CONTINUED from 4th Day - August, 9th
DAY AT SEA
I don't have a lot of time right now but I'm going to try and get a little more done on our day at sea report.
For the question about the BBC. It's Kailua, Banana's, and colada - YUMMY! You can get them at any of the bars on board and yes, they all know what it is. I learned about it on the Dis. There is a bar by the pools so you are set for relaxing with BBC in hand.
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After we finished up with lunch, dance competitions etc. on deck 9, we made a trip down to Shutters. I had bought a package on the first night and just transferred pics around all week when I saw one's I wanted. It was a great way to do things and keeping up with them daily is MUCH better than gong in there on the last night when the place is a ZOO!
The same woman, Jaimee, was there that we had worked with all week. She was the original person to tease Maddie about being Dale's sister. She was so FANTASTIC! Somehow when we came in she always knew where our photos were and was always such a help. Maddie adored her as they always played around together. Of course we had to get her pic too before leaving!
I rounded up the photos I wanted and left Maddie to take a seat in the floor with my bags to take a breather while I went over all the pics with Jaimee. Maddie had wanted ALL the photos but of course THAT can't happen so I was hiding some for Jaimee to toss. I almost died when she pulled out a folder and placed all those pics in it saying, "
These are from me. Always enjoy them."
I almost died right there! Instead you know I started getting lumpy in my throat. I LOVE and I mean LOVE photos. Photography is my favorite hobby and if I had the $$ I would have bought all the pics on board, but at those prices - not possible in this lifetime. For her to give us those photos made them even more special. I finished up with the pictures for the package, grabbed Maddie and after a few more minutes talking to, thanking, hugging and then finally having to say goodbye to Jaimee we were on our way to shower and change for the Disney Sea Grad.
Back to the room we were in rush mode....why does the time to get ready sneak up on us every single day! We saw Kirk and he led Maddie inside the stateoom. He had created another towel animal for her in the middle of the afternoon. Did I tell you I LOVE THIS GUY!! Maddie is amazed with his talents and thinks that he is prure MAGIC!! So, after promises from Kirk that we would see him later and this wouldn't be the last time...and hugs from Maddie, we took some pics with him and say goodbye.
We then scramble getting ready and then I shoot upstairs to take Maddie to the kids club for the graduation. I thought we were running late. They had already taken the kids so we had to head over to ....ok - don't even remember where but they were all getting dressed. After running to the theater I felt much better because there were only a few people there waiting for them to open the doors. Once opened I was amazed that I had front row seats - I thought we were so late but seems the timing was perfect.
Maddie didn't participate in the graduation last time and she was really excited about it this cruise. I knew this place would be PACKED with parents and about a million kids on stage. I was so right. This place was a madhouse within minutes! The kids stared filing in on either side of the stage (so when you go - remember after the speaker to look BEHIND you for the kids to enter - not through the stage itself) and I was determined to find Maddie.
Oh boy, you know what happens when 500 or so kids many about the same size are all wearing the same long shirt which covers their clothes, and add to that the same huge head covering HAT WITH EARS? YOU CANNOT FIND YOUR CHILD!!!
Crap crap and crap....100, 200, 300, .....all the kids were on the stage at this point and I STILL could not find Maddie. Looking on stage was just as hard because with them all sitting you could not really see anyone unless it was one of the younger children in the front. Oh geesh! I had Maddie's camera only because I had to delete some to free up memory in mine and no tome to do it before the show...so I had very little wiggle room for taking pics that I didn't want. I looked and looked but finally decided, oh well, she's up there, she is having a ball. She can probably see me so just smile at everyone on stage clap and look for her when they exit.
The show itself really is cute and the kids were all so excited - especially when Mickey and Minnie came out. I really wish I could have seen Maddie's face - but I knew she was having the time of her life anyway. They sang with Mickey and Minnie, there was a short speech and poof! It was over. Everything on this day almost brought tears to my eyes because it was our....sniff sniff last day.
When the kiddo's started leaving the stage I started searching again for my Minnie. FINALLY!!!! I see her walking across the stage and down to the isle. She saw me and her eyes were just beaming!!! She loved it!
I make my way back up to the kid's club to pick her up. TIP ALERT HERE!! If your kids participate in the show - do NOT go pick them up for at least 30 minutes. The place is a ZOO! I went directly in behind about 100 other parents again looking for our kids in a huge mass of others. I saw her and her face just dropped.
"
What's wrong, didn't you have fun honey? It looked like you did."
"
I DID. But I DO NOT want to leave yet! Please leave Mommy and let me stay a little longer, pleeeeaaaase!!!" So I made my way though the parents collecting their new grads and off I went for about 30 minutes. Sadly though, I didn't go play about the ship or even grab another BBC. Nope, I went back to the cabin to do a little of what EVERYONE on the ship were all dreading yet must do today - PACK SOME. STUPID STUPID PACKING!!!!
ANOTHER TIP!!! I actually did this and it helped so much!! On the last day - starting with when you get up...start packing a little bit each time you go into your room without fail! It was so much better than the last time when we all crammed into the room at 10pm stressed to the hilt for the 11pm cutoff. Plus you get to enjoy more of the last day without that looming over your head and worrying that you won't get it done...because like it or not, it does have to go at 11 that night. Mean old
DCL people - they make you LEAVE the next stinking day and actually let others on YOUR ship!!!
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I've got to get back to the real world - lots of work to do. Reality really does stink sometimes.
Lindy Loo - Who cares how your DD dances - she will have a BLAST!!!!
eeyorefan80 - Congratulations!! Your honeymoon is going to be the most memorable time of your life!!! ENJOY EVERY MOMENT!!
ChrisLei - If I had kept all the pics I took - I would have needed a bus to carry the memory cards home in. I take them EVERYWHERE...but I guess you could tell that. When you sail, take 5x the batteries and memory that you think you will need and ENJOY!
suz72 - You are so sweet! I don't think I want a teenager!!!
Babs417 - I hope I am still taking vacations when Maddie is your DD's age!!! I think that is so great!
nani - "
Thanks for sharing your magic with us and thanks for being the kind of Mom that reaches for the stars and watches them shine in your daughters eyes." That is beautiful - I'm going to remember it!!!! Thank you - and I can tell you are a super kind of preschool teacher.
bstsuda -
"
keep the reports coming - we're loving them as extended DIS family would!!!" Thank you!!
jrose529 - I hope you all have the most magical cruise! Say hello to Tink for us.
GavinsMom - You and your son are going to have the absolute time of your life and will become close than you thought you could. Enjoy and don't let the tantrums (which will happen) get to you....they will pass quickly I promise. And that is what the kids club is for!
SpideyHulk24 - Thank you so much for your kind words - ENJOY YOUR CRUISE!!! And I think I'm pretty lucky too. On some days Priss Pot may not think she's so lucky though.
discruiselovers97 -
Nope - NOT 3 years old by a LONNNG shot I'm afraid. Thank you!!
If I don't get back to the report tonight then I will finish it up at some point tomorrow.....I promise.
Everyone have a GREAT AFTERNOON!!!!
Kelly
Keep them coming!!!!
...feel like I know her (and you too). You are just so good at writing and expressing it all. I wish I could do that...I think I'm kinda boring. 
(Did I spell that right?) LOL
!
