It Was GREAT While It Lasted!

Well, our final day on the cruise ship came all too quickly.  We did everything we could to make it count, too! One of the first things we did was catch a Madagascar show at the aqua theater. It involved lots of diving, swimming, and acrobatics. 

Then, the time arrived for me to take the PLUNGE...literally!  Brittany decided to join me for moral support being that I'm not a huge fan of heights.  So. we got all geared up to go zip lining...

 then, I had to "walk the plank".

When I stepped out on that ledge and looked down, I about croaked!  However, since lots of people were watching me, including my family, I had to do it!  I had to prove that I was no chicken!  So, off I went! 

I must admit, I almost wanted to yell, "WHEE!" because it was so much fun!  No doubt about it, I'd do it, again!

Don't you just love this picture that Chris snapped of ME as I was coming in for my spectacular landing?  I could have plunged straight to my untimely death and I don't think he would have ever noticed!  Yep...it landed him right in the doghouse!
 

Next on our agenda was rock climbing.  I was bound and determined to conquer yet another 'fear' of mine...being dependant on a rope to prevent me from crashing into the ground below!  Chris and Brittany decided to go first so they could demonstrate to Abby and me how the "pros" do it. Blah, blah, blah!

 

Chris was able to ring the bell at the top...Brittany made it about 3/4 of the way.  Abby and I quickly got our harnesses and our rock climbing shoes on...we were going to show those smarties a thing or two!

Abby made it halfway up and I was about a foot from the top.  My legs are so short that I couldn't stretch out far enought to get to the bell...I was not happy!

After our exhausting activities, we headed over to the Windjammer for some lunch.  This is looking out the window where we sat...it shows the putt-putt course and the Flowrider.

We just took it easy for the rest of the afternoon.  Later that night, right before dinner, they had a Flash Mob on the Royal Promenade and it looked like a blast!

Here's the girls at dinner...it was New York strip night...DE-LISH!

To top it off was this yummy-in-my-tummy dessert.  Hey...I'll eat chocolate just about any way it comes!  This cake definitely did not disappoint!
   

We went back to our room after we finished eating and took some family photos before we slipped into more comfortable clothes.  





We went downstairs where they were having a huge farewell party on the Royal Promenade.  As you can see, due to the crowds, we opted to observe from a higher level.

Here's the last sunset we were able to enjoy on the ship.

Since there wasn't much else going on, we went to the aqua theater and watched Justin Beiber's movie, "Never Say Never" on the big screen.  I think I even saw Chris tapping his feet a time or two.  After it ended, we called it a night because we were scheduled to disembark EARLY.  

We all got up around 6:15 AM...you can tell that Abby wasn't finished with her sleep. However, we all made it off the ship by 7:15 AM or so.  It was such an easy process with absolutely no lines, at all.

Of course, with our 10-hr. trip back home and having to get up so early, the girls fell sound asleep in the car fairly quickly.
  

We made it back home by early evening...and we were all completely worn out!  You know what, though, it was all worth it and we made so many fun memories that I'll cherish for the rest of my days!


P.S.  Please say a prayer for Chris...he has a 2nd interview next week with the company that he's very interested in.  In fact, the recruiter just called and told him that he's the only one in the running for the position and that they've spoken very highly of him.  We're hoping and praying that the stress we've been under since May will soon be over.  I'll keep you posted!  

Off To The Land Of Iguanas!

Hope y'all had a fun and safe 4th of July!  We spent some time in South Carolina...I hope to be able to share about it real soon!

OK...time to start wrapping up our cruise!  Let's see...on Day 6 of our trip, we docked in Cozumel, Mexico.

After we got off the ship, we browsed around in some of the shops located at the end of the pier.

Our initial intention was to walk around the downtown area, however, we soon decided to go on a tour of San Gervasio, the Mayan ruins.  We hopped in a taxi and took about a 20 min. ride to get there.  The beautiful ocean was calling my name the entire time!

 
We finally arrived at San Gervasio...and was it ever HOT and HUMID!  Whew...and I thought Atlanta was bad!  Our tour guide could barely speak a lick of English, so we all did our best to interpret what he was saying...it was quite a challenge!

The ruins were very interesting and it's where Mayan women paid tribute to the goddess of fertility and love.

 

I can't begin to tell you how many iguanas we saw during the tour.  They were sunning themselves EVERYWHERE!  Our tour guide told us they taste just like chicken.  Well...I don't have any immediate plans to ever find out!  Adorable, don't you think?

When our tour ended and we made it back to the pier, it came the biggest downpour!  It must have  rained for about 45 mins. or so!  We got stuck in all the shops until the sky cleared up.  Once we made it back on the ship, we put on our swimsuits and headed for the pool.

Unfortunately, we didn't stay too long because another rain cloud blew in.  Oh, well!  After dinner, we caught the Blue Planet show, which involved lots of acrobatics...it was pretty good.  There was a 70's party on the Royal Promenade, but there was such a huge crowd that you couldn't stir the people with a stick!  So, the girls took a quick late-night ride on the carousel, then we decided to call it a night around 11 PM...we were so ready, too! 

Our 7th and final day would be a day at sea.  Know what that means? I tried my hand at zip lining...and was it ever FUN!!!  Oh, and did I mention that I even went rock climbing for the first time, too?  You can bet I have pics. to prove it!


P.S.  I'm sure most of y'all are just as shocked as I am about the verdict of NOT GUILTY in the Casey Anthony trial.  I thought for sure that she'd, at least, be found guilty of manslaughter.  It just saddens me that little Caylee didn't get the justice she so deserved.

A Day At Sea...WHEE!!!

One of my favorite parts of cruising is spending some time at sea where you don't have to worry about disembarking and you can just play everything by ear.  So, since our 5th day was a day at sea for us, we slept in a little later than usual and took our own sweet time heading downstairs for breakfast.  We sat by the pool for awhile, then Chris and Brittany decided to give the Flowrider a go.  Abby and I were right behind with cameras in hand.  We knew it wasn't going to be pretty, and we wanted to capture it ALL!

Chris went first...he wanted to show Brittany how it was done.  I think he wanted to hang onto the instructor's hand for awhile to get his footing.

Oh, he was looking good on that boogie board!  Just look at his technique!

Well...that lasted for about a second, then down he went...

HARD!!!  No...I didn't laugh one single bit! Yeah, right!

There's Brittany lined up with all the guys trying to give off the impression that she's an ol' pro.

Hey, I think she just might have the hang of it!

Uh, oh...I may have spoken too soon!

Yep...sure did, 'cause she went SPLAT in a big way!  Boy, was it ever funny to see the two of them go down like the Titanic!  Abby and I both knew better than to humiliate ourselves!  We're smart like that!

Here's the view looking down onto one of the neighborhoods on the ship called the Boardwalk...almost like a small carnival right on board.

Brittany will probably have my hide for posting this, but we were all trying to get ready for our 2nd formal night.  Abby's out on the balcony singing to music from her I-Pod...I sneaked around and recorded the whole thing!

I think they both clean up pretty well!

                            

I seriously think Chris needs to work on his tan...I mean...c'mon!

After dinner, the girls and I went to see an Ice Games ice show, which was really good.  Then, they talked me into going to a disco with them and dancing to Micheal Jackson tunes.  We didn't get back to our room until 1:11 A.M., a little past our curfew.  We had such a ball, though, and I'd do it all, again!
Next day would take us to Cozumel, Mexico!  Much more to share and stories to tell!


P.S.  We're going to S.C. tomorrow for the 4th.  I'll post, again, once we get home.  Hope y'all have a fun and safe 4th of July!