May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 7

[HollyTyler]

CUTE!! Pumpkin patches are so fun!

They got to listen to a short lesson in a little schoolhouse about how apples grow and the correct way to pick them, got to watch the apple cider making process, then they went on a hayride out to pick their apple, back on the wagon to pick a pumpkin, then back to the main building where they got to have donuts and fresh apple cider. It sure was nice of my friend to snap a picture for me!

 

[HollyTyler]

we had a downpour this afternoon....all while the sun was shining!

It's so crazy when that happens! Always confuses me.....doesn't take much to confuse me though.

 

[HollyTyler]

Thanks for posting the pics Leslie......I can't wait now! The color of the water....so pretty!

 

[HollyTyler]

They provide masks and snorkels if you don't have your own when you check in. After the feeding the rays you are allowed to snorkel around the area for 30-45 minutes. We saw really neat fish that aren't easily seen off of the family beach. The day we were there, two of the stingrays had escaped from the netting and were swimming freely somewhere. There was a mad search going on to capture them. We found a huge starfish that the girls were fascinated by. Unfortunately Shawn had taken off to do the Ecco Waverunner tour, so our cameraman was not around to take a photo of it.

Hmmmm....Tyler can't swim yet and I don't snorkel, so maybe I'd better reconsider. I didn't see the part about snorkeling when I read the description. But I was quite sleep deprived when I read it, so that's no surprise!

 

[disneylover5]

Holly your storms finally made it here to VA. We were at the Westfield game and 3rd quarter the wind started at 40-50 mph all of a sudden. Within a few minutes, started pouring and we made a mad dash for the car.
Lisa

ps Westfield won again....well it was 34 - 0 when the rains came. With all the lightening and thunder, they had to cancel the rest of the game. It would be dangerous to stay in METAL blechers!!!

 

[gouodux]

Hmmmm....Tyler can't swim yet and I don't snorkel, so maybe I'd better reconsider. I didn't see the part about snorkeling when I read the description. But I was quite sleep deprived when I read it, so that's no surprise!

You don't have to snorkel, it's just an option that is available. It is alot of fun to learn about the Rays and to feed them. In our opinion it is worth just doing this part and hanging out in the shallow waters around the Rays. They are quite tame.

 

[LisaG520]

Hmmmm....Tyler can't swim yet and I don't snorkel, so maybe I'd better reconsider. I didn't see the part about snorkeling when I read the description. But I was quite sleep deprived when I read it, so that's no surprise!

I don't snorkel - or really swim either - and I really enjoyed the excursion. I think we had about 15 minutes of snorkel time after we were done feeding. I waded around with the sting rays while Darrell went snorkeling. Plus there was a CM on the beach making awesome sand castles which was fun to watch too.

 

[calmom]

I know what it is like to like in a "start up" family, plus traveling with your own work. I totally sympathize trying to juggle!!

We are staying home for Thanksgiving this year because of the big WDW/DCL cruise during Xmas and NYE. My DD is having her MIL and DD's family as they are miffed we are going to be away for all the holidays. We will probably have DH's sisters and their families.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory which is now called Nasa JPL Laboratory.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm

Neat website.

I liked reading about everyone's Thanksgiving plans and traditions. This Thanksgiving will be nice - we are going up to Tahoe with MIL and DH's 2 brothers. After MIL's stroke, she has always struggled with making Thanksgiving dinner, although she loves doing it. This way, we will have a few days together to plan the meal together so she can make all her special side dishes. I hope there will be snow!

Hi Lisa!

Sorry about your friend, but glad she seems to be recovering well! Thank goodness she has friends like you to support her during this time.

Busy weekend ahead of you! Hang in there....Tahoe is really just around the corner, even though it seems so far away right now. I hope your stress at work and with your husband's new firm eases soon!

Thanks. Appreciate the good wishes.

What wars have they had?

Lisa, are you still going on that one? I had recalled you pointed out one war - something to do with their other website and emails being made public? And then a couple people canceled the cruise after that little dispute?

Connie, I would love to add you to the Champgane Girls tasting. We have those who want to sample and those who will drink something else. Which do you prefer? Just PM me your last name and SR# or GTY and tell me what category you want to be placed in....champagne drinking or not. Don't forget to wear pink for our pic in a pink frame to be placed over your bar!

Connie, I think it was you that needed that handicapped room. I would call Disney and ask if those staying there have provided the necessary documents. I know when we booked it one time (my MIL was coming with us), they said we would have to provide documents but then they never asked for them. I bet some people book and don't need special accomodations. Maybe they could move them elsewhere. There are such few rooms that are set aside for those with special needs, hopefully they can find a good one for you!

Welcome!!!! I'm staying in Cocoa Beach, but there are many on here staying at the Hyatt and they're getting together for breakfast I believe. They also have transportation arrangements that you might be interested in as well. You'll get replies from them soon I'm sure.

