May 11th 2008 ~ Any Double Dippers Out There?

[alecsmom]

Sophie was born on December 23 - so we have a lot to celebrate during our festive season...

I just had to jump in here - Alec was born on December 23rd too! He's my little Christmas baby - the best gift I ever got. So I understand what you mean about lots to celebrate. We go nuts - we celebrate his b-day on the 23rd, we have our family over to celebrate on Christmas Eve and open gifts, and then of course Santa comes on the 25th. By the time it's over my son is on Xmas Overload! He just expects the presents to keep coming.

This year we're really going to enjoy the holidays - last year we were having our home built and of course things never go as planned so we were supposed to move in by October but the house wasn't ready until December - we moved the weekend before Christmas! Talk about STRESS. I don't think I started relaxing until February. Anyway, this year we will ENJOY.

 

[CustardTart]

Oh wow! So Alec will get to meet his 25 year old 'twin' on the cruise!

I think it's fab having a Christmas baby - even now she's all grown up it's still special! This year we're all going out for a meal on her birthday - we've told the restaurant it's her birthday and we're regulars so hoping for a little festive magic...

On Christmas Eve, we'll be hosting our annual Christmas Cocktail and Mince Pie open house and as DD and her DBF are spending Christmas Day with his folks, we'll be exchanging gifts at midnight...

After that, I'm not sure. We should go and visit DH's family but no firm plans as yet...

Sounds like it was a crazy Christmas for you guys last year, Yvonne! You'll really appreciate the relative peace this year...

 

[alecsmom]

Oh wow! So Alec will get to meet his 25 year old 'twin' on the cruise!

How cool is that!! Sure there's a 20 year age difference - and she's a girl - but Alec will be so excited to meet a TWIN!

The birthday and holiday plans sound simply wonderful. Hmm, do we all feel the same way about our in-laws???

 

[alecsmom]

Okay hubby brought one CD home - not the one with the Liberty next to the Magic - but here are some pix - the ship in Puerto Rico.

and our little piece of heaven....

 

[alecsmom]

I'm on the left, our friends from Arizona are in the middle - and my handsome DH - is on the right - Rico Suave no???

 

[alecsmom]

This was our last day - a storm was comin'! It was soooooooo cool! It was actually a little scary - but the storm passed and all was well...

I was at the front of the ship -I wanted SO bad to do the Titanic thing..

And here we are on our last night at our favorite bar...

 

[CustardTart]

Lovely photos, Yvonne! You guys make a very good-looking couple...

 

[alecsmom]

Thank you Karen.

Here are some pix of the Liberty of the Seas next to the Disney Magic

Look - it looks like the Liberty had a baby!!

I loved the Liberty - it was awesome - but I am SOOOO EXCITED to be trying the Wonder next year - I can hardly wait!!!!

 

[CustardTart]

Aww that's so cuute! What port was that, Yvonne?

I'll be really interested to know what you think of the Wonder after your previous cruising experience - we love DCL but have never tried anything else...

Anyway, time to wish you all a Happy November 1st! I love this time of year (all cold, crisp, colour-changing) and to celebrate I've had my nails done (short, dark purple/brown) and my hair cut off!

Now the VR is out of the way, I don't need hair long enough for an 'up-do' (I still love that phrase! ) so it felt like time for a change. I have had it cut short into the nape of my neck at the back and graduated longer at the sides - a much younger, funkier look so just gotta cross fingers and hope I can do it myself...

Yvonne, did you and Alec do any Trick or Treating??? We had a few kids (plus parents) doing it here - some of the costumes were amazing! I was very impressed and glad I'd got a sufficient amount of sweet treats in to hand out...

 

[alecsmom]

It was in St. Maarten. I really loved how friendly everyone was from the Magic - they were so interested in our ship but they said theirs was great too.

We love cruising but we have never tried DCL, mainly because we thought it was so expensive. Well now that Alec is the perfect age for a Disney cruise (in my opinion) of course we jumped at the chance and can't wait. I am beyond excited. We love Disney too, we went to WDW on our honeymoon 10 years ago - and now Karen you are inspiring me to think about renewing our 15 year vows on a Disney ship....

Oh isn't that a great feeling when you cut your hair short? So cathartic sometimes, I don't think men understand that. Good for you! But that's the thing - I never can replicate the hairstyle my hairdresser gives me, so I always wind up looking the same no matter what. oh well.

