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Well we really enjoyed our trip! Today we had problems with our sea legs all day. We all felt tipsy and a little dizzy. In the hotel Natasha was standing there brushing her hair and just fell into the wall beside her.
Here are some of our favorite pictures from the trip.

Cast Away Cay n Rough Seas

{KD}
We had our last port today and went to Castaway Cay which is Disney’s Private Island. It is just gorgeous. We didn’t have great weather though, so that was too bad. It was cloudy and overcast but still very moist and humid. Jake and I were wearing shorts and tee-shirts over our swimsuits, and the girls just wore their swimsuits, so not that cool. We had a bit of a rain storm too, but it was a warm rain and was almost pleasant to be in. When we got back on the ship, we got cleaned up and went to the movie theatre to watch the Princess and the Frog. It was a good movie and both girls really liked it. After it was finished and we were getting ready to go for supper, we heard an announcement that the winds are very high and we would have rough sailing tonight. There are sea-sick bags in all the public bathrooms and the staff is everywhere to help us. The top deck (deck 10) and any deck with an outside walkway that isn’t enclosed are closed due to the weather. It is an experience that is for sure. Thank gosh we have sea-bands and the girls have their Gravol. Not the way I would have liked to end our cruise, but at least we are experiencing it all. Still like the cruise and will for sure return and do it again. 

{Jake}
We went to Cast Away Cay today. I took me a while to put my finger on it but I was feeling strange, I had the sensation that I was somewhat tipsy yet I’d only had one beer. I was feeling sea sick almost. Then the realisation hit oh my sea legs… I’m not used to being on land. We made a very cool sand castle, Julie and Natasha took charge and did a very good job paving the castle walkway with sea shells. Some other kids found a small sand crab or shell crab so the castle had a built in pool for him. It started raining so we went for a bite to eat. When we finished the girls and I went to see if the rain had wrecked or castle, it hadn’t. It only had a slightly weathered look, also know one else was disturbing it we liked that.

{Natasha}
My Daddy and I didn’t get to go fishing today because it was cancelled due to the weather and the wind. At the beach at Castaway Cay there was only the top mast of a pirate ship sticking out of the water. The rest of it must have gotten sunken by someone. Daddy and I made a sandcastle at the beach and it was fun. The water in the ocean was see-through blue. It looked so neat. On the ground walking back to the ship, we saw a branch broken off from a coconut tree and there were lots of coconuts on it. My Dad picked up one of them and broke it and open he got some coconut milk to come out of it. Tonight, I don’t feel so good because it is really windy and the boat is moving lots. I am lying in bed watching The Santa Claus with Julie.

{Julie}
We were ported at Castaway Cay today and the first thing I saw when I got on the beach was all the seashells. I was picking them up but there was so many I couldn’t pick them all up! I helped my Daddy make a sandcastle today too and we used seashells for the walkway to the door. When we got back to our room after being at the Island, we had an Angel made out of a towel and after supper, we had a Stingray from towels too and chocolates. It is really icky tonight on the ship because it is windy and it feels bumpy and makes my tummy feel icky.

{Update}
We posted this one very early this morning. I couldn’t work at the computer any longer. The storm that is bringing snow to the Atlantic coast is affecting the weather and seas down here. We left Cast Away Cay into 60 knot winds and 11 to 14 foot swells. The captain made an announcement and mentioned that the winds were near or borderline on hurricane strength winds. To say the least we ended supper early and headed to the room to pack. There were lots of things going on but not many people doing them.

Fun n Sun n Swimming

{KD}
I had a great relaxing day today. We had no ports today and just a full fun day of swimming, reading, eating, and checking in on the girls. They have pretty free rein here but they do need to let us know if they are going to a different pool or into a hot tub. I got to lie up on the top deck, deck 10, under nothing but the sun in the middle of the ocean. It was well over 25C; just a beautiful day aboard the Disney Magic. I even had time to read my book while taking pictures of the girls swimming. It was a great day. 

{JAKE}
Very relaxing day, sun n fun! Eating lunch by the pool was great. I looked at a bunch of art work that was being auctioned. The ice sculpting was very cool; it started out as a 200 lb block of ice that is frozen from the inside out so that there are no air bubbles. Natasha said right away that it was going to be a swan. Julie also said she knew it was going to be a swan but she was down in the front row. He started out using an electric chain saw. Most sculptures take 45 min this one he did in about 20 min. Julie has a very good sense of where she on the ship. She said she wanted another grilled cheese sandwich, I thought she was going to wait till Kristie came back but instead she went to the back of the ship to the buffet got it herself and came right back to the pool where we were sitting. I used your line at supper Doug; I told our servers that “the only thing more enjoyable than the food was the service.”

