Monday, June 7, 2010

Project 365 - Week 23

Week 22.
Many thanks go out to Lisa at Blessed for hosting Project 365 while I was gone.  It really was good for me to completely unplug for the week!!

We had so much fun on our cruise........really, how could you not?!!!  
I loved being with my family and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with each of them.  Though Steve and I had been on this cruise before (for our 20th anniversary just a "few" years ago), we saw all new things.  

And I have to tell you how much I enjoy being able to get an ice cream cone any time I wanted!!! 
heaven!  :)
take a look... 
Sunday
 everyone is here and gathering in the lobby

We are on board!!!!

At our muster station waiting for our safety instructions.
Monday
1st day at sea

deck chair + pool = great day!

the grandparents with all the grandkids

my 77 year old mom dancing at family disco night!!!!
love her!

Tuesday
We stopped in Haiti today.  
This is the view from the top of the zip line we went down!

The kids harnessed and ready to go down

Jason heading down....this was such a rush!!!

after a great day on the beach, we ended it with a rousing game of Mexican train!

Wednesday
mom and dad getting off the ship in Jamaica

our day started with a beach day

The water was a.ma.zing!!!

We ended the day at Dunn River Falls...
..in the pouring rain.
our one disappointment of the trip, we didn't get to walk up the falls.  The water was just too dangerous with all the rain coming down!!!
Thursday
we ported in Grand Cayman today.
waiting on our excursion to leave

first we swam with stingrays on a sandbar in the ocean...
these were wild stingrays...and it was the coolest thing ever!!!
They were all around us and so friendly

we then went to a reef to snorkel
and ended up on the beach for lunch
this is my brother and his family

 I could get used to this view!!!
aren't those colors incredible?!
Friday
Today we are in Cozumel and this was a long HOT day..

We started on a 45 minute ferry ride to the mainland.
I think this was the hottest ride ever....we were miserable and I am sure sweated off 5+ pounds!

we then took an hour "semi" cool bus ride to the Mayan ruins

the Mayan ruins were so interesting!!
what you don't see are the umbrellas they gave us to walk around with because it was so hot and humid!! or all the iguanas an snakes we saw!!!  ick!

after the ruins, we of course went to a beach.
it was so beautiful but most of us had had enough of the sun and spent the afternoon playing Mexican train....our driver was enthralled with it!

 ended a long but great day back on the ship with with some yummy COLD drinks!!!
 Saturday
today was an at sea day and we had some excitement.
half way through the day the captain announced that the ship was turning around...

there was a small boat of refugees (we are assuming from Cuba) in trouble and sinking and we were the closest ship to them.  They were turning around to attempt a rescue!

There were planes in the sky circling the boat and a coastguard speed boat got to them before us.  The refugee boat is the small spec to the left.  We were told there were 8 people aboard, but have no idea what happened to them.  I can't imagine being out on that water, in a small boat, in trouble.

people were lined up on the front of the ship to see it all play out.....and capitalism was in full swing, they were actually out there selling beer and drinks to the people as they watched....sheesh.

Having the same waiters all week, you get to know them pretty well and they get to know you.  We had the BEST wait staff and thoroughly enjoyed them.  Our head waiter was from India and so much fun.  However, she was having an awful time with a tooth ache and wouldn't be able to see a dentist for another week.  My family had the awesome privilege of praying over her!


Well, that was my week....

...and now it is back to reality...

...and tons of laundry.

ugh!

Thanks again, Lisa, for hosting!!!

17 comments:

LuAnn said...

Looks like a great time !!!! Many memories... Seeing the water, oh the ice cream, the sting rays etc. Made me ache for another cruise.
When we saw the sting rays we fed them and I screamed when they rubbed against my leg. I have a lot to tell you ~ just have to take the time to type it all. WELCOME HOME - I missed you !!!!

Willys and Elizabeth (Lizzie) said...

Looks like an amazing week! What cruise line did you go on? The stops on your cruise looked wonderful... It sure did look like you had an amazing vacation... isnt family time so wonderful!

McCrakensx4 said...

Not jealous at all...OK maybe a little bit jealous! What a fantabulous trip! Love all of that beautiful blue water! What great memories! So glad you had a great time!

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Sara, I have been OUT of the blog loop for a couple of weeks and am SO GLAD I popped in to see all these wonderful, amazing photos. THE MEMORIES made on this trip are PRECIOUS!

May the laundry be DONE in NO time!!

Tori said...

Amazing!! I love it all and wish I was there too!! I totally want to disco dance with your family!! :)
I have to say that Jason looks older in all the pics. Is that because he's a graduate now?
I love that even though you are on vacation you are still the normal Bowyer family, praying over people and intriguing them with your games!

Mocha with Linda said...

Wow, what great pictures! It was fun seeing your mom dancing, especially since I got to meet her!

Darla said...

i really enjoyed seeing your cruise...i love how i have followed your family long enough to remember when your daughter bought those black dress shoes...hehe. you took some wonderful photos out there, great memories. :)

H-Mama said...

What an amazing-fun-memory-filled vacation! I love your pictures... and had no idea you were going with so many family members. What a blessing.

The Bug said...

Welcome back! It looks like you had a great time. I'm glad you were able to do it all as a family.

Unknown said...

It looks like you had a wonderful time - what a great chance to hang out, be adventerous and make some great memories!
Zip-line lookin' a little freaky!

Skoots1moM said...

GREAT trip...
the zip line looks like it lands in the water...did it?
Our boat had an option for the ruins but we decided to go snorkeling instead...it was HOT!
Love WHERE you got to play Mexican train (so appropriate) under the palm tiki ...what FUN!!
and what a GREAT group of family
wonderful memories

Ohilda said...

I'm making my way back to the blogging world. I sure have missed you! Your trip sounds absolutely wonderful. So glad you had a good time.

Hugs!

The Davidson Den said...

I so enjoyed reading this post!!! The color of the sea is just stunning! And I love hearing about all the details of your trip. The zip line looks like fun, love Mexican Train, cool stingray experience, and ice cream anytime?! (Bring it on!) Can you tell I've never been on a cruise? I think it would be fun, but I'm a little wary of getting seasick. That's so awesome that you guys prayed over your waitress. You just never know how much that may impact her life.
So glad you guys had a wonderful trip!!

Karin said...

Looks like an awesome vacation! So glad you had fun and great weather (except for the one rainy day). The water...oh my word...gorgeous! Glad you're back! :)

Lisa said...

Wow, wow and wow! Looks like a near perfect time. What a blessing to see so many family pics of the 5 of you...all together! Beautiful see pics and I love the one of Jason jumping in. I swear I saw him the other day, driving around my town. Impossible, but it got me to thinking how weird it would be to actually stumble on someone who you only know through a blog. :)

Thanks for such a great recap!

He & Me + 3 said...

What an awesome time. Your mom on the dance floor is so cute. She looks so great for 77...I would have never guessed her age. Beautiful.
WE love mexican train...such a fun game.
The water looks so wonderful and those drinks look yummy. What a great trip.
Welcome back. I forgot to link up last week...but I did it. i am ready to go for tomorrow too. I hope i remember to link up. Life is so busy.

Debra said...

Sara, it looks like you and your family had a fantastic time together, despite the long hot ferry ride. lol