The McSparklesons are BACK and they are CRUISIN! COMPLETE 10/4

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

Great TR!! I can so identify with many of your "emotional" moments. We have been going to WDW as a family since 2004 and DD is now 11...she started blowing off the princesses when she was 9. I can no longer get her to dress "cute". Sighh.......

We took our first cruise last year on the Wonder and are headed for the Dream in Sept. I have been scoping out the Caribbean cruises...might be our next adventure.

You are one very funny lady! Enjoying the report..waiting for more.

 

[karajeboo]

If I survive this city swim meet today without throwing myself into the pool weighted down..... Been here for 4 hours and just over halfway done.

Hopefully I will have much more time to post once swim season is over.... Assuming if course they don't find me at the bottom of the pool....

 

[kid-at-heart]

If I survive this city swim meet today without throwing myself into the pool weighted down..... Been here for 4 hours and just over halfway done.

Hopefully I will have much more time to post once swim season is over.... Assuming if course they don't find me at the bottom of the pool....

Hang in there. We did the swim meet gig for many years. You will survive. And then your sweet child will discover boys and worst yet, they will discover her. And you will look back fondly on the swim meet days.

 

[Beth D]

If I survive this city swim meet today without throwing myself into the pool weighted down..... Been here for 4 hours and just over halfway done.

Hopefully I will have much more time to post once swim season is over.... Assuming if course they don't find me at the bottom of the pool....

I feel your pain. DS has made mention of swim team up here, except its in the winter. He's only going to be in first grade, but it would be 45 min plus each night after school, plus all day every Saturday all winter long driving 3 hours to the middle of nowhere little towns to "meet".

We have said that he's just too young yet for that kind of commitment. I'll continue to do lessons at the Y if there's a class, but NO WAY am I going down that road this early!

 

[tlhbdm]

Not sure if I've posted on this thread or not, but I have been lurking and reading your entire trip report. I love you commentary. Your TR is what is helping me try to convince DH to go on a Disney cruise instead of another company. BTW, I think we were in WDW at the same time in May, we were there May 7-15.

 

[karajeboo]

Hang in there. We did the swim meet gig for many years. You will survive. And then your sweet child will discover boys and worst yet, they will discover her. And you will look back fondly on the swim meet days.

No. This cannot be. You must stop this silly talk. Boys........ They have cooties, didn't you know that????

I feel your pain. DS has made mention of swim team up here, except its in the winter. He's only going to be in first grade, but it would be 45 min plus each night after school, plus all day every Saturday all winter long driving 3 hours to the middle of nowhere little towns to "meet".

We have said that he's just too young yet for that kind of commitment. I'll continue to do lessons at the Y if there's a class, but NO WAY am I going down that road this early!

The Y here is part of a very competitive league and we chose to go with the less competitive league in the area. It is local country clubs and neighborhood pools..... I absolutely despised the club we joined for this, and we are trying to organize a swim team in our neighborhood, but it's a huge committment and I'd probably be even more stressed if we did that since I'd be right smack in the middle of it. But Ally loves swimming and she is one of the few kids her age who can swim all four strokes so she gets to swim the 100 IMs each week. She complains like crazy but when she does well it's all worth it! And to see her forming little muscles and trimming down after that winter belly fat sets in..... I just love the sport, but the 7 hour city meet was NOT my idea of a fun Saturday.....

Not sure if I've posted on this thread or not, but I have been lurking and reading your entire trip report. I love you commentary. Your TR is what is helping me try to convince DH to go on a Disney cruise instead of another company. BTW, I think we were in WDW at the same time in May, we were there May 7-15.

Thank yoU!!!! Now that you are out of lurkdom I hope to hear from you more often, if not just to stroke my ego! It really was the greatest vacation ever, although we are youtubing a lot and checking out RCCL ships too. I think we are going to venture out after this next DCL cruise.

SWIM TEAM SEASON IS OVER!!!! So I will be back VERY soon (hopefully today!) to add an update!

 

[tlhbdm]

Thank yoU!!!! Now that you are out of lurkdom I hope to hear from you more often, if not just to stroke my ego! It really was the greatest vacation ever, although we are youtubing a lot and checking out RCCL ships too. I think we are going to venture out after this next DCL cruise.

I have been on RCCL before and enjoyed it a lot. When we went in 2003(I was 16 at the time and went with my family), we were on the newest ship then, but DH and I want to try one of the newer ships(he has never been on a cruise) they have come out with.