Where is WC?????

Hi, all. I just found out about this thread. I booked a night at Hyatt MCO. I figured that it would be more convenient for a family of 4 to stay at the airport after traveling a whole day from WC. Anyone interested in sharing a limo or van to the port the next day?
Thanks

Welcome aboard!! I think calmom (Lisa) is keeping of a list of cruisers who want to take a limo together to the port and is also organizing a breakfast. Send her a pm to get on the list If I am wrong, someone will quickly correct me!!

Noel

I'm planning on organizing a breakfast - maybe 7:30am-10am? I have to call the Hyatt to finalize. I think it will be something like a contential breakfast, $20/person, sneak in the Champange for Mimosas! If it is much more than that, I'll probably cancel the idea as I don't think many of us will want to spend a lot of money right away!

Kaylee, Fourmcd (sp?), is doing the transportation. I posted a couple links to a big bus limo, but I think we will be solo in going to the ship.

I can't wait for this trip!!!!! I keep thinking about the Star testing and am so relieved the cat is out of the bag at school.

I'm hoping our boys like the club this time. They have always been a bit indifferent. And last cruise, being in the Roy suite, all they wanted to do was hang out in the room! Of course, we didn't mind that! But this time, I want to spend some time in the Spa, the adult pool, playing bunko! Of course we also want to hang out together at the Mickey pool, go to the family events. Hmmm....what is the one thing I am most looking forward to? I think it is the sail away party. I just love the feeling of it all starting, having empty memories that will soon be filled with wonderful things. I love seeing the kids blow bubbles, hear the horn blow, and feel the ship move for the first time. Yes, that is the one thing I am most looking forward to!
Lisa

 

[calmom]

Hmmmm....Tyler can't swim yet and I don't snorkel, so maybe I'd better reconsider. I didn't see the part about snorkeling when I read the description. But I was quite sleep deprived when I read it, so that's no surprise!

You don't have to snorkel, it's just an option that is available. It is alot of fun to learn about the Rays and to feed them. In our opinion it is worth just doing this part and hanging out in the shallow waters around the Rays. They are quite tame.

I don't snorkel - or really swim either - and I really enjoyed the excursion. I think we had about 15 minutes of snorkel time after we were done feeding. I waded around with the sting rays while Darrell went snorkeling. Plus there was a CM on the beach making awesome sand castles which was fun to watch too.

DITTO! We really liked it. My 6 year old (at the time) was a little scared of the sting rays. He didn't want to go out. My 8 and 4 year old (4 year old just went in for a moment as he was too young) loved it. Lisa

 

[HollyTyler]

Holly your storms finally made it here to VA. We were at the Westfield game and 3rd quarter the wind started at 40-50 mph all of a sudden. Within a few minutes, started pouring and we made a mad dash for the car.
Lisa

ps Westfield won again....well it was 34 - 0 when the rains came. With all the lightening and thunder, they had to cancel the rest of the game. It would be dangerous to stay in METAL blechers!!!

Yikes! Metal bleachers and lightning! I hope it didn't get as severe there as it was here. I'm watching the news tonight and they have final word that it was an F2 tornado (120-150 mph winds) and it touched down twice in an area about 10 miles east of me and that city has declared a state of emergency because of the damage. Tons worse than the tornado a couple months ago.

WOW! Normal high temps for this time of year should be in the 50s and it's supposed to be almost 80 this weekend! Yippee!

 

[HollyTyler]

You don't have to snorkel, it's just an option that is available. It is alot of fun to learn about the Rays and to feed them. In our opinion it is worth just doing this part and hanging out in the shallow waters around the Rays. They are quite tame.

I don't snorkel - or really swim either - and I really enjoyed the excursion. I think we had about 15 minutes of snorkel time after we were done feeding. I waded around with the sting rays while Darrell went snorkeling. Plus there was a CM on the beach making awesome sand castles which was fun to watch too.

DITTO! We really liked it. My 6 year old (at the time) was a little scared of the sting rays. He didn't want to go out. My 8 and 4 year old (4 year old just went in for a moment as he was too young) loved it. Lisa

Thanks for the tips everybody! We'll stick with it now.

 

[woody73]

. . . As I watched the show yesterday, they showed video of the woman going about her day, I of course recognized the area....and my car!! In one part of the clip she walks by the very front end of my car...too funny. It's been my dream to go to the Oprah show, who would have figured if I would have just sprawled myself across the hood of my car that morning, I could have been able to say I've been ON the Oprah show.

As they say in Southern California, "You are what you drive." So, you were on Oprah.

Woody

 

[HollyTyler]

Listening to people on the news talking about how they made it to their basement just before their house was torn apart last night. Very scary! There was a 15 month old baby buried under 5-6 feet of debri from a house that was destroyed. Neighbors heard him crying and kept digging until reaching him. He's completely unharmed because he was in sort of a bubble of space where nothing touched him.

