Our Fun Family Vacation

I've been telling Ben for years that a cruise would be the ideal vacation for us. Ben loves to see lots of different places, but I dislike packing and unpacking multiple times on a single trip away from home. With the addition of two toddlers it seemed like an even better idea because Carnival Cruise Lines accepts two-year-olds into their daycare program (the only cruise line that does). We could spend some time all together and some time sans kids. I first tried to book a 7-day cruise, but Ben, claiming that the kids would be bored, convinced me to stick to a 5-day cruise. It took me longer than it should have to realize that Ben was really afraid that HE would get bored, not the kids.

For you cruise lovers out there, please don't be offended by our post-cruise opinions. To sum things up, we all got bored. Kate and James didn't care for the daycare program; we don't gamble, we don't drink; Ben doesn't participate in hairy chest contests; we don't sunbathe; we don't swim in unheated pools; we couldn't read books while entertaining two-year-olds; a few hours at a port wasn't nearly enough time to us to even feel like we had been to a new city (Ben likened it to a long layover at an airport in a cool city); and, as Ben put it, I "locked him in a Chuck-a-Rama for five days."

Nonetheless, we had a fantastic vacation! It was fun (but exhausting!) to be with James and Kate for 10 whole no-work days. They loved nearly every part of the vacation, which included: packing and pulling their own suit cases; flying on an airplane; riding in multiple taxis (they have no problem recognizing them now, see here); going to Sea World; staying in a hotel; being on a "really big boat"; going to the beach in Cabo, Mexico; a short excursion in Ensenada, Mexico; staying with Aunt Sherri, Uncle Sam, Baby Daniel, and Lucie in California; going to Disneyland; and going to the beach in California.

Below are a few, okay, several, pictures of our adventures.

James was so excited to have his own suitcase. He saw it in the car a few days before we left on vacation and insisted that he have it immediately. He dragged it around on the driveway and in the house until the time finally came to pack his clothes in it and leave for vacation. He never let it out of his sight at the airport (how responsible) and always kept track of where it was in the car, hotel, or ship.

Kate with her Elmo suitcase. She also liked having her own suitcase, but isn't quite as obsessed with the notion as James. And, she was more than willing to let Mom or Dad carry it most of the time.

The end of a fun day at Sea world. Ben made sure we sat in the Splash Zone for both the dolphin and whale shows. The kids loved having the animals get them wet and asked for more when each show ended.

James was the only one willing to play in the cold water of the pool. He loved it. He even picked a water fight with two kids twice his age. They went easy on him.

Kate preferred to relax in the sun next to me.

Beach play with our ship, the Elation, in the background.

Ben spent the afternoon helping James and Kate dig holes, castles, mountains, etc. in the sand. I loved watching them play from my beach chair in the shade of an umbrella.

Ben and James spent a little time in the water.

Kate and James loved playing on the beach. They could have spent our entire vacation just playing in the sand.

Kate busy at work.

James lounging after some hard work in the sun.

A little pause for some kid time during our port excursion in Ensenada, Mexico.

Kate has become quite a ham. James likes to say she's "such a tease." This picture offers a glimpse of how she made us laugh each day on our vacation.

Kate and Pluto. Kate loved meeting all the Disney characters. She gave each she met a big hug.

Kate and Donald Duck.

Kate and Mickey.

James loved to look at the characters, but when it came time to actually get close and pose with one, no thank you. This is the best we got of him with Mickey.

James aboard Dumbo with Aunt Sherri and Cousin Daniel.

Such a cutie!

The end of a very long, but fun day at the Happiest Place on Earth. This is the only picture (of ten) where neither James nor Kate is picking their nose.

The beach on Balboa Island, California. They are STANDING under all that sand.

The Sand Master modeling his creation.

Our gracious California hosts (Uncle Sam, Aunt Sherri, Baby Daniel, and their dog Lucie (not pictured)).

Uncle Sam reading a Czech bedtime story to Kate. So cute!