Disney Cruise

I'm pretty sure that he was the most excited out of everyone.  He was so hilarious in the airport!

Writing up this post just solidified that we definitely need to do this again.  Maybe on a different cruise line.  Just reminiscing about all the fun we had, but most importantly thinking about how awesome these kids are!  Each of them came to us after tragedy and they didn't get a say in the matter because they were obviously too young.  Their bithmoms and families were doing their very best with the very difficult situations they were in!! Its a constant reminder of the unfairness of it all and the motivation we need to never stop trying to be better parents to them.  They all deserve perfection, but they will have to settle for us.

Mikey got sick on the plane

The Ship

We finally arrived on the ship.  First thing I did was take a bunch of family pictures.  If you don't take pictures then the kids don't even remember it.  We were spending so much money they better remember it! We all kinda got sick the second day and me the second and third day, but it wasn't ever that bad.  We took some ginger pills and that helped but it knocked us out.  We all slept for like 10 hours one night.

This was the closest we came to taking pictures with characters.  The kids weren't that interested in the characters, just everything else.

This was my favorite part of the ship.  Sitting on Deck 4 while all the kids were swimming on Deck 9 or in the kids club.  Just sitting there listening to the ocean was so amazing!  I loved it!  Michael and I even got a few hours of alone time a day.  I'd do it again!

                

               

Pirate Night with a big party on deck complete with fireworks!  It was a pretty good show.  The littles got into it but the teenagers were too cool for it.

Kellan saved the confetti from one of the shows.  He was devastated when it spilled all over the deck.

                    

                            They definitely swam for most of the time they were on the ship.

Jayla and Jessa were MIA most of the time on the ship.  Jessa would watch the boys at the pool a lot and Jayla loved that she could get ready as slow as she wanted.  These two would explore the ship together and it was so fun seeing them bond so much on the trip.  We definitely all got closer.

This was the kids' favorite part.  To be able to eat and swim, eat and swim, eat and swim.  They loved having all this food by the pool and all the ice cream that they could eat.  They would disappear often and we would always find them in the ice cream line.  One time Quinton and Lucas got out of the pool to go get ice cream.  Lucas got too cold so ran back to the hot tub, well his sweet brother Quinton waited in line for them both and brought him back some ice cream.  then they sat there talking and eating ice cream together.  That's the kind of stuff we were going for on this trip.

Kellan made it a goal to eat as much ice cream every day.  Once day he ate 7 cones!

Our stateroom was amazing!  The double bathroom and connecting rooms made it seem so much bigger.  Definitely a must when we cruise again!

Cozumel Mexico

The first port we took a bus to a resort and it was epic.  There was an obstacle course, we got drinks and food on the beach, there were pools with slides, we had beach chairs right on the water.  We could have spent all week just at this one resort.  It was the absolute best!  This one was my favorite part of the trip.  The kids said it was worth the extra cost.  We didn't want to go back to the ship, but when we did we were greeted with more good food and entertainment.

kellan raced me on the obstacle course.  He beat me, but he wore his shoes and cheated.  I slipped and fell and almost ripped my swimsuit clean off.  Pretty sure a couple dads saw the whole thing.  Good times!

These two paled around the entire day.  They are so cute together!  So grateful they have each other!  The girls are always so cute with the little boys!  I couldn't have asked for a more perfectly set up family!  They made the trip easy!

Swam back with these three to get our snorkel gear!  They were the cutest!

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This is what Mikey does when he is content and completely relaxed.  I have a picture of him doing the exact same thing the first day we brought him home from the hospital after his TBI.

Not old just yet, but getting there!

I think this was Lucas's favorite part!  Drinks on the beach!  So epic!

                             

Sad to be leaving already.  Wish we had more time, but getting back to the relaxation on the ship.

                             Lucas had to have his guitar!  The only thing he wanted in Mexico.

                             

Grand Caymans

We ported here and didn't have much time. Michael took the little boys to the beach and I took the oldest 4 on a snorkel excursion.  We saw some amazing fish including a blowfish, parrot fish, and a bunch of tropical fish.  We also got to snorkel near a shipwreck.  The kids caught on quickly.  Now we only need to figure out how to dive.

Landing on the dock at the port with the ship in the background!  Such an epic trip.

                  

The little boys were in heaven in the warm water with tiny waves!  It was so beautiful!  Wish we could have stayed longer.

Quinton dug a hole and then fell asleep for a good 15 minutes on the beach.  The water was so warm and calm that the little boys loved it so much!

These four did so great!  They had a blast and I didn't even have to help them.  Can't wait to go on more adventures with them!

                                                       Model pose.  Yes please.

So much fun!  I miss these guys as babies, toddlers, preschoolers and I always will, but they are such fun tweenagers!

Dinner Time

 Dinner was pretty entertaining!  We kept our servers busy.  We spilled drinks, demanded magic tricks, ordered multiple desserts, broke a glass, and were loud and messy.  Apparently, they knew this ahead of time because we always sat in the corner of the dining rooms.  Our servers were the best and so patient and happy with us through it all.

Quinton had to get a picture with all the characters, but whenever a princess came around he would go stoic and wouldn't even look up from his plate.  We asked him if he wanted to get a picture with Tangled and he refused.  He said, "nope! I don't!" And wouldn't even look over at her.  Later on Valentine's day I asked Quinton if he has a girlfriend at school and he looks over at me, gives me a hug and says, nope, only you mom!"  I'm ok with that.

                   

                   

           

The "magic man." Lucas would spot Witt all over the ship and ask him to do magic tricks.  Lucas would start to do his own and we would pretend to be impressed.  Lucas said over and over, "This is the best boat EVER!"  Definitely worth it!  these kids are so so so fun!