Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Once again, the water was magnificent. I loved looking at the water and seeing all the different colors. There were so many shades of blue and green and I really wanted to go snorkeling or diving and really experience it.

Jamaica was very dirty. It was so sad to see all the trash and litter everywhere in what could be, an amazingly beautiful place. I couldn't believe how bad it really was in some places along our drive to the falls. It was sickening and maddening. There is no reason whatsoever for it and I really was quite aggravated. Thankfully, we arrived at the falls before I could get more perturbed. Dunn's River Falls was awesome. It is a 600 ft. waterfall that flows into the ocean. We walked down to the beach where we started our ascent. We had so much fun climbing the falls. We had a really fun guide and we were able to climb the more challenging side of it. The falls were just absolutely gorgeous. The water, the greenery, the vines, the exotic flowers all hanging above and around us while we climbed. They told everyone you had to purchase or rent watershoes to climb. Dell had appropriate shoes but I had flipflops. I decided I could do it barefoot and so I did. They tried to talk me out of it, but I had a feeling it was all just another scam to make more money anyway and it was. The rocks were very smooth and super easy to climb on. The whole experience was great and definately our favorite thing we did on the cruise. I'm so sad though because we had a waterproof camera and took tons of pics, but the cruise ship messed up the film while developing. So sad. I guess that's what we get for being impatient......
After the falls we went to Bamboo Beach Club and yes, I let them talk me into getting braids. They didn't have to do much talking though 'cause I always wanted to get my hair braided. So I did it and now I can check that off my list :) This beach wasn't great like in Grand Cayman and we were a little disappointed. We really couldn't even walk down the beach comfortably. We were told before we left the ship that there would be people asking us to buy drugs(among other things) and sure enough, they were ready and waiting for you if you ever walked away from the "club" and wanted to just walk down the beach. It was really ridiculous.

Here's a pic of the huts we would've had to walk past if we wanted to walk down the beach. There were so many people just waiting for you to walk past the sign onto "their turf." If we could've just walked a ways down past them, it looked like there were pristine, beautiful and vacant beaches down there. But,we decided we'd just not experience the unpopulated beaches of Jamaica and stay in our designated section of beach and lay in the lounger which may have been lame, but safe.

If you venture out on your own in these type places and don't make it back in time, the ship will leave you but if for some reason your on a cruiseship approved excursion, they have to wait. Anyways, we didn't want the hastle of the hagglers. They are very pushy.

So I liked and disliked Jamaica. I liked and appreciated the beautiful places we saw and experienced. But I couldn't help but to be saddened by the sight of so much litter and trash everywhere and the beauty of the place fading away from neglect and waste and that mentality of living being passed on to future generations. It's also so sad to see that the people that live there, either know no other way to live, or they just choose to live like that and if they choose, why do they choose that? Jamaica definately had beautiful places, but there was just so much needless abuse of nature that took away from the experience. I just wonder how many people really notice it. Was I the only person on the bus upset by it? I saw a few parts of a beautiful Jamaica, but I also saw more parts that were repulsive. You definately wouldn't have seen that on the Go Jamaica commercials or the Sandals resort brochure. I guess all I can say is, I definately saw the stain of sin from fallen man on display. The total disregard for creation and its Creator was evident in more places than not....... or maybe it was the area we were in....I don't know. Visiting Jamaica was bittersweet. It was sweet climbing a 600 ft. waterfall overlooking the ocean but it made me bitter when we got to the top and there was trash on the banks of the little river. So sad. So wasteful.....

Grand Cayman

The water was gorgeous in Grand Cayman.... We walked around town for a little while and then took a cab over to 7 mile beach. What's funny is we only paid $16.00 for a ride there and back and the people who booked 7 mile as their "excursion" through the ship paid $34.00 per person. We were happy about our good deal !!!!
The beach wasn't crowded which was a huge plus for us. We were able to really enjoy our time.

The beach and sand were beautiful and the water was warm. Dell even got in and went swimming which is really saying something. I of course swam and swam and floated for a really long time. It was beautiful and I loved every moment of it!

We really didn't do anything. Just layed on the beach and soaked up the sun. We'd read awhile, watch people awhile and then get sleepy and take a nap. I love napping in the sun. There's nothing quite like it. We loved our lazy, peaceful and relaxing day in Grand Cayman and it was definately one of the highlights of our trip.

Key West

So we weren't very thrilled that Key West was one of our stops. We had just gone camping there a couple years ago and didn't find it all that thrilling then. But, we walked around for about 1 1/2- 2 hours ( where we took this silly, typical tourist photo) and then we spent the rest of the day on the boat. It was nice because the majority of the people were out in town and so we just layed around and enjoyed the beautiful day and fresh air. We layed on the deck of the ship most of the cruise. I loved it !!!
Rick's final "business" call of the trip.

Enough with the paparrazi already!!!

Docked in Key West.

Setting Sail

1st picture taken aboard the Carnival Freedom. We didn't know how much fun and relaxation we were in for. I never thought I'd like cruising as much as I did. That was true relaxation.
Our great friends and sailing companions for the week.... Rick and Annette. We really had so much fun with them. One of our favorite pastimes was peoplewatching. We laughed so much!!! We also layed in our lounge chairs a whole bunch as well as eating plenty of frozen yogurt. Good times!!!

So the entire ship had to do a lifeboat drill. We talked and laughed and decided that if our ship were to start to go down, that we were in a great escape location.

Leaving port in Ft. Launderdale.

This is looking back at the port. Off we sailed into the night......

Are You Wearing My Sweaters?

So today, I put my personal preferences aside and let my kids wear my sweaters. I turn around in the kitchen and there they were. Both of my favorite sweaters were on Haley and Jackson. So I asked,"Why are you wearing my sweaters? You guys have a ton of your own clothes." They went on to explain that they were living in the Arctic and needed the sweaters to keep them warm while they hunted for their food. I asked what they were hunting and they said,"Anything. Our children are hungry." (Jordan and Jacob were their children although Jacob was a dog too pulling the "sled.") So I proceeded to give them the go ahead and I laughed and laughed as I listened to their conversations and play. By the way, this was not long after we had watched the Arctic video from the Planet Earth series they got for Christmas. They were inspired!
Sweater #1~ my favorite thrift store find...

Sweater#2~ My favorite Kohl's clearance buy

The masterminds behind the days storyline.

Maybe they could earn us some extra cash in modeling???? LOL....

Their 1st Time Cross Country

It was a beautiful, yet very cold day for their first time on the trails. It was 8 degrees and once again a negative wind chill. We had alot of fun and they did so well. I used to love cross country skiing as a kid and so glad my kids love it too. (they have been 2 more times in the past week.)
They only fell a couple times each and that was at the bottom of a few hills where the trail curved. I was very impressed with how easy it came to them.

We are so blessed to have access to the equipment here at camp. It would be very expensive to outfit a family of 6 with ski's and snowshoes!

The sun was starting to set on our way back to camp and it was beautiful. I love being outside and breathing in clean, crisp air and spending time with my kids, actively enjoying all that God created us to enjoy!

I'm so glad Haley and Jackson convinced me to take them out to ski when I thought I was "too busy." I know how much I enjoy being out on the trails and seeing the joy on their faces when I chose them over monotony was priceless.

Tubing at Ski Hill

So this is what you call the "man run" on the tubing hill... the last run of the day, the shirts come off and down they go! These guys were nuts 'cause this day it was 5 degrees with wind chill of about -20. Crazy loons!!!
Jackson getting ready to head up on the tow line.

Jordy's next....

....and then there's Jacob who just wanted to eat snow. It was yet another, fun day on the hills!