amazing trip part 1!

 before we left, i snapped a few pics of the kids to take with me. i looked at these pics every day!  nate and ellie with matching tats

ellie jumping and being adorable

 and joey. typical finger up her nose, fun loving joey!

 before i start this redic long, way too many pics and details...blog....i have to share personal stuff.  when i left for this vacation almost 2 weeks ago i left in a bad place. i was on the verge of a mental break down.  i was tired, over whelmed, discouraged, drained and lacked any zest for life.  i was mentally depleted.  physically exhausted, spiritually empty and in a bad place.  i was getting sick over and over with out any end in sight.  home school was taking up my life.  me time did not exist.  my marriage was struggling and i really needed to get away

so my sister and i went away.  it was a trip that opened my eyes to life outside my own little bubble. i discovered that i am a person. people see me.  people want to talk to me, other than getting them food, wiping their bum and teaching lessons too....

the trip!

cry and i flew out fri nov 11 at 6 am, we had to get up at 3. after sleeping 2 hrs we were on the plane. the LONGEST flight to toronto. EVER. it took almost 3 HOURS. then we sat on the tarmac for another HOUR. almost missing our connecting flight to fort lauderdale...but we had lots of leg room!

 pretty cry at 6 AM. ha

 me. sick and tired at 6 am

 on our flight to fort lauderdale

 once we landed we went and got the car rental and went shopping, only to leave after 2 hours

why?  because i was a hot emotional mess. i missed my family. i heard a kid cry and i burst into tears. seriously. so we drove the 30 mins to miami and grabbed our hotel. i cried the whole way to the hotel
we checked in and took a nap. i was then ready to hit up supper and go to a store. we went to bed early that night around 9 and i slept until 10 AM!!! i didnt budge. i was exhausted.  but no worries, i made up for the lack of shopping the day before and we did some serious damage

check out crys bag

 i couldnt lift it. hahaha

sunday morning we left for the boat terminal to get in line to board the ship first!
after waiting an hour in line we got a ticket to wait another 2.5 to then get on the ship....to get into another line....

 us waiting in the terminal. i think i only cried once on sunday for the kids
after we got on the ship, we RAN to guest services and buy our ticket for this bad boy!!!

 TADA!  they only sell 5 cabanas and we GOT ONE!  we paided 350 for this peace of heaven. we got a pass for the ADULTS only area, with our own bar and bar tenders, whom we got to know very well....the cabana had coolers on the side, and an ocean front view with enclosed privacy. we LOVED it. and used it every day but one

 check out the line to get on the ship!  crazy. we sailed on the norwegian getaway, much larger than the other ships ive been on and a completely different environment all together.  i would NOT take my family on one, but i WOULD go back myself

 our bar tenders would bring us water and drinks...all day. long!

 cry with her first of many drinks

 we were greeted with this in our room. i gave the wine to our room attendant steven, who we got to know really well and spent many hours talking to him in our room.  he loved us. and would sit on our bed and chat...great guy

 view from my cabana

 YES! no kids!

 i didnt know what to do with myself

 lots of time to just veg

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Posted by mel at 3:21 PM

part 2

 sun night we had dinner at taste. the food was ok.  i liked carnival food much better....cry had an apple martini....i had nothing to drink i was sea sick the first 2 days!

 my chicken dinner after i cut into it. haha

 then we went for one of many walks around the ship

 and walked on the glass floor over the waves below. very fun

 and kinda creepy

 loungers on the outside

 this amazing chandelier that changes color all day long. super cool

 we found the piano bar

 i took a tiny sip

but stopped bec i was quite sea sick

we chilled sun night at the piano bar, met a few people and went to bed early...where i slept another 10 hours... 0 comments

Posted by mel at 3:21 PM

part 3!

 i woke up to our first sea day, i was feeling a bit better. we had breakfast, this was my typical breaky.  which was AMAZING to not have to make myself!

then we hit up the cabana where we spent the day.  i forgot my hair clip, but found ellie's in the bottom of my bag so i used it....then cried because i missed her

at this point i decided that i had to do something about that. so i decided to do what chris does and put my family in a box and not think or talk about them...i told cry what i was doing and she agreed it was the best thing to do

 our bar tenders would bring us fruit kabobbs daily, as well as an iced cloth in the afternoon when it was hot

 the view was amazing

 mon night i was still quite sea sick, which i NEVER get!!!  this is me at my finest

 out for dinner at savor
i decided this trip to do everything opposite than the last...and i REALLY DID!  i tried all kinds of new foods!

 cry waiting for her order
and me not wanting to be sea sick so i could get a glass of wine!

 starting to relax

 my supper. chicken cordon blue
it was good!

 dessert, some pine apple creation

 and the best dessert....molting lava cake!

 and i found a chess board. this is for nate. nate loves playing chess!

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Posted by mel at 3:21 PM

part 4!

 us chilling outside before we hit the piano bar back up

 tuesday! the FUNNEST day EVER! 
so we woke up in roatan and it was POURING rain!  we had planned on going zip lining, eco walk and beach....after talking back and forth we decided to go zip lining anyways
so we did

 we got geared up

 i was terrified, esp after they told us that the rain makes is MUCH faster!

 cry ready to go

 i really was scared. like i wanted to puke scared

 but i DID it!!!!!!!!!!!!! and had SOOOOOO much fun!!!! i cant describe how amazing the whole experience was

 cry went upside down

 then back to normal

 me! 

 cry!

 us 1/2 way through the course. it was pouring rain. we were SOAKED but it was ok bec the weather was warm, so we weren't cold

 just very, very wet

 it took 5 days for my shoes to dry out, 2 days for my bra! i dont think ive ever been this wet from rain

 but it was so very fun and i cant wait to do it again!

 after we finished we went back to the boat to shower and change

 then we went for lunch and relaxed

 i finally felt well enough for WINE!

and it was so good! ha 0 comments

Posted by mel at 3:21 PM