Saturday, November 6, 2010

Getting to the Ship

I've said it before and I'll say it again I hate packing! But with the right help it can quite entertaining...




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I packed a family of 4 for a one week trip (including formal wear and baby stuff) in 1 suitcase and 1 backpack. Pretty impressive, I think. I'd never been on a cruise before so it was all new to me. We had to get to Fort Lauderdale (4hr drive) to get on the boat. I knew 4hrs in the car was not going to happen with my back still healing so we decided to stop 1/2 way in Naples and drive the other 2hrs in the morning.


First of all with the stroller, the wheelchair, suitcase, backpack, jackets, entertainment for the drive, two kids and two adults it was a little crowded in the car. Second the "pillow" someone handed me as I was going out the door was only slightly larger than a postage stamp. We bought "The Sphere" audio book for entertainment which was surprisingly engaging. I switched the pillow between my low back and hip trying to take the pressure off, but a full day getting ready to go and 2hrs in the car did me in. We got to the hotel around 10:30pm at which point my breathing was shallow from the pain and Riley promptly woke right up.

I promptly got flat on the bed, but Riley ran the length of the room 3 or 4 times opening and closing the empty cabinets while squealing with glee. She loved the tiny fridge that was just her size! It was like Disney World, so many new and different things to discover. It was a different experience for the adults. I had to share my bed with the baby and Mike had to immediately get back to work. Between everyone being in the same room, the light, the computer and mommy in the bed with her Riley did not want to sleep.

We were up at 7am thanks to our tiny human alarm clock. Riley decided to write some notes about the trip like mommy was and walked around the room with the hotel pad and pen scribbling away. She also found the plastic cup to be fascinating (I really don't know why I packed toys). After continental breakfast we hit the road again. It was more fun this leg of the trip freshly rested, Mike's work behind him and knowing when we got out of the car we'd have reached our destination.

We arrived just before noon and sat in traffic reminiscent of my LA days pondering the various we have the right to search your vehicle signs all around the pier. We muddled through unloading the car, the stroller, the wheelchair and the kids. We happened to run into the people loading checked luggage who took pity on our ridiculous attempt to carry our all of our belongs and checked out bags right there. We headed into a winding theme park like line a lot lighter and started getting excited. Especially Isaac who heard from one of the disembarking passengers that there was a free unlimited ice cream bar. We were only in the line about 10mins before a nice gentleman whisked us through the crowd to the wheel chair line just like at Disney.

Ready, Set, Cruise!!

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