March Moments - 2017 Trip to Dallas and Cruise to Cozumel

We have been looking forward to going with Craig and Cassie's family on a cruise ever since they invited us at Christmas time!  So, on the 28th of February, 2017, we flew out to Dallas!

First things first:  Kennedy needed to get her hair trimmed for the cruise!

Then, of course, she needed her nails done!

Yes, she really looked like a princess now--but she doesn't want you to call her that.  She thinks she has grown out of that!  Hah!

Cameron was going to Spain for work, Sydney and Jaxon were going to New York with their Wilson grandparents, so we were thrilled that Anne and the two younger boys, Mason and Gavin, were going on the cruise, too!  Here they were all looking at the book Grandpa and I gave them about our last vacation together when we went to Hawaii.
On Thursday, March 2nd, we headed to the Port of Galveston in two cars.  We stopped along the way for the kids to get a little lunch.

 The ship we were sailing on was the Carnival Valor sailing for five days/four nights with a stop at Cozumel, Mexico.

Waiting at the port to get on the ship.  The kids were all so excited to start their adventures!

Kennedy looking through the window of the ramp just before boarding.

Gavin and Mason walking through the main entry hall where the elevators could be seen going to all the floors.
 
One of the first things the kids did after boarding the ship, was head straight for the ice cream machine!

We then headed up on the upper deck.  We had lots of fun playing some games there while we waited for the ship to leave the port.

This is one of Grandpa George's favorite games--and he's pretty good at it, too!

Dawson loved being out doors, but he stayed pretty close to his mother!  From then on, it was a little difficult to get used to the movement of the ship, so he would rather have someone carry him or sit with him.
 Leaving the port of Galveston.

 

A "must" for Kennedy was to have her picture taken by a real photographer in front of the ship.

 She definitely "nailed it!"
The day we left port was March 2nd, which just happened to be Dr. Seuss's birthday, so there was a huge table with all kinds of goodies in honor of his birthday.

We ate dinner first, then afterwards we headed back to this wonderland of wonderful treats.

Gavin and Mason both got to be in the Dr. Seuss parade and marched through the ship with the other children on board.
 


 The rooms were quite small, but with only George and me, they weren't too bad.  Craig and Cassie were definitely the ones who had the most crowded room!  And the first night was really rough, so I think that Cassie got a half hour of sleep with kids who couldn't sleep and some of them had coughs!  It definitely went uphill from there as everyone got more used to the arrangements and the ship wasn't rocking as much! 

Gavin wanted to pose like this because he said that's the way his dad would have done it!  Hah!

Dinner times were always so much fun as we ate together as a family and always had so much to discuss!
 
We all laughed when little Dawsy stabbed his tomato with his crayon to eat it.

 Riley loved the chocolate lava cake with ice cream.

 Every night we wondered how many different types of ice cream Grandpa would order.

 Definitely the favorite food was the cherries each night!  Those kids LOVED the cherries. 
 

Soon the waiter was bringing plates full of cherries!

One night I saw Craig putting Dawson's shoe on, so I quickly snapped this picture.  It reminded me of this same instance 34 years ago when Craig's dad was putting on his shoe.  So sweet!

Most of the nights during dinner, the waiters would dance and get everyone involved by clapping and waving their napkins.

The kids absolutely LOVED doing this!

Mason really got into it!

One evening, a magician came around to the tables.  He was really fun!  The kids got to see him do a whole show in the Kids' Club.
 Grandma Laura and Grandpa George
  Mason, Gavin, and Anne
 Craig, Dawson, Riley, Kennedy, and Cassie

We tried to attend all the shows that were kid friendly.  The kids were so good and really enjoyed themselves!
 

Another one of my favorite pics--a little girl getting to dance with her daddy!

The kids really enjoyed playing cards after the night show before they went to bed.  They especially loved "War."

There were always yummy things to eat on board!

Even though they loved the ship, when we reached the port at Cozumel, the kids couldn't wait to get off!

The beach with all the inflatable water toys was really a hit with the kids!

But little Dawsy loved the pool the most!  It didn't move and it didn't get sand between his toes!

Cozumel was a hit!

After a few hours at the beach and pool, we headed back to the ship.

With so many people off the ship, it was a perfect time to have more room in the hot tub . . .

and a perfect time for hardly any lines on the ship's water slide!  Kennedy wasn't sure she wanted to try it, but ended up going down it dozens of times--as fast as she could get to the top again--just like the boys were doing!

This definitely was one of the highlights of the trip for the kids!!!

Heading out of Cozumel, there was the most beautiful rainbow.  Yes, the end of a perfect day!


 

Another favorite activity was when each of the kids made a Build-a-Bear.

Each of the kids chose a different animal and couldn't have been more thrilled!  Kennedy was holding Dawson's because he was asleep during this time.

Grandpa George and Grandma Laura with the grand kids and their Build-a-Bears!

More special memories:  Dawson doing a selfie with his Grandpa George

The night all three big boys wore the same shirt--we called them "The Three Musketeers!"

We absolutely had the best time and so appreciate Craig and Cassie's kind invitation to come on this cruise!  We're so glad that Anne, Mason, and Gavin, also, came.  This was definitely a time together that we will never forget!

All too soon, we were back at the Galveston Port and were heading back to Dallas.  The kids got one more special treat on the way home.  Good thing they have a dentist for a dad!

After returning to Dallas, Grandpa George and I gave little Dawson his birthday presents for his two-year-old birthday which he would celebrate just a few days after we needed to leave.
  (Sorry, no birthday paper, but snowmen at this time of year seemed appropriate.  Hah!)

Happy Birthday, Dawsy!

So many special memories from this wonderful time in Dallas and our cruise to Cozumel.  Again, thanks so much, Craig and Cassie!  We appreciate your invitation and the many kindnesses you showed us!