If vacation is about loving the ones you love most even more, that is what we did. I love spending a full week with Dave. It is so great to see him more than two hours a day. I love not having to disconnect and reconnect every day. Dave really got to bond with Eva as he danced with her to jazz music, cuddled with her in the hot tub, and laughed at all the funny things she said. Luke was especially sweet and easy to love on the trip and I really enjoyed this. We also learned a lot about love from the people we met. George and Carl went over and above to help us in Tampa. The international cruise staff called Eva a "princess" and lifted her down every stair they could. The staff were so sympathetic if a child was sad and they were equally happy when the kids would bounce down the hallway. The kids were called by name by most of the staff. Rodney brought out an extra chair for Eva's feet when she fell asleep at the restaurant so she could lay flat. Donaldo made us extra towel animals on our bed every night. Older couples on the cruise would tell us what a magical time of life we were in. They would tell us how beautiful our children were and how well behaved. They would tell us to cherish each moment. They would notice every cute thing the kids did. Everyone noticed Eva's dress or swimsuit everywhere we went. I was also struck by the common good among the people on the boat. One day we took a high speed tender into Belize and I was below with the kids while Dave was on top taking pictures. We met a grandmother traveling alone named Eva. We met a school teacher. And we met another woman who sympathized with Luke's heat rash and talked about her son. If Eva would have fallen in between the boat and the pier, I would have jumped into save her, as well as the old Eva, the school teacher, and the other mother. People were so willing to help and so nice to our children. I learned how easy it is to show love to another.
Could she get any happier?
One of the kids favorite activities was riding the elevator up and down from floor 4 to 13.
This was formal night, the second night on the boat.
We went to a performance every night. Eva was especially excited and would suspend herself off the ground by hanging on the plexiglass by the box seat to get a better view.
Luke thought it was all too loud.
This was the last night on the boat, I was already sad it was over. Eva wanted to wear her red dress again.
This is the same room number we had on our last cruise.
We took an entire suitcase of books. Here the kids are doing their lessons.
We will publish a post for every port plus a few of our favorite things. Don't worry, we will not post all 600 pictures.
