Cruise'n

Grandma Fox and I left from Utah Sat. morning and met Erik who came from Virginia in Ft. Lauderdale Flordia. We Stayed one night at a hotel on the beach and took a little Sunday morning walk on the sand before it was time to meet the rest of the Fam and board the ship.

Ft Lauderdale Beach in Florida 

What was the first thing we did when we boarded? That's right, ATE! And, we didn't stop until the trip was over! ha! After we stuffed our faces we decided to explore the boat. We did a little scavenger hunt thing as we toured to enter a contest to win some prizes.

And guess what? Erik won 2 free Margaritas! Which we later turned in for some yummy virgin drinks! 

Our first stop on the trip was the Island of Princess Cays which is a tiny island owned by the Princess cruise line and it is part of the Bahamas. We enjoyed the sun, explored the island and played a bunch of beach volleyball with some college kids on sprink break, and us Fox's even beat em! I love playing volleyball! We had a blast! 

Now, the Fox family sure can eat! Which is perfect for a cruise! As a lot of you know eatting is kind of a chore to me (besides junk food), so I would have been fine to skip the fancy dinners each night, but that is not how the Fox's roll! haha! You should see how Erik and his family can chow down! I have to admit I did love eating steak almost everynight but, I think my favorite part of going to dinner each night was getting to dress up.

After dinner each night we would look over the agenda and see where we could go party that night! I loved doing somthing fun everynight! From going to the dancing/singing shows, hearing hilarious comedians, watching crazy magicians, dancing, watching byu games, and even just playing cards we were always doing something fun!

At the beginning of the week we were dancing at a "sock hop" and I got tapped on the shoulder and was asked to join a game. I was super nervous beacuse I did not want to have to dance or answer embarrising questions or anything like that but when I found out it was a hulu hoop contest I was siked! I can do that! I won the girls heat then I went against the male winner, but they made me use 5 hulu hoops vs him! I was surpirsed how long I made it, but the guy did beat me. That's okay I still won a prize....a bottle of champagne! aha! Sheesh they were really trying to get us to drink! We decided to make a game out of how many alchohol prizes we could win threwout the week. 

That night Erik's sister Jennifer and I must have had a sip of that champagne because I don't know what got into us but, we decided to go up on stage and Karaoke with the live band! Oh my gosh, good thing we went first because we were pretty awful I'm sure! It was so hard to hear yourself up there with the loud band! We sang "Now I'm a Believer" which is totally meant for a guys voice- ah train wreck! But who cares, we totally had fun jamming up there!

That same night (wow that first night we played hard!) we also played family Jepoardy and learned we are not as smart as we think.

 The next day was spent at sea which meant for Erik and I laying out at the pool, eating, swimming, and I also got a pedicure on the ship with Jennifer that day. Next stop was the island of St. Maarten. Here we walked into town, met the candy man who was super nice and called his friend the taxi driver Tinky (haha- love the locals!) and she took us to the best beach she knew of. It was gorgeous! We were just settling in when our brother in law Taylor decides to jump in alone swim out as far as he can and rest his foot on some coral where he stepped on a sea urchin! Ahh! It shoot tiny quills into his big toe and long story short they were back to the boat to see the doctor and that was the end of the day for them. Major bummer! I felt bad for them. Erik and I figured we wouldn't be much help anyway so we stayed back at the beach and ended up swimming a little bit but by this point we were a little nervous about what was lurking in the waters so we played it safe and rented a kayak and rowed around safely above the water. It was beautiful!

Goats roamed wild all over the place! 

 Next stop- the gorgeous St. Thomas. We actually didn't get to explore this island much at all. We got off our boat and then boarded a sail boat to take us snorkeling with turtles and stingrays. I am not a huge ocean lover, in fact it scares me often, but if I can relax then snorkeling and seeing the magnificent under water marine life is what I would do every day. I love it! As I am floating there with my head under water scanning the ocean bottom seeing all sorts of fish and turtles I seriously felt like singing "A Whole New World!" haha! It is almost magical...it just amazes me. And turtles are so cute! So I am so glad we got to do this excursion it was awesome!

Partying on the sailboat was fun too! The crew was crazy! They came around and gave everyone tattos...even if you refused! ;) Those were not so fun to scrub of. Jennifer is sporting hers in style...

Look at that monster of a ship! We took the Ruby Princess ship on this Cruise and she sure was a Beut! 

Last of all we visited the quaint and historical island of Grand Turk. This was probably my favorite. We had a taxi take us around the whole island giving us a tour. It was really intresting learning about the people and the culture there. Not to mention the gorgeous beaches and water! So beautiful!

                         I got a little carried away taking some scenic pictures, it was simply breathtaking!

The last day was spent at sea where we did some more sun bathing, played some basketball, played mini golf, country danced, watched Tangled out on the deck, and kept eating until our hearts were content! Oh I am still dreaming about those fries and ice cream cones! yummy! Not to mention Erik won another little game, which the prize was, yet again-a bottle of champagne!! This time Erik just told them he didn't drink and they gave him a smoothie! ha! We just need to stop being so lucky! ;)

Erik and I had a fantastic time! What a great way to spend spring break! So, a HUGE thank you to Grandma Fox! It was so nice of her to take us. We had an amazing trip and loved spendning time with her. She is one cool Grandma! Thank you!

Nope, not done...fooled ya! I also thought this was the end of our journey but aparently United airlines had another idea. Grandma Fox and I were traveling home to Utah and had a layover in Denver. (first of all we had been in Ft. lauderdale airport for 8 hours before our flight even left-so we were already very tired!) So we land in Denver and find out our flight had been canceled. No weather issues, just cancelled.