{NATASHA}
Lots & Lots of swimming! On stage at Goofy’s Pool they did a real ice carving right in front of us. I guessed right away that it was going to be a swan and I WAS RIGHT! In my kids club, I got an autographed picture from High School Musical and all the actors in the movie signed it.

{JULIE}
Lots of swimming for me too! I even had my favourite sandwich for lunch – Grilled cheese with ketchup. It was yummy. Mommy and Daddy let us eat at the pool side too which was neat. When the man made a swan out of the ice block, I was sitting on the deck in the second row watching. I got “snowed” on because I was so close! But I wasn’t cold because the sun was warming me up; after all, I was just wearing my swimming suit.  Last night we had a peacock made out of towels and it looked really neat.

Mexico & Dolphins

There will be two postings tomorrow to catch up on our days before we get home.


{KD}
The day I have been eagerly awaiting came finally. Back to Mexico I went. We had a port at Cozumel Mexico. This was also a big day for us as this was our Dolphin Swim too! It was sunny and warm and we were already in the pool by 9:30 am for a dip before we went off the ship. Jake and I had the chance to go kid-less as the girls wanted to stay back on the ship in their clubs and do Christmas Crafts (that cracked me up) and so off we went. We got a few trinkets and checked out some places to go back to with the girls. And, Jake spoiled me rotten and bought me one of the most gorgeous diamond rings I have ever seen (other than my wedding ring). We headed back to the ship in time to get the girls and head out again for our 8 minute cab ride to Dolphiaris for our dolphin swim. IT WAS AMAZING!! What a rush it was to swim with dolphins. Also, we saw two men acting like status’s that scared the crap out of the girls. They don’t move an inch until someone is walking right past them and then the men move and scare you (for tips that is). They were pretty good though! Good day and a pirate theme for supper so we dined with pirate waiters and had a dance with all the waiters and then we saw the coolest fireworks. I can’t even say how amazing these were – nothing but black around us and fireworks shooting up into the black skies – it was spectacular!!!

{Jake}
We had a great time swimming with the dolphins. Natasha was the first one from our group to take a ride on a dolphin’s belly. Julie wasn’t so sure about being in the salt water; she was also a little scared, but she did come in and get a kiss from one and a hand shake. After the swim we walked down the street and were bombarded by shop keepers. Kristie and I had been out once earlier and knew of a couple of things we wanted to get. Once they see you with something in your hands then you’re like a magnet. By the end of the street and back I was feeling a little overwhelmed, in fact when were back on the ship for supper they wanted to sell us some party cups for the pirate party that night, my first reaction was to barter on the price before I even said no thanks enough shopping for one day. Kristie & I stopped to look at a pelican up close and to take a picture when all of a sudden it jumped up and closer scaring the crap out a Kristie, I just about fell on the ground laughing. We have awesome pictures of the fireworks; we didn’t stick around for the party as all of us were pretty worn out. I don’t think you could do everything there is to do here.

{Natasha}
The dolphins felt like soft wet plastic, they were not slimy. I learnt that killer whales hunt dolphins. Also dolphins have 80 to 100 teeth, they grow them when they are babies and don’t grow a second adult set. I was a little bit scared at first but not for very long. I didn’t like the restaurant it was way too loud and noisy. I kissed, hugged, flipper shook, felt and rode a dolphin my favourite was the belly ride. I got on all by myself. Tomorrow is all day on the ship.

{Julie}
I kissed a dolphin, I liked it, I was scared at first, I also did a hug and a hand shake. We went to a place and my glass was so tall I had to stand on my chair to drink from the glass. I picked out a small guitar and maracas they are both pink. I went swimming some more with Madison. Every day when I make drawings daddy puts them up on our cabin door, we will take a picture of it at the end of the cruise. At the restaurant I got a balloon hat I also found one so I was wearing two. We also picked out gifts for Colin and Mitchell. I THINK THE DOLPHINS FELT LIKE SILK!

Sting Rays

{KD}
We had a fabulous day today. We had a port at the Cayman Island at George Town. We had to tender in to the island and when I went up to the top deck this morning, I counted 5 cruise ships!! What a cool site! We went to the island and the minute we walked through the gates, we were accosted by people trying to sell tour packages. We went on a Stingray tour which was one of the coolest things I have ever done in my whole life! What a cool site. When we returned to the boat, we went swimming and then for supper, it was our night for our dinner at the Palo which is the adult only dining room. Jake and I had a wonderful formal dinner (we had to get dressed all fancy again!) and then went and got the kids from their clubs. To top off a great day, I got to see my absolute favourite Disney character tonight too! Donald Duck was in the lobby tonight and I got a kiss from him! One of the greatest days for sure!