 

[calmom]

So I'm catching up on shows. I am not sure what to think about with Private Practice.

So our baby is off the bottle, did it himself. He is turning 2 in a couple weeks. I'm a bit sad...next thing, I will be doing Math with him at the kitchen table!

Our second to youngest is sick, has a fever. He fell asleep at 7pm (very early for him). I hope he feels better tomorrow - he has two birthday parties this week-end. Most likely will miss tomorrow's.

Ok, back to catching up on TIVO. Lisa

 

[HollyTyler]

So I'm catching up on shows. I am not sure what to think about with Private Practice.

So our baby is off the bottle, did it himself. He is turning 2 in a couple weeks. I'm a bit sad...next thing, I will be doing Math with him at the kitchen table!

Our second to youngest is sick, has a fever. He fell asleep at 7pm (very early for him). I hope he feels better tomorrow - he has two birthday parties this week-end. Most likely will miss tomorrow's.

Ok, back to catching up on TIVO. Lisa

Awwww......sorry about your sick guy! Hope he feels better quickly.

 

[LiserAnn]

Holy cow! That sounds AWESOME! How cool that they're able to provide such a good time and memorable event. And even better that your family gets to attend!

They've been blessed financially. They enjoy making other people happy and have a great time doing it. The boys have been talking about it ever since the invite arrived. I'll post the pics afterwards!

 

[HollyTyler]

They've been blessed financially. They enjoy making other people happy and have a great time doing it. The boys have been talking about it ever since the invite arrived. I'll post the pics afterwards!

Cool! Can't wait to see pics....your boys are going to have a blast!

 

[cquick]

Connie,

We are on the November 10th cruise sailing in just 3 weeks from Saturday!!

Can't wait... I think?

Karen

Our son Mike just got home from Salt Lake today, and he thinks he can't go on a cruise then. But Chuck and Pat and I might still book!

Also: GOOD NEWS! Mike got his score back from his LSAT exam that he took a few weeks ago and he got 171 out of 180! We are so proud of him. That means he will most likely be admitted to almost any University he chooses. He just needs to get his applications out now!

 

[LiserAnn]

Our son Mike just got home from Salt Lake today, and he thinks he can't go on a cruise then. But Chuck and Pat and I might still book!

Also: GOOD NEWS! Mike got his score back from his LSAT exam that he took a few weeks ago and he got 171 out of 180! We are so proud of him. That means he will most likely be admitted to almost any University he chooses. He just needs to get his applications out now!

WOW!!! That is awesome! Sounds like the scoring has changed....back in my day (1988) I recall the scale was 10-48...I scored a 42. Things always change...

 

[nskjerven]

We are a rare bunch....I would tend to agree!

Imagine if you were on the EB repo....I hear we are way behind them in the chatting department! HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!

We are a great bunch. I think Disney pulls us together. For our 1st cruise we also had(have) a wonderful thread. My friends from that cruise Xmas 2005 are planning our reunion NYE 2008. I tried to get them to come on this one, but no luck....anyone else wanna come with us on NYE 2008?

So what exciting plans does everyone have for the weekend? Not much here. Watching football tomorrow. We need to beat Kentucky. I have been keeping up with the house this week, so basically just laundry to do.

Tonight is a sleepover here with Molly's friend Hannah. We get up early 6am, have 2 more scouts join us and head to The Marine Institute in Redwood City (near SF, on the bay) to travel on boat and have a Marine Ecology event with my girl scouts. Then Saturday night our troop heads to a computer learning center to have pizza and complete our Cybersure badge.

Then Sunday its off to the races. This is Wilson's last race of the season and lots of family will be going. Paul & Wil leave at 5am, then my nephew picks Molly and I up at 9am, then my sister, Leeanna, and my mom will head out after church.

so for once I am excited about the holidays. We'll have my inlaws and my dad and pat for thanksgiving, we'll eat around 1 and then I think we'll host an open house for our freinds and family throughout the rest of the day. I printed off lots of Tgiving coloring pages and activities for the kids. I am going to have the girls make some place holders and I think I would like to buy a thich inexpensive tablecloth and have some markers around and have everyone write something on it they are thankful for this year. And then bring it out every year.

Every year I have the kids make Turkey Hands. I get out the paints and help them paint each finger a bright color and their palm brown, press down hard on paper, we add a smile and eye and cut them out. I love to watch the kids hand sizes grow over the years.

We are talking about finding a soup kitchen to volunteer at in the morning and then heading to SF for a nice dinner out and maybe stay at the Ritz over night. When we talked with the kids about this, it was a expected response, Molly said sounds great, Wilson not so much....ok he is only 7, I have to give him some more time to grow into the idea of helping out the community.

okay I'm up early so gotta go to bed.

nite nite