Setting sail

Following our days in Chicago, we joined mom, dad, Tim, Kathi, Samantha, and Tyson on a Miami-bound flight. Once again, Nicholas entertained, free of charge. As this was a smaller plane (an Embraer), he was able to keep everyone on the flight busy holding their ears as he alternated between screaching and screaming.

We spent Friday night at the Days Inn Miami Airport North. My only comment on that subject is don't go there unless you get a really good price (like $22). A good clue to the type of the hotel is the website's indication that the hotel is located close to the dog track. The kids enjoyed playing in the pool, though, and I didn't mind the close proximity to an IHOP when it came to breakfast the next morning. By that time, Steen and Matthew had flown in from Stockholm and our family was complete -- and ready for our cruise.

The cruise was an amazing gift from mom and dad to all of us. It was a 7-night trip, with stops at Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and Labadee, Haiti.

We boarded Royal Carribbean's Liberty of the Seas at 1 on Saturday afternoon (the Liberty is to the left in the 2nd photo below -- I think it's amazing how she towers over the other ship).

From that point on, I lost all track of time. We relaxed, enjoyed the lack of dishes to wash or beds to make, pampered ourselves, and ate (and ate and ate -- you can eat 24 hours a day on an RCCL ship). We took time to talk and catch up with each other without the everyday stresses of work and home life. It was a wonderful, unforgettable trip.

Among the highlights (in no particular order):

- Hanging out in the stateroom with mom (after putting Nicholas to bed), sharing our thoughts and laughing together

- Vegging on a floating mat at the beach in Labadee, Haiti (as you can see, mom had ensured floating mats for all of us) and watching the kids -- old and young -- have a ball on the giant water slide

- Shopping with dad at A Touch of Gold in Phillipsburg, St. Maarten, where he helped me get an excellent price on a beautiful ring commemorating my three boys. We always make a pretty good team. (By the way, he also managed to pick up something that glitters in the sun for mom while we were there!)

- Watching Matthew and Lucas conquer the Flowrider (and their own initial fear) in bodyboarding

- Treating myself to the Ladies' Night special, which included a facial, back and shoulder massage, foot and ankle massage and scalp massage. Heavenly!

- Watching the sunrise from our balcony

- Having the most amazing photos taken of our little ones

- Dinner at Chop's Grille -- definitely one of the best I've had in ages

- Congratulating mom, and then dad, on their respective Blackjack Tournament wins... and congraulating Tim on blowing the competition away at the Slots Tournament

- Yelling BINGO and winning over $200 (yes, we are one happy gambling family)

- Seeing the excitement on Samantha, Lucas and Steen's faces when they returned from their treetop adventure on St. Maarten

- Watching Samantha and Tyson take excellent care of their newest cousin, as well as seeing all five of the cousins grow closer to each other as the days passed

- Wandering around Puerto Rico and buying myself the most expensive purse I've ever owned (far beyond my usual JCPenney extravagances)

I'm sure there were plenty more. Times like these are precious to me, especially as we get so little time together with mom and dad or with Tim and Kathi and their kids. I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed ourselves.

Here are some random pictures. Let me know if any of you need an explanation.