{Jake}
WOW! We got off the ship and were approached by a local lady selling a stingray tours, we said why not lets go. The girls were a little scared. Natasha did come in and touch one but Julie didn’t. I was amazed, at first looking around wasn’t that exciting, you could see some dark things in the water moving around and rubbing against my legs but when I put the snorkel on and looked under water it was and excitingly different world. It was brighter, more colourful, and completely amazing. I could see stingrays everywhere. I shot an entire roll of film with an underwater camera, Thanks Doug. We stopped at a different spot and when Natasha put her face in the water with the snorkel she saw thousands of fish of all kinds’ right under her.

{Natasha}
I made a friend today and she is pretty nice. I went swimming lots and bought some cool sunglasses. Got my hair beaded today too but after a bit it started to hurt me, and I had mommy take the braids out, but we have pictures. I got to go in the ocean and touch a stingray, it felt very smooth and very warm. I was scared at first. The ocean was very salty; I DID NOT LIKE THE TASTE OF THE OCEAN.Auntie Carmen, I was sleeping on the deck because I was not feeling well, but I did like being there in the shade.

{Julie}
When we were at Cayman Island, we went on a Stingray tour and we got to see lots of stingrays. I met a friend in the pools her name is Madison. Her cabin is very close to ours. We saw lots and lots of Iguanas. The ocean is so blue it is very easy to see to the bottom. When we were going to the land we went past an old pirate ship.Auntie Carmen, it took 1/2 an hour to have my hair done. Natasha did get hers done too but she took them out because they were hurting a bit.

Full day on the ship

{KD}
The girls have been sleeping in every day as we have been staying up late every night. We hung out on the boat all day as we didn’t have any ports. Had a great day except Natasha didn’t feel great – she had an icky tummy. Dinner was formal so everyone was dressed up and we got to see Golden Mickey too!! He was so cool to see. I got a bit too much sun and loved it as well as we had a deck party with Lilo & Stitch – that was pretty cool. This cruise will not be our last; that is certain. It is an amazing experience.

{Jake}
We had a fun day all day swimming; it was too bad Natasha was not feeling well. I sure do like being able to sit on deck eating pizza and drinking beer. We have been around the ship lots getting the signatures from all of the characters. We had planned on getting up early for breakfast but mostly we have slept till 8:00 or so. In the evening there was foot ball on the gigantic screen no hockey though…small price to pay. There are two other cruise ships sailing along with us. Thank you Linda we didn’t know that having a butterfly land on you was good luck, we should have lots now.

{Natasha}
We went to a movie theatre right on the boat, we watched Toy Story 2 in 3D. We had a big blanket for all of us to fit under, I got to wear my Pyjamas and instead of having to drive home from the theatre we walked down the hall to our room. Today I kept a promise to Mrs. Duffy… I got her an autograph from Mickey Mouse. At supper tonight I told our waiter that I didn’t want anything for desert, I said “…nothing for me thank you.” When he came back he had a covered plate that said “Nothing” written in cherry syrup. I sure hope tomorrow I feel better. Ampa I don’t think horse shoe crabs spin webs.

{Julie}
I went swimming all day. I was swimming in the kid’s pool, but also today for the first time I started swimming on my own in the deep pool. The deep pool has a giant TV screen that has all Disney. When they played Hannah Montana music I went up and pretended that I was singing at a concert. I also exercised with Goofy and I got to be on the big TV. I have already made some friends and I know what rooms they are in. Today I got my hair braided and beaded with blue & white beads. I chose white and blue because it reminds me of the white clouds and the blue ocean. I didn’t catch the rooster Ampa, he was too fast.

Our First Full Day

{Kristie}
We got to leave the boat today and go to Key West Florida. It was so warm and muggy there – beautiful. After supper, Jake and I put the kids in their kid clubs and we got to go back onto the island and check out the town. We were there for about an hour and saw some neat things. One of the funny things we saw was a bar called “Smallest Bar”. It was so weird!
{Jake}
We had a great day. The butterfly conservatory was awesome there were hundreds and hundreds of butterflies, they were everywhere, quite a few landed on us. I really liked the aquarium. There was a tank with a bunch of stingrays’ and they were getting near feeding time so they were very active and splashed us a couple of times. The strangest thing happened today I came out of a shop to see Julie chasing a rooster.

{Natasha}
We went to Key West. I loved the butterfly conservatory. I thought the butterflies and the birds were pretty. Daddy put a butterfly in my hand, the butterfly was a Blue on the inside but pretty blue when his wings were open. At the aquarium we found out a horse shoe crab does not pinch or harm people also we learnt that they are not shell fish but they are from the spider family. My dad and I saw that starfish have hundreds of little legs they use to walk!


{Julie}
I loved the butterflies too. Daddy and I saw 1 of 4 turtles. A butterfly landed on my hat. Natasha and I got beautiful butterfly head bands. A sting ray scared me when it splashed Natasha at the aquarium. We ate ice cream by an old rusty anchor on our way back to the ship. We touched a shark and found out that when they bump you in the ocean it’s because they are getting a taste of you with their skin.