 

[karajeboo]

Now those of you who know me, know that I like to entertain myself...... even in a beautiful Caribbean island, drinking the most amazing guavaberry colada.......

And it always helps me if I get a little assistance from those around me. Particularly a family that is just waaaaay too put together.

I mean, we are in t-shirts and swimsuits, right? Cause we are gonna hit the beach. Most everyone else is also in t-shirts or beach coverups. Because we are right near the port, which means that if you are in the Blue Female Dog Bar, you are either just off a cruise ship, or you work there, right?

Then, there are the Von Trapps. The most beautiful family I saw on St Maarten.

I'm sure that Sister Maria was busy back on their ship getting their matching outfits ready for their next port of call. Because she did a wonderful job getting them ready for St Maarten.

And I'm wondering if she was waiting just outside the restaurant with blow dryer and brushes, as well? Because there is no way these people walked in off the beach this way.

Mother and father, both beautiful blondes, neither one looking old enough (or stressed enough) to have the 4 beautiful children they had. Of course, having Sister Maria as a governess would help quite a bit......

The oldest daughter looked to be about 14 and was the picture of the perfect eldest daughter. Quick to assist her younger siblings with a smile. Then came the next daughter of around 12. Now this was no Jan Brady crying, "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" She was just as beautiful as her older sister and seemingly just as perfect.

Next was a young lad (cause this wasn't just any "boy") of about 10 who was eager to please and be the man of the house. He had the straightest part of any head I've ever seen...... And the youngest child, another boy of about 8, was just as perfectly coiffed as his siblings.

I'm actually beginning to wonder if this perfect family didn't plan these children exactly 2 years apart. It would make for quite a quadruple birthday party each year......

Sadly, I will need to repeat a couple photos so you can see the Von Trapps......

Here is young Biff making memories while Muffy and Buffy and Dirk enjoy the views behind him. I believe young Biff is capturing Mother and Father on camera.

You will notice that Muffy, Buffy, Biff and Dirk all sat prim as can be at a table by themselves. Mother and Father enjoyed a cocktail at the bar. Now, in most normal families, you couldn't leave 4 children alone at a table, especially that close to the edge of a balcony for fear that the fighting would surely cause one or more to fly over the edge. At the very least there would be food thrown from one or more plates. Right?

But it finally hit me. I know why Mother and Father were at the bar. This was their only time alone with the 4 children without the governess!!! That's it!

And my dear sweet husband knew how much the Von Trapps meant to me.... and he captured them forever.....

The Hills Are Alive - VIDEO

OK, who am I kidding? I loved this family!!!! They were well behaved, handsome, and provided some quality entertainment as I sat with my unmatched, stringy haired, smelly, belching family. And as they all posed lovingly for photos, I smiled sweetly as Jeff looked at Ally and said, "pull my finger." Ah, memories.....

And before we leave the Blue Female Dog Bar, I must show you the lovely view we enjoyed as we ate, in addition to the Von Trapps.....

View of beach from bar - VIDEO

We soon left the bar and headed across the boardwalk to pop a squat on the beach. I was quite amazed that we were not charged for these chairs, and they were much more comfortable than those at Orient Bay. The big difference we noticed here in Phillipsburg was the color of the water.

Imagine a Caribbean blue infused with ship oil. OK, not that bad, but I know this was not the cleanest beach with the ships right there. But there was something about the HUGE beach, the free chairs, and the beautiful Disney Magic right in my line of sight at all times.

Phillipsburg beach - VIDEO

I guess I'm not a big beach "snob." So if I went back to St Maarten tomorrow, I would skip Orient Bay and just relax right here in Phillipsburg. It's actually only about a 15 minute walk from the port (it took us that long just to find a parking space!!!!), and there are plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, beach chairs.......

One of my favorite photos of the trip! Yes, I'm a ship snob, and our ship was the prettiest of them all! Oh yeah, that kid in front I kinda like, too......

UP next, Aarrgghh!!!! It's Pirate Night!

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

That family can't be for real!
But honestly, to this "normal" DISser, your family looks even better!
Thanks - keep 'em coming!

 

[wilma-bride]

Yay! An update - two in one month

Loving the Von Trapp family although I am a little disappointed that their outfits weren't made out of the lovely flowery curtains from their stateroom (or hotel). After all, even the Animator's Palette servers wear outfits made from my curtains....

Love the photos of you all enjoying the beach and the sea. Can't wait to read more (by the way, less than 3 months till my cruise - any chance you might have finished by then)

 

[karajeboo]

That family can't be for real!
But honestly, to this "normal" DISser, your family looks even better!
Thanks - keep 'em coming!

