Our tropical vacation-starting out.

We decided to drive instead of flying this time- first time we ever took a long car trip with the kids. We were a bit nervous and stocked up on a bunch of stuff...lap desks, journals, coloring pages, activity books, car games. Of course we brought the DVD player with some new movies (always a hit). But the surprise hit was the books on tape I picked up at the library. We listened to several of the Magic Treehouse books, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (one of my favorites growing up- both girls enjoyed it) and Peter and the Starcatchers (that one bored Rebecca a little, but the rest of us loved it!). We started of Friday after work, and got as far as the Best Western in Shepherdsville, KY, just south of Louisville. Got up the next morning and had breakfast at Denny's (complimentary from the hotel) and then hit the road again. We made it to Chatanooga, TN for lunch, and ate at a place called Blacksmith's Bar and Bistro. The girls were crabby (and not hungry) and the service was slow, but we had some really tasty salads. And the restaurant was right across from Lookout Mountain, so after lunch, we watched the train start up, the track- no time to go on, ourselves, but pretty cool. After that the girls napped until we passed Atlanta and hit Starbucks as our afternoon break. We made it to Valdosta, GA for our evening rest (we already had a reservation, or we might have tried to push on a bit. But the girls were getting pretty tired, so it was good to stop when we did). Breakfast in the hotel lobby (where the girls were transfixed by Kit Kittredge playing on the big TV) and then back in the car for the final push. We were preceeding very nicely on schedule, until we hit the Florida tollway, and Rebecca needed to use the restroom. Who knew there were no places to stop off the tollway? A 30 minute detour and I don't know how many extra tolls later, we were finally on our way again. We were excited to see the port, but drove by our turn the first time. I admit to being rather stressed by them time I got everyone dropped off at the terminal and parked the car. Entering security though, I was standing in front of a family having more drama than ours (2 college age kids and their mom- the girls was picking on her mom for holding on to his credit card...they were both old enough to be responsible...then it turned out the girl had packed her passport in her checked luggage!) Finally got on board the Disney Wonder. They take a family photo first and then make a big fanfare of announcing your name and all the staff clap. Our room was ready so we were able to drop off our stuff look around briefly, and then head up to catch the buffet at Parrot Cay. I have to make a comment here about the ships cleanliness. We were so surprised to be met at the entrance to the restaurant by a cast member holding wet wipes. The handed them out at all the restaurants, getting on and off the ships....they're really commited to keeping everyone as healthy as possible! Then we had a bit of free time to drop by the kids club to meeth the staff and have a look around. That place was awesome! The staff was really responsive and involved, and there was always something going on. (and, in return to the cleanliness idea, the kids were always given soap at the entry, and had to go straight to the sinks to wash up). The kids often wanted to go there, even when we didn't have any grown-up stuff to do by ourselves. After that we went back to the room, and called family for one last chat before horrible roaming charges, and then it was time for the lifeboat drill. Ah the fun, of walking around the ship wearing huge life preservers and then standing out in the hot sun in them....the ship across from us (I think it was Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas) was having their life boat drill at the same time...partners in misery :) After putting away the vests, we were able to unpack, and then it was time for the sail away party. We were on the upper deck, so we didn't have a great view of the stage, but could hear the music, and were able to go over the the side of the railing to wave at everyone as we actually set sail! (and, other than feeling a little funny at times, from the motion, I didn't get sea-sick once!!!)