinky sock first (his favorite game).

I had wanted Mickey Mouse to call the boys before we headed off, but it wouldn't work for me. It said we'd already used our two free calls (I hadn't, but did have Goofy call the kids earlier in the week).

So, we were on the road. I had made the boys matching trick or treat Mickey sets for the road trip. Upcycles, they are called. I bought t-shirts from Target (women's section), cut them up and remade them (with a mix of candy fabrics) in my boys' sizes. I appliqued masks on the characters faces and then made the boys matching masks. After a year of planning, we loaded into the van!

 

[CrystalS]

I loved your sneak peek video! Your boys are precious, how cute that they were singing for the Golden Mickeys!

I can't wait to read all about your trip!

Oh and wonderful outfits by the way, they look amazing, great job!

 

[ansmom]

Excited to read the rest, my 3 girls will be about the same age as your boys were on the cruise we're going on so I'm excited to read about your experiences!

 

[dlf246]

Wow! Your TR already has earned the most colorful award, and it has hardly started!

 

[AnkaG]

I am in! you are very talented in sewing! wow!

 

[scrappinmom]

WOW - your sewing skills are fantastic! Can I just hire you now for the rest of my trips forever???

I can't wait to hear about your cruise & the fun everyone had!

 

[Joanna71985]

Love the pictures! I wish I could sew like that

 

[ewerstruly]

Thanks so much for the kinds words about my sewing. I just love to do it. When my youngest son (who is now 5) was born, I couldn't sew a button. With three sons, it was really frustrating for me to go into stores and see tons of super cute little girl stuff everywhere ... and nothing but boring, tiny man clothes for the boys. So, I started making my own boy clothes! I do make a lot of girly things too.

Anyway ... we were finally on the road. Planning a cruise a year in advance seemed like a long way out, but it just went by in a flash and I couldn't believe we were on our way. I thought I was prepared, but having never done this before, I was worried about what I may have overlooked or forgotten. I had decided not to get passports (it would have cost so much for our family of five, and we didn't know if we'd be doing it again). I worried that our birth certificates might not be what they were looking for. So, before the trip, I stopped by our local Dept. of Vital Statistics to make sure they were good to go.

Okay ... we were heading to St. Louis to spend the night because I'd booked us the earliest possbile flight I could the next morning. It left at 7:45 am. We were supposed to be there an hour and a half early. The kids entertained themselves making shadow puppets on the car seats, and we stopped at my favorite on-the-road eatery ... Jack in the Box. I love their tacos.

My husband had handled the pre-flight room. And, once there, nothing was as he was told when he booked. The free breakfast wasn't served until after our flight time. And, their complimentary shuttle also didn't start running until after our departure time. Oh well! At least they had a pool.

This Mariott we stayed at was memorable, to say the least. The cloudy pool was just big enough for them to be able to say they had a pool. It had a 28 person max capacity and there were 12 people packed in it. There was no deep end, and the no diving sign made my oldest chuckle. The kids thought it was all great. My oldest son said, "Wow! What a nice room!" before we ever opened the door! They were so easily impressed. "Wow a bed!" "Wow a television!"

Here's a picture of the lovely wallpaper at the Mariott!

The best part? The talking toilet. Every time we flushed our toilet, it made a sound that sounded like a human in a great deal of pain. It was hilarious. "It sounds like it's dying," my husband said. The boys cracked up everytime they flushed it ... and being three boys, they flushed it a time or two just to hear it complain. It was just one of those memorable things we didn't count on, but will never forget.

 

[bitlerzx4]

I love your shirts!

 

[heaven2dc]

How exciting to finally go on the cruise you've been planning for so long! Love your sewing skills - I've been contemplating making curtains but don't have a sewing machine. Hoping I can sew them by hand lol

That was too funny about the toilet I'll have to tell my oldest DS's girlfriend who works at the Marriott in Virginia - she will get a laugh out of that!

Can't wait to read all about the rest of your trip

 

[101DalmFan]

DH and I were on the Oct 23rd cruise too.....and we remember your boys from the Golden Mickeys. They were adorable!!

 

[ohboyx3]

Hi!! Icant wait to hear more. I have three boys also ages 12, 10 and 8! We are planning a cruise for next October. I am so jealous of your sewing skills!!! A- Mazing!!! Hurry and write more!

 

[Disneygrl36]

We were on your trip as well & saw you guys a few times with your cute outfits on but never got to meet you officially.
Excited to hear about the same cruise from a different perspective.

 

[Marshay]

Joining in! Love the outfits!

We hope to go on the Dream in 2013 so I'm hoping to learn a lot from your beautiful family.

 

[ewerstruly]

I will get back to this soon (smile). I had to have surgery. But, all is well now. And, I helped my three boys put together their Disney Scrapbooks. They were asked to do trip reports for school assignments and report to their classes. Very fun.

So ... I actually just scanned and posted in the trip reports my oldest son's scrapbook/journal. Check it out! It is nice to see the trip through a child's eyes. It's funny, too, because all three of my boys did these trip scrapbooks. And they are all different! My oldest son, for example, says at Ohana's he won the coconut race. My middle son's scrapbook says at Ohanas, his brohter Ben cheated at the coconut race! LOL!

 

[15isto2]

Joining in for the report

 

[marhs]

I LOVE THE OUTFITS!!!!
I have been making shirts and outfits for my kiddos for our cruise next month too! I can't wait to be even more inspired by all of your creations for your boys, they are gorgeous!!!!
Can't wait to see more pics and hear more about your trip!

 

[Goldeelox9]

I wish I could sew....How awesome!