QOTD

Me: "F, we have a totally free day today, what should we do?  Museum, Botanic Gardens, Wildlife Experience?"

F: "We should go to Toys For Us and check out all the Amazing Toys."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm also going to borrow someone else's QOTD because it involved FFM.

Last week we were at a playdate with our friend Andrew.  Andrew is the oldest of three boys.  The boys ate lunch together and played for a couple hours and it was time for us to leave.  We were headed out the door to the car and Andrew asked,

"Is your little brother in the car?"

F gave him a puzzled look while Andrew asked again.  I quickly explained that no, we did not leave F's brother in the car for the entire playdate, that F didn't have any brothers, it was just him.  Then it was Andrew's turn to look puzzled while his mom kindly stepped in to explain.

Late Night Football

As a parent and football fan, the final minutes of the ball game tonight were a struggle.  The Broncos are finally turning into a real team and played an exciting fourth quarter.  Said fourth quarter all happened after 9pm our time which is well after 4 year old bedtime.  I attempted to restrain myself, but after a great running play which ended in a touchdown a rather raucous cheer escaped which was so loud it woke FFM.  Guess I better work on my silent cheer technique for future late games.

Sans Kiddo

For years Travis and I talked about taking a trip for our 10 year anniversary.  If you haven't guessed by now we kind of like to travel.  About two years ago we decided to go to the German Christmas markets, but after a long cold winter last year that didn't sound quite right to us anymore.  We totally ditched Germany in lieu of a cruise.  We wanted to be gone more than 4-5 days, less than 14, and between Halloween and Thanksgiving.  We didn't want to go to Europe or just island hop around the Caribbean.  Panama?  Cool!  Did FFM come?  Nope!

Ahhh.....beach day in the Bahamas.  Bahamas in November?  Perfect.  

 Sunset in Aruba.

 Floating markets in Curacao.
The vendors sail up from Venezuela and sell their wares.  

They sleep in the hammocks above their fruit until it's time to go back to restock.

 Relaxing on deck as we prepare to depart Curacao.

 This is on deck before dawn the morning we sailed into the Panama Canal.  

The lights are the line of ships waiting their turn.  Our ship paid a hefty reservation fee for a specific time slot so we didn't have to wait in line.

 Entering the first lock of the Panama Canal.  These are the Gatun Locks on the Atlantic side.  1 of 3 locks on this side, there are another set on the Pacific side separated by Gatun Lake.

 It absolutely POURED rain on us in Panama.  October and November are the rainiest months there, they average about 11 feet of rain a year, most of it in Oct/Nov (so we were told...).  Other facts, our ship was just a few feet shy of the largest size that can go through the locks and it cost nearly $500,000 in fees for passage.  Traffic is heavy in the locks, you can see a ship ahead of us and one in the locks next to us.  During the morning the larger ships go through so they have plenty of daylight time to make the passage all the way through.  Smaller vessels are allotted later time slots.

 The 'mules' are little trains that guide the ship through the locks.  They do not pull the ship, simply make sure that it stays in position without banging around left to right.  As you can see we had about 2 feet to spare.  

 Did I mention it poured?  It was a three change of clothes day.  

Here you can also see the ship that came in right behind us using the other set of locks next door.

 Going up...

 We tendered ashore in Panama from the lake after the first set of locks.  It was a bit surreal to dash around in the tiny tenders as massive cargo ships meandered around.  The green and white ship is a car transport and just out of the right side of the frame was a tanker.

 In Panama we chose to stay in the canal and in the lake instead of going ashore so we left the tenders and got right on another boat.  We cruised around the tiny islands that dot the lake and kept our eyes open for wildlife.

 Do you think we had a good time?

 Hey!  Some wildlife!  White Faced Capuchin.  We also came across howler monkeys, a giant crocodile, toucan, turtles, and some iguana.

 Our guide dug up a granola bar (hmmm...think he's ever done that before?) and asked if anyone wanted to try to feed the monkey.  Our geriatric crew was reluctant, but I was a willing volunteer.  Those monkeys have grip.

 Next stop, Costa Rica.  We adored Costa Rica, even though the Atlantic coast averages 22 feet of rain and it was seriously damp.  Lucky for us, it was just damp and NOT pouring rain on the day we were there.  We spent our day at an animal refuge and botanic garden.  A sharp eyed person spotted a wild sloth high up in the trees during our nature walk.

 In the reserve the sloths are prepared for life back in the wild but until then you can get up close and personal and watch them just hanging out.  They are beautiful and so interesting but react so slowly it was comical.  The leaves they eat make them high and lethargic all the time so they look a bit like stoned muppets.

 We got a bonus side trip to a banana plantation where we saw the trees held up with guy wires because the bananas are so much heavier than they should be and the fruit is all covered in blue plastic to keep the pesticides on.  Our driver also stopped at a road side stand and wouldn't let us off (remember we are on the geriatric cruise, it would have taken an hour to get everyone off then back on) but he bought an entire stalk of lady finger bananas and gave them to our guide to pass around.  My banana was fresh, warm, and I think the best I've ever eaten.

 Our last formal dinner night.  FFM loves this shirt and earrings (you can't really see them).  He calls it my disco ball shirt and disco earrings.

 Full moon on a restless sea during our last two sea days getting back to Florida.

 We had a great time, even being the youngest on the ship, and kept saying things like, "Boy, FFM would LOVE this!" but did not pine away too much for our faraway child.  Likewise, FFM talked about us and followed our travels on his globe, but managed just fine at home having a grand time with Grammie Pen Pen.  

At Sea

After twelve days of vacation, eleven days cruising at sea, five new countries, and one massive downpour, we had a really good time and are ready to get on our flight home so we can hug our wee one. Yup, vacationing sans kiddo is fantastic, but you miss them like mad the whole time.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Happy Halloween!

Back in the day, way way back, we only had one Halloween.  Now there are parties, events, school get togethers, and the grand finale, Trick or Treating on Halloween night!  I wasn't sure the penguin costume was going to make it, but it survived.  

School parade...

 Trick or Treating with Emma, the Pink Power Ranger Samurai.

 I especially like Emma's action pose.  She always has her buddy's back.

 Ooky spooky...ok, not so spooky pumpkins.  Can you guess who picked the kitty pattern to carve?  One hint, they dressed up in all black with a big yellow beak this year.

And for the uber-patient, nothing is quite as cute as preschoolers serenading their parents.  FFM announced to us before the performance that they would get to do some shouting of the word BOO and that was his favorite part.


http://youtu.be/ueCgheCMruM