Yes, they were real!!!! Well, as real as I could tell without touching them. Jeff wouldn't let me........

Yay! An update - two in one month

Loving the Von Trapp family although I am a little disappointed that their outfits weren't made out of the lovely flowery curtains from their stateroom (or hotel). After all, even the Animator's Palette servers wear outfits made from my curtains....

Love the photos of you all enjoying the beach and the sea. Can't wait to read more (by the way, less than 3 months till my cruise - any chance you might have finished by then)

YES! I will for sure have this finished by then! In fact, I will be posting a lot more from now on. Swim team was EVERY single day and now that it's done, I don't know what to do with myself!!!!!

Love your curtains!!! Do they turn that color AFTER dessert?????

 

[KristiMc]

Great update - love the picture of Ally in front of the ships. Glad you had some entertainment during your meal - too bad they didn't start singing

 

[Wicket's Mom]

So funny, the VonTrapp family, i loved the video. Those kind of people bring me down. I feel like a frump next to them. Ah well it's more fun to get down & dirty.

I noticed the 0730 after your user name on You Tube, that's my birthday!

 

[wilma-bride]

YES! I will for sure have this finished by then! In fact, I will be posting a lot more from now on. Swim team was EVERY single day and now that it's done, I don't know what to do with myself!!!!!

Glad you have got your life back somewhat - plenty of time to write trip reports

Love your curtains!!! Do they turn that color AFTER dessert?????

Yes, their waistcoats look like that after dessert - did you not get to see the change Was it that long ago that I forgot

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I was at Jeff's comment in the Von Trapp video! I'm always irritated by people like that - probably because before I had children I had aspirations of being "that" family - then I woke up.

Great pics in Phillipsburg - so those nice chairs are there and the beach is free? Not too bad! Not to mention the abundance of food and drink right there! I think most of that murkiness in the water looks like sand washing up in the surf maybe?

 

[karajeboo]

Great update - love the picture of Ally in front of the ships. Glad you had some entertainment during your meal - too bad they didn't start singing

If they would have started singing I think I would have thrown myself over the balcony!!! They were too perfect already!!!

So funny, the VonTrapp family, i loved the video. Those kind of people bring me down. I feel like a frump next to them. Ah well it's more fun to get down & dirty.

I noticed the 0730 after your user name on You Tube, that's my birthday!

That can't be your birthday because it's MY birthday!!! My 29th this year..... again.....

Glad you have got your life back somewhat - plenty of time to write trip reports

Yes, their waistcoats look like that after dessert - did you not get to see the change Was it that long ago that I forgot

Oh, I saw their vests change color, I was asking if your curtains changed colors!

I was at Jeff's comment in the Von Trapp video! I'm always irritated by people like that - probably because before I had children I had aspirations of being "that" family - then I woke up.

Great pics in Phillipsburg - so those nice chairs are there and the beach is free? Not too bad! Not to mention the abundance of food and drink right there! I think most of that murkiness in the water looks like sand washing up in the surf maybe?

Oh Tammie, there are so many things I thought I would be or not be. You know that child throwing the tantrum at the entrance of the grocery store? I swore "MY child will never do that...." and then I remember when Ally turned 3 she became "that child." But it seems that I turned into all the things I swore I never would, and yet I never became the person I swore I would.... hmmmm, how does that happen????

Nice wide beach, not crowded at all (but I think only 3 or 4 ships in port this day.....), free, and lots to do right there. Murkiness was definitely not good. But after the Von Trapps I couldn't stand a perfect beach anyway!!!!

 

[wilma-bride]

Oh, I saw their vests change color, I was asking if your curtains changed colors!

Haha, that would be so cool if they did. Sadly, my seamstress (aka MIL) forgot to sew the Disney colour-changing magic into the lining

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Well, since I'm definately older, it's my birthday, but I will let you use it also!

 

[karajeboo]

Haha, that would be so cool if they did. Sadly, my seamstress (aka MIL) forgot to sew the Disney colour-changing magic into the lining

I'd go all Donald Trump on her.... "You're FIRED!"

Well, since I'm definately older, it's my birthday, but I will let you use it also!

Oh silly mother of Wicket...... I'm not REALLY 29.... only in my head. Or I guess I could say I'm 29 for the nth time.........

 

[TopRowSeat]

And my dear sweet husband knew how much the Von Trapps meant to me.... and he captured them forever.....

The Hills Are Alive - VIDEO

LOL! Love the eyeroll! Clearly Ally is impressed with your obsession.