Basketball 2018

Today was the first day of basketball games for Ike and Via.  This is Ikes third year and Vias first. Before the games started Ike was getting anxious about the loud buzzer but his anxiety calmed down a bit after he started playing. They are both very passive players.  They have no interest in getting a rebound and are timid when gaurding their opposing player.  Ike made a couple baskets and Via tried a few times but they didn't go in.  It was fun to watch them both play.

As we were waiting for Via's game to start Ike was getting nervous about the buzzer so I asked Trinity if she would protect Ike and she put her hand on his leg.  Love, Love, Love this sweet girl!

Go team: Blue Waves (Via said they will be changing their team name weekly)

Go team: Huskies

Disney Cruise: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Wednesday: Castaway Cay (pronounced "key")

Tail shaking with Donald

Stitch gave Via a kiss.

This island is awesome!  It is a Disney Island so the only people there are all of us off the ship.  The sand and water were amazing.  We had a great time even though the weather was not ideal.  It started raining after a few hours on the beach.

After eating a yummy BBQ we headed back to the boat.

Wednesday was a busy day....  Now it is time for pirate night.

Masks, eye patches, tattoos, pirate rings and bandanas 

Allen showing the kids a magic trick.  Allen and Steph were our servers at dinner every night and they were amazing.  The kids loved them and looked forward to a few magic tricks from them at supper.

That night we all sat in the balcony at the theater. It was magician Scott Pepper.  Fun!

The fun continues.... meeting Jack Sparrow

And to end our super long and super awesome Wednesday we watched a live pirate show then Fireworks from the Deck while out in the ocean.  Awesome!

Thursday:  We were at sea all day. Wednesday had really worn Via out.  She was exhausted but came around and still had a nice last day on the boat. Ike spent a lot of the day in the Oceaneer club (he loved that place!). We also watched "Beauty and the Beast" at the Theater.  It was amazing!  We were all glued.  Kids and Grown ups.

Friday: And just like that is was over.  We woke up, had breakfast and were in our shuttle to the airport by 830.  It was nice to have phone service again.  It was also nice to be completely disconnected for several days.  Mom and I looking are through photos.

We were to the airport by 9:30 am for our 4:10 flight.  Kids were pretty good while all four were together.  Then about 2:00 we all went our separate ways.  Ryan and Lindsay had a 4:30pm flight and mom and dad not until 9:55pm.  We had the easiest travel day of the group and we were exhausted.  I was really feeling bad for Ryan, Lindsay and the boys and Mom and dad.

Once we got to our gate Olivia's eyes which had been a little red started getting worse.  

Poor girl was exhausted. She slept the last hour of the flight which made it very difficult to get her and all our stuff off the plane. Once we landed Ike also started crying because his stomach was really bothering him.  We were a bit of a scene trying to get our bags and get the heck home.

By the time we got home at 7pm they were full of goop and really bothering her.  Yay for pink eye.  

Disney Cruise: Monday and Tuesday

Monday:  Mom and Dad while we are all in hotel lobby waiting for Happy Limo to take us to the ship.

We are on the boat and leaving Port Canaveral

Party on deck to celebrate the start to a fun filled four days.

The first cruise I went on when I was 13 or so my mom bought us matching outfits for the formal dinner night.  I was one mad teen. I will need to get a throwback pic.  Now that I am older and far more mature I thought it was pretty funny when mom bought us all outfits.  She got these for the girls.

Sooo, I got shirts for the little boys!

Olivia's first character meeting on the Cruise was Tiana from The Princess and the Frog.

Via felt very special!

Day one of the Cruise was also Kade's birthday.  I wish I had taken a video of when the wait staff was singing to him.  It was adorable! He was all red and loving every minute of it!  I'm so happy we were all able to celebrate his special day in an extra special way.

At the end of day one we were all rocked to sleep in our cabin.  The first evening was pretty rocky, but it was much smoother after that. A bunk bed came down from the ceiling and the couch turned into a bed.  It is so nice to go to breakfast in the morning and come back to a clean picked up cabin.  Then to go to supper in the evening and come back to all the beds ready, and a chocolate candy waiting for us.

Tuesday, Day Two: Happy Birthday Ryan! and Good morning!  Via woke up and crawled in our cabin window to enjoy the view while waking up.

Hello Nassau Bahamas

The kids, Lindsay and I did not get off at port.  The kids still wanted to try out all the new things on board.  They took a swim in the Mickey pool, spent a few hours in the Oceaneer Club and Lab.  It is a huge kid center that has many different rooms and activities for the kids.  The parents can just drop them off and leave! Extra awesome! 

Later, meeting Mickey

Chip and Dale

Tuesday evening we went to watch "Disney's Believe" at the Theater.  We tried to watch " The Golden Mickeys" the first night but we were all just to tired. The shows were amazing!

Orlando- Cocoa Beach- Kennedy Space Center

Day one: Flying from Denver to Orlando. We spent the first night at a hotel by the airport.  

A night swim waiting for Ry, Linds and boys to arrive.  We didn't manage to stay up late enough to see them though.

Day two: First stop after waking up was breakfast. Then straight to the pool/hot tub before catching our shuttle to Cocoa beach.

We checked into our hotel. Then we headed to Cocoa Beach Pier for lunch. It was very conveniently located right next to our hotel.

Via enjoyed all the birds bothering us while we waited for our food (that is so Via!). The table next to us gave her crackers to feed them.

The kids had fun spending a few dollars at the arcade on the pier before heading down to the beach.

At the Beach! It was chilly but the kids had a blast! They laughed and squealed with joy until they were all shivering! I enjoyed every minute of staying dry and watching them have so much fun.

Walking under the pier back to our hotel. They then jumped in the heated pool to warm up a bit. Then it was back to the hotel for hot showers.

Day three: We all went to check out the Kennedy Space Center.

The kids favorite spot: kids play area!

Bus tour took us to the control center of the first launch of astronauts orbiting the moon.  We watched a video of the actual events.  My favorite part of the day.

50 Plus year old eagles nest. We were able to see one peaking over the nest. We also saw armidillos and alligators along the road on the bus tour.

It was a long day with a few lines and a lot to see. This was the end and Via was kinda over it. 

Tomorrow we will wake up and it will be Kade's 5th birthday AND we will all be getting on our first Disney Cruise. Soooo exciting!