Yes Alec went trick or treating, he had a ball, he was - get this - a Grim Reaper, yes at 4 years old that's what he wanted to be. Lucky for me his grim reaper robe cost one whole dollar at the dollar store, and the mask cost about $5.00 so we got off very easy this Halloween. He had a blast, got a lot of loot, all was good.

 

[CustardTart]

I hope the Wonder measures up, Yvonne - I'm just know it will tho'! BTW what other ports did you visit on your cruise?

I'm quite loving my new 'do' - DH doesn't know yet and he's out tonight so he's in for a shock tomorrow! Should make for an interesting Friday night date...

 

[alecsmom]

I hope the Wonder measures up, Yvonne - I'm just know it will tho'! BTW what other ports did you visit on your cruise?

I'm quite loving my new 'do' - DH doesn't know yet and he's out tonight so he's in for a shock tomorrow! Should make for an interesting Friday night date...

You know, I really think we will love the Wonder and the whole Disney experience. We love smaller ships too, they are more intimate, plus everything I keep reading about DCL makes me believe they really know how to treat you right. I like any cruise really, it certainly beats working!

Hope your hubby loves the new do - let us know what he says! (I hope he's not like my husband and says "you paid money for someone to do that??" )

 

[alecsmom]

I forgot to answer your question about which ports we visited. We did the Eastern Caribbean itinerary on the Liberty - went to Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and Labadee (Royal Caribbean's private island). Labadee was the only island we hadn't been to before and we loved it, did the waverunner excursion and felt like we were in the "Get out There" commercial.

 

[CustardTart]

Sounds fab, Yvonne! I really like the sound of the Eastern Caribbean itinerary - we've done the Western now and will be doing it again with the kids in December 2008. Maybe the Eastern's a 2009 plan...

DH loved my hair! Plus I actually managed to make it look all grown-up and groomed for Friday night - now that's a result! Today it's just au naturel as I went to the gym and even that doesn't look too bad...

 

[CustardTart]

...Labadee (Royal Caribbean's private island)...was the only island we hadn't been to before and we loved it, did the waverunner excursion and felt like we were in the "Get out There" commercial.

I'll be interested how you think it compares with Castaway Cay...

 

[alecsmom]

The Southern itinerary is actually our favorite, we did that on our first cruise - got to see Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Martinique, Barbados and Antigua - it was amazing!! But they're all good, Eastern, Western, let's face it, there is no bad itinerary in the Caribbean!!

Can't wait to see Castaway Cay - that's what fascinated me about this cruise next year, two stops, seems like paradise!!

I am sooo glad your hubby liked your new do!!

 

[CustardTart]

That Southern itinerary does sound fab, Yvonne! Mind you, anywhere that includes Barbados is fine with me! DH especially loves it there and we bought a tiny off-plan apartment on the less commercial south coast last year. We're vacationing there for the first time in January so kinda nervous and kinda excited...

Not in the mood for my day today! I've got another gym session this morning - desperately trying to lose my post-cruise jelly belly! AND I'm racing around doing errands this afternoon... I've got a lousy headache so just wanna sit on the sofa and veg... Ah well, 2 Tylenol and a couple of cups of Starbucks house blend and I still feel blah - so I'd better just get on with it...

Laters...

 

[CustardTart]

Giving us a gentle *bump*...

Happy Friday everyone!

Feeling a little below par this fine day - we had a wine-tasting/dinner last night in the private dining rooms of one of the oldest wine merchants in the world who, apparently, supply the Queen. Let me tell you, sometimes old with Royal connections does not mean good! It was a work-related 'do' for DH's clients and to get through the unspeakable tedium, I had to drink mediocre wine. Quite frankly, I had a sore head till about 10 o' clock this morning...

 

[alecsmom]

Karen - Oh no- I hope you are feeling much better now! Nothing worse than wine that makes you feel bad - that defeats the whole purpose of it.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

 

[CustardTart]

Thanks Yvonne! I've got some big plans for the weekend - mainly tidying and organising my present cupboard. I need to know if I'm as ready for Christmas as I think I am!

Also intending to tidy the front of our house so it looks welcoming for the festive season...

But what I really wanna know is...

...Brandi! Where are you, milady????????????????

Hope all is OK. We miss you...