Cruising towards 10 days of fun... a July/Nov 2012- & We're BACK!!! Pg.50-51

[onelilspark]

Oh my goodness! Look at how tall Juliana has gotten!

I like her doll. When I was younger I took my American Girl Doll with me to the Bahamas and had a lady braid her hair. Good times.

And if it makes you feel any better, it's currently 73 here in Melbourne! ...and pouring.

 

[mommy2mrb]

I have the first pictures uploading now so hopefully tonight I can start.

I'd start now but I have a list of chores to do while Christopher is sleeping. We are having his 1st birthday party here in a few weeks. I have to finish painting the deck today in this 95° heat. UGH!

can't believe Christopher is almost a year ago

yuck to painting in the heat!

 

[that's nice]

Oh my goodness! Look at how tall Juliana has gotten!

She is getting tall... More pics coming!

I like her doll. When I was younger I took my American Girl Doll with me to the Bahamas and had a lady braid her hair. Good times.

I think she would love for someone to braid her hair!

And if it makes you feel any better, it's currently 73 here in Melbourne! ...and pouring.

11:30 pm here and still 79 degrees.

can't believe Christopher is almost a year old

yuck to painting in the heat!

I can't believe how fast this year has gone. I think time is actually speeding up.

 

[that's nice]

Thursday July 12th

Here is what happened the evening before we left.

8:00pm Juliana still has no idea what we have planned for her. Melody & I tell her we are going to spend Friday in New York. Juliana is super excited. All she cares about is going to the American Girl doll store.

8:30pm Juliana goes to bed

8:45pm Melody and I continue packing

11:00pm The packing is done and I load up the car.

11:30 Melody goes to bed but I am too excited to sleep. I mess around on the computer for a few hours and decide that I really need to head to bed at 1:30am.

2:15am Christopher is up crying and I stay up with him till 3:15am



Friday July 13th

We wake up, have breakfast, pack Christopher's bottles and food, and hit the road at 8:30- 30 minutes past my scheduled departure time. We are only 5 minutes from the house when Juliana starts asking questions about where we are going in NY, why did we pack a bag for Christopher, etc. We break down and tell her we are leaving Christopher with Mel's mom for the day and we packed a bag in case we get back too late from the city. She seemed to buy that.

We drop off Christopher at Mel's moms and continue on to the port. We are about 20 minutes away from the port when Juliana asks us why there are still suitcases in the back. Melody tells her we are spending the night in a hotel in New York. Juliana is super excited!!! Then asks us if the hotel has a shower... don't know where that question came from. LOL She is super giddy as we make our way down the West Side highway. We come around a bend and Melody & I can see the ship!!!!

Wouldn't you know that just a few seconds later Juliana says 'Look! I see a Mickey ship!'

We get closer and I say that we should go take a closer look at the ship. Juliana isn't sure that is a good idea. I think she really wanted to get to the AGD store. LOL We pull up the ramp to the port and pay for parking on one pier but they direct us to another pier closer to the ship. That is where we got this picture:

We drive over to the other pier and we have to stop for security. Juliana keeps asking questions about the cruise ship and I couldn't wait any longer. I hand Melody the camcorder and take this (sorry for the quality. I just taped it off the TV. It was the fastest way to get it on here. Oh, and turn your speakers down 50 sec in LOLOL):

Click on the picture to see the video:



I'd say she was a little excited. You can see the exact moment when it sunk in. I love how she was worried about where her baby brother was going to be.

We parked the car and grabbed the luggage. Juliana's American Girl doll came with her.

The ship looked awesome!

We took the elevator down to the cruise check in.

We had a check in time of 11:30 but we were there 45 minutes early. The whole process was very quick and easy. Melody & Juliana went to see Mickey while I went to sign up Juliana for the kids club. By the time they got to the front Mickey was gone and replaced by Minnie.

We stopped in the bathroom and they started boarding groups 1-4. We were in group 6 which was called only a few minutes later. We were about to board the ship!!!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Oh my god, that video is just precious!
Thank you for posting it, Tim. I love how she is so concerned about what is happening to her little brother too!

Amazing how you were able to keep it a secret until the last minute, but it seems well planned out.
Can't wait to read more.

 

[mommy2mrb]

so cute! the video is PRICELESS you can just see the excitement building in her face!!!


funny about having a shower at the hotel! hope she forgave you for not taking her to AG

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Yay that you pulled off the surprise!!! The video is too cute - I love Juliana's reaction!! Can't wait to hear more about your cruise!!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Melody tells her we are spending the night in a hotel in New York. Juliana is super excited!!! Then asks us if the hotel has a shower... don't know where that question came from.

What types of places do you usually stay at that this is even a question!?!

Wouldn't you know that just a few seconds later Juliana says 'Look! I see a Mickey ship!'

You have trained her well.

I think she really wanted to get to the AGD store.

Well, taking the 2 day cruise probably saved you a bunch of money by not having to go to the AGD store.