So, i almost immeaditly start crying! I was an emotional wreck! Good thing Grandma was strong for us! I had been missing my baby SO SO much and finally was going to be able to hold her that night and to find out I was going to have to wait killed me!

Anyway, so I find out on the phone that the first flight out is the next evening. uggh! So I book it just in case but march over to the service desk to hopefully get something better or at least some compensation. Well by the time we go through that line 2 1/2 hours later we had met people standing next to us also trying to get home to SLC and have been stuck there for 2 days now and were frustrated and were just going to rent a car and drive. So, we decided to join them. Now, I am a freak when it comes to strangers, so I was super scared! I knew i felt pretty good about it and deep down knew it would be okay but I still was so nervous, which caused more tears when calling family telling them what our plan was. (which I am sure helped there nerves)

Finally we were on the road at 11:00pm (the time we were supposed to land in slc) and on our way home. The man we rode with said he had driven this many times and did not need directions. So I trusted him and conked out in the back seat. I woke up periodically, but really woke up when I got a text from my mom asking where we were (Lucy had woken her up in the middle of the night so she thought she would check on us). So i replied we were in Casper Wy. Now she didn't say so then because she didn't want to freak me out but apparently Casper was about 150 miles in the WRONG direction. Which lead me parents to panick. Best case scenario - I am with a dummy who just doesn't know were he was going or I was being abducted with my 82 year old grandmother! Long story short it was the first scenario, and with my parents encouragment I had the man stop and get some directions at the gas station which I listened to carefully and then stayed awake to help us get home by 10:00am. My parents had my text them every time we got on a new road as a sign we were headed in the right direction! I was grateful they knew what they were talking about and stayed up to help me.

Anyway, not sure i will ride with strangers again, but at least we made it home safe and sound. I felt bad for taking Grandma through the ringer! She was a tough cookie unlike myself! Now I am just working on getting at least a semi refund for our tickets. Uhhh stupid airlines!

Vacation before the Vacation

March 5th 2010 

This year for Erik's Spring Break Grandma Fox was kind enough to take us on a cruise! We were super excited and counted down the days. We decided that both us and Lucy would have more fun if we left her behind with Nana and Poppa. I was happy with this decision but yes, it did kill me to be away from her! I had a few good cries on the cruise...I missed her so much. And what I feared most happened, I got home and go to hold her and she screams and cries and goes to my mom instead! Which lead me to cry some more...i was so mad! It took only a few hours for her to either remember who I was or forgive me for leaving her, I am still trying to figure that one out. But either way, we made up, and I don't think I will be leaving her behind for that long again anytime soon. 

Anyways back to before the trip. So, Lucy and I headed out to Utah a week before the cruise so I could get Lucy a little used to my family before I left her. I think she warmed up nicely don't you? 

Sheesh! What a stinker! I tried to get a picture with her Grandma Lucile and she was not having it! She pretty much acted like this with everyone for most the week before I left. She warmed up to the kids and actually my Dad pretty well but I had to stay close by.

We had a few visitors while we we were there. My cousins Ashley and Carly came over with there kids. It was so fun to catch up with them. Above is Carly's adorable chunk Jude. He is about 5 months younger than Lucy and weighs 1lb more! ha! And you should see his tiny Momma! It's so fun now relating to my cousins as Mothers, so weird! Thanks for coming by girls! 

My besties from H.S. Lauren and Kim (oh and Cameron, Lauren's hubby) also came up from Provo to visit, it is always so great to get together with my closest friends in the world, I love those girls! (and you two Cammy!) 

  My best friend from elementary School Nicole also came by with her little girl Kate, it was awesome to see her as well. I wish I had taken a picture! 

My Brothers and Gracie were ALL over this girl! From the moment we got there at 10pm they were swarming her. Lucy now is so lonely without all the attention! 

This was a typical after school scene at our house...mob Lucy time! Once in a while I would have to say, everyone please just take a scoot back! 

 I thought this was so cute! Lucy never holds still like this for me or Erik. One night during family scripture study she just laid like this on uncle Brigham's lap for like 10 minutes!

 While I was still there my Mom, Lucy, Gracie, Isaac and I went to see Disney on Ice. I was a little nervous Lucy would be super wiggly and grumpy especially it being so late at night but she LOVED IT! I am not kidding she literally sat on the edge of my lap bouncing up and down to the music for the WHOLE SHOW! And I mean like intense bouncing, I got tired! My Mom and I couldn't believe it, it was hilarious! She just danced and clapped through the entire thing. It made me soo happy! This is why having kids makes things so much more fun! Disney is so magical! Oh I loved it!

 We even let Lucy try her first lollipop! (that was a mistake!) Sooo messy! But she sure enjoyed it!

 I thought this picture was too cute! Lucy really liked my Dad, which I think made my Dad feel pretty darn special! (I think he kinda likes her too!) When I got back from my trip we celebrated my birthday and one of the presents was more for Lucy but it was a little book my family had made of pictures of each of them with Lucy so she would remember them. My brothers also each tried to teach her a sign to associate with there names (something we did when Isaac was a baby) and it worked! They were so proud of themselves and are hoping she will remember for when we go back in July!

When people hear I traveled alone with Lucy they usually ask how the flights went. So I am happy to report that both went well. I got direct flights thank goodness and on the way there even though it was late she of course didn't sleep and it was basically a wrestling match the whole way there, but she didn't seem to disturb any one else, just me. So I will take it, but I was exhausted! And on the way home the Lord knew I needed a break (traveling home from Florida 2 days earlier was a nightmare...i will tell you about that later) so the sweet flight attendant got me and Lucy a whole row to ourselves! Lucy even slept for about an hour! Oh it was amazing!
We were so glad to be home after a long trip- Erik was elated to see Lucy after going almost 3 weeks without her. Which btw she let him hold her pretty much immediately...no fair!