PARKER'S CELEBRATION

PARKER AND THE CAPTAINS OF THE SHIP

First off, ANYWHERE WITH PARKER is FUN. This cruise post is a little long, so hang with me.

We started the day with his favorite hair LADY giving him a trim, then off to Dallas to stay two nights at his favorite HOTEL, where he got to swim and watch movies. WE even made a few stops at GAME STOP for new games for his DS. Early, VERY EARLY as in 4 AM we headed to DFW to catch our flight. The hotel was nice to shuttle us to the airport and keep our car...a nice way to pay no parking AT DFW

Parker NEVER minds waiting as he always has a game with him....plus he just got a new IPOD TOUCH

We landed in Orlando and the Magical Express was waiting to take us to the Disney Wonder that would SAIL at 5 PM

WELCOME ABOARD

Checking out the SHIP

HIS FIRST MEAL AND THE FIRST OF MANY PIECES OF CHEESECAKE and OTHER DESSERTS

THE FIRST NIGHT TURN DOWN

THE OCEANAIRE CLUB that he had been reading about!

AND A WELCOME FROM BUZZ

SOME Of OUR FAVORITE FRIENDS

THE BEST KID EVER

A PLACE PARKER SPENT LOTS OF TIME. THERE WAS FUN GOING ON IN HERE ROUND THE CLOCK!

SOME NEW FRIENDS HE MADE THE SECOND DAY

THEY GOT TO GO TO A MIDNIGHT SHOWING OF

THE PRINCE OF PERSIA!

A BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR THE BIRTHDAY BOY AT DINNER

ONE NIGHT!

WELCOME TO CASTAWAY CAY, DISNEY'S ISLAND

A BEAUTIFUL ISLAND

PARKER LOVED THE LITTLE SPECIAL THINGS

THE WAITERS DID EACH NIGHT AT DINNER

PARKER DID NOT LIKE THESE TWO PICTURES

BUT THESE LADIES WERE SMITTEN WITH HIM

ONE Of PARKERS FAVORITE LEADERS IN THE OUT AND

ABOUT GROUP...This was a great program that gave kids

freedom to do all kinds of things. They had a pager and we had a pager, so

we knew where he was at all times. One PLUS of the CRUISE!

FUN ACTIVITIES ALL DAY

Normally I would have lots more pictures, but Parker is NOW at that age that the camera is NOT something he loves for me to have in my hand. AND I RESPECT that as much as I can..

OK, remember the next part of this post is from someone that is a DISNEY ADDICT, who visits the PARKS at least once a year and sometimes MORE OFTEN. This was our FIRST DISNEY CRUISE! Would I do it again? Probably NOT. Somewhere between the parks and the boat, they LOST the MAGIC. And the MAGIC is what I LOVE. There were some pluses...Parker had more freedom, there was a lot less walking, (but also a lot less to do), food was easier to access...not sure if that was a plus or not, the shows at night were good, but to me not better than at the parks, you were close to your room at the end of the day, (although I LOVE that special time when everyone is leaving the parks at night after a fun day)! Maybe this is why I have been a little hesitant about writing this post. I missed all the fireworks shows, WISHES,missed FANTASMIC, missed all the parades, all the SHOPS!

If you have any questions I would be glad to answer them..BUT, I WILL TAKE THE PARKS for my next VISITS WITH MOUSE. THERE WAS JUST NOT ENOUGH MICKEY FOR ME.

WHILE YOU ARE WAITING ON DISNEY

I am so sorry it is taking me so long to get the DISNEY post up. I had really mixed feelings about the cruise so I want to say it just right, plus I have pictures on several different cameras, plus we have had some unexpected appointments that I had not planned on once we got home. It's just been a crazy few days. ENOUGH excuses....I will have it in a few days.
BUT WHILE YOU ARE WAITING, I told you I needed a JACK DAY and I have had one..he is here tonight fast asleep, but he has done his JOB tonight and MADE ME LAUGH, gave me so many kisses and hugs and said "Wuv you, MAMMY" more times than I can count!
You gotta love a kid that calls GRAMMY, MAMMY! Trust me we work on it daily. His favorite lines right now are "WOOK" at everything and I love this one...he has figured out his Mom and Dad's names are Micah and Amanda and he loves to say them. That's payback for all the times they laugh at MAMMY! He can make full sentences now and he says the cutest things. Today he walked in and said, "WOOK, MAMMY, it's WAINING and I am WET!" So for tonight enjoy a few pictures of the PERSONALITY of JACK!

So glad his PARKER is HOME

JUST a HAPPY BOY COUNTING HIS MONEY

He wanted to PUT on PARKERS CLOTHES and WOULD NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER! SO I GUESS THIS IS DRESS-UP

CHECK OUT THE CAP. HE IS ALREADY INDOCTRINATED

THIS WOULD BE THE POUT THAT HE HAS DOWN QUITE WELL, FIRST you DROP YOUR HEAD and then YOU PEEK to SEE if that WORKED!

HOPE THOSE MADE YOU SMILE!

Remember if you need a Father's Day gift, you still have time to get Marc's book!

CHECKING IN

Sorry I have been away so long. I had such good intentions of blogging from the ship. The internet connections were just too hard.

The internet was come and go at best on the ship and after loosing a couple of posts that were almost finished, I just gave up.

We have been CELEBRATING for the last two weeks. First on a Disney Cruise with Parker to celebrate his 11th birthday. He had a BLAST. Then our 38th anniversary was June 3rd, so our trip covered both dates. Then we went straight from the boat to a plane to the wedding of a long time friend. We finally arrived back home late last night TIRED to the BONE... I guess that's what vacations are for...fun and fatigue.

There were a few mishaps on the trip that I may share later, but so many great memories and lots of pictures to share...BUT IT MAY TAKE ME A FEW DAYS. I probably have never told the blog world but I SUFFER from POST TRIP/VACATION DEPRESSION, every time. Today would be a MAJOR CASE. No matter how much I tell myself I will not be down and depressed, it happens without fail. I wish there was a drug you could take as you leave a trip and come home feeling great. I wish airlines were not such a hassle, I wish somehow the mail would SHRINK while we are gone, instead it multiplies....I have at least 100 pieces of mail to open and probably more than a few bills to pay. Then there are all the phone messages to return (even tree customers wanting to be sure of their Christmas tree date) and then there is the laundry...

I can never rest until I get it all done and put away...a sickness I have had to deal with all my life. It's DONE! I even feel guilty sharing those feelings as I know there are so many that would love to be going on a cruise and cannot...So please know that I feel very blessed to be able travel and ESPECIALLY with the grandkids...

I have so many of my favorite blogs to catch up on. At 50 cents a minute on the ship I had to read fast when I had a chance and still got off the boat and owed them $125.00 for internet minutes...and most of that was just communication with my kids back home..

I have lots of fun pictures...and a lot to say about DISNEY CRUISES versus DISNEY at the PARKS. I hope to work on the pictures tomorrow.

The Disney winners will have some special treats coming their way in the next few weeks. I had to have some things shipped home. Will leave you with one of my favorite shots of the week....My Parker looking at the sea on our first day to sail. I just wonder what he was thinking.

I will be BACK SOON with a post and pictures of our trip, plus some great beach pictures of Greg and Dana and their boys on their vacation. How I missed my funny little JACK while I was gone. He loved all his surprises but we missed that little man SO much. I need an entire JACK day this week.