(sorry for the quality. I just taped it off the TV. It was the fastest way to get it on here. Oh, and turn your speakers down 50 sec in LOLOL):

Sure, NOW you us that...

I love how she was worried about where her baby brother was going to be.

Love the Lady Liberty outfit!

 

[jenseib]

How exciting. I had tears in my eyes watching that video...she is just so darn cute! What a wonderful surprise, I am so glad you pulled it off!

 

[afwdwfan]

I love the fact that you were able to keep it a secret up to the point that you were right there in front of the ship. Most importantly, I'm glad she reacted the way she did instead of saying she's scared of boats or something like that.

 

[that's nice]

Oh my god, that video is just precious!
Thank you for posting it, Tim. I love how she is so concerned about what is happening to her little brother too!

Thank Karin! She was sooooo excited!

Amazing how you were able to keep it a secret until the last minute, but it seems well planned out.
Can't wait to read more.

I wanted to tell her when we got out of the car but after the security check and seeing everyone with luggage, I felt we had to do it at that moment.

so cute! the video is PRICELESS you can just see the excitement building in her face!!!


funny about having a shower at the hotel! hope she forgave you for not taking her to AG

We figured we could stop at the AG store on Sunday....

Yay that you pulled off the surprise!!! The video is too cute - I love Juliana's reaction!! Can't wait to hear more about your cruise!!

Thanks!!!!!! Trying to get some more up tonight... mostly pictures.

 

[mommy2mrb]

We figured we could stop at the AG store on Sunday....



Thanks!!!!!! Trying to get some more up tonight... mostly pictures.

I'm sure you did make a visit to AG store...how could you not being so close and all

photos are good! can't wait!

 

[that's nice]

What types of places do you usually stay at that this is even a question!?!

Oh, you know, POP Century.

Well, taking the 2 day cruise probably saved you a bunch of money by not having to go to the AGD store.

Sure, NOW you us that...

Sorry about that... but you deserved it.... being my nemesis and all.

Love the Lady Liberty outfit!

Me too! Wish I wasn't in that stupid kids club line.

How exciting. I had tears in my eyes watching that video...she is just so darn cute! What a wonderful surprise, I am so glad you pulled it off!

It worked out well. I can't believe we were able to keep it a secret from her for so long.

I love the fact that you were able to keep it a secret up to the point that you were right there in front of the ship. Most importantly, I'm glad she reacted the way she did instead of saying she's scared of boats or something like that.

Scared of boat? You ever see her boating pics?

Oh and this one too....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1433645800123&set=vb.1202268009&type=2&theater


Sorry, I guess I got a little carried away.

 

[mommy2mrb]

thanks for the good laugh Tim, the video of Juliana is so dang cute gotta love the wiggle, she is definately enjoying herself!

 

[that's nice]

We had just went though security and were walking on the pier towards the gangway. We saw people waiting to take their picture in front of big blue backdrops but we didn't have time for that, we wanted to get on the ship! We got to the ship and they scanned our KTTW then a CM asked for our family name. Juliana told her then they announced, 'DCL welcomes the '****' family' then a few other CMs started cheering and clapping. We thought that was pretty cool.

We checked the time and it was only noon. Our stomaches were growling so we headed up to deck 9 to grab lunch at Topsider's buffet.

Passing the Goofy pool..

It was hazy, hot, and humid. We found a seat at the rail and went to grab food.

Not a bad selection...

Juliana was in mac & cheese heaven...

Melody was enjoying her drink

while I was enjoying mine in my DCL glass mug.

We finished up eating and started exploring the ship.

I think Juliana tried out a few chairs on the upper decks.

Bow of the Magic

They had these stations set up where you could buy a DCL refillable mug, beers, and bottled water in bulk that they would deliver to your stateroom.

Going down...

Taking a rest...

Some paintings onboard...

The atrium...

Next to the gift shops...

Inside the Oceaneer's Club.

And the Oceaneer's lab...

After walking around for a while it was close to 1:30... next order of business- check out our stateroom, get changed, and head for the pool!

 

[that's nice]

thanks for the good laugh Tim, the video of Juliana is so dang cute gotta love the wiggle, she is definately enjoying herself!

She is a trip... Too funny. Now she has to dance like that on the boat EVERY TIME!

 

[dizneeat]

Great photos of you all exploring the ship!
Makes me remember how much I love the classic ships (we have been on the DREAM VERY often lately ).
Makes you feel very special when they announce your name, doesn't it?

Can't wait for more, Tim!

 

[petals]

OMG I love the video. She's to cute and so excited!

Love New York Minnie as well.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

The ship looks awesome! I love all the artwork that Disney puts around their boats.

 

[MEK]

I have read your updates the last two days before leaving or work. I loved the video. That little squeal - so cute!

The boat really does look awesome and seeing NYC as the backdrop is pretty cool.

Can't wait to hear all about the actual cruise.

Oh - and the pictures of your daughter on the speed boat are just adorable!