Cruising....

Okay...this will be a quick one, but I wanted to record these things before I forget.  I will post pictures soon.

Trent and I went on our very first cruise last week to the Mexican Riviera.  What a wonderful, wonderful week we had.  We thought back and this is the first week-long trip we have ever taken as just husband and wife.  It was just the two of us and it was so fantastic. 

A couple of other firsts we experienced....we both got to use our passports for the very first time!  The gentleman at customs made me take my hat and glasses off, but not Trent...I guess, as a woman, I can change my look a bit more than he can!  I had my first caviar...not as bad as I thought it would be.  It  was with a seafood pate.  We had some exquisite meals abroad.  On the ship, there were two formal nights in which Trent and I had to dress up for our meal.  We have never really had the occasion to be so dressed up for dinner.  I enjoyed that part...Trent...not so much!  There was so much to do while on the ship, we never got it all done.  We did play bingo and Trent won $100!!  Yeah, not that big of a deal, because I won $300!!!  Take that!  We saw some great shows including a comedian and a hypnotist.  There were some singing and dancing shows as well.  Now, I have a better understanding of when Simon Cowell tells people they should be singing on a cruise ship.  They were still good, however, and I enjoyed watching and singing along.

We had two ports of call while cruising.  The first was in Ensenada.  This was a brief stop of just a day.   We took a tour to the "blow hole" which is a phenomenon where there is an underwater cave and if the waves are just right, it will pressure up the cave and water will shoot from a small hole at the top.  This was so fantastic!  The water was just right and the pressure was perfect and the effect of the blow hole was magnificent.  I have video that I will post later!  There was a flea market with many wares!  We did a lot of our Christmas shopping there and bought our children some things there.  I did find out a couple of things at the flea market about Trent and I....Trent will stop and listen to EVERYTHING!!  If the men selling things could get Trent's attention, they could have it for a few minutes.  I, on the other hand, found out that I can walk away!!  I would ask how much something was and after they would tell me the price, I would shake my head and walk off....by the time I had taken 4 steps, we had settled on a much lower price!  I did, however, get ripped off in one instance, but I am far too embarrassed to share the story!  Just know, the next time I am in Ensenada, there is a gentleman (I use that term loosely!) I hope to find and kick in the shins!!!

The second stop was on Cabo San Lucas!  We were there for two days.  It was such a fantastic place. The water was as blue as I ever seen and the beaches were fantastic.  There were two beaches there, one was Lovers Beach and the other was Divorce Beach!  Fortunately, Trent and I never made it around to the Divorce side!  We had the best guacamole and salsa there as I have ever had in my life!  We did more shopping  and exploring. 

We had a stateroom with a balcony which was most wonderful.  We had breakfast served there on our first morning and on our last morning at sea.  Looking out at the open sea gave us some of the best sunrises and sunsets I had ever witnessed.  The sky at night is full of stars and the reflection on the ocean  is mesmerizing.  There were many hours spent out on our balcony, just the two of us, content with just being together and loving each other.  No words were necessary as we sat out there and enjoyed just being with each other. 

We had really very little free time.  Trent maybe read a few chapters of his book.  I never even took out my Nook!  I did take my knitting along.  I only got one pair of sock done in those 7 days!  I did have to work just a little while a few days....but it really worked out okay.  Trent would leave the stateroom and go to the buffet (y'all don't even want to know the amount of food that was consumed!), and I would work.  I think the most I had to type was about an hour, but really, I was not bothered by it and it really did not interfere with any of our fun! 

So, the Wood's are finally settling in and enjoying our emptynesthood.  We have our good days and our bad days.  There were several times that I thought about our children and thought about what fun they would be having right along with us.  I missed being in constant contact with them.  I missed them more then they probably know.  I miss them everyday. 

Christmas is coming up in just a few days.  We will be together, again, as a big family.  The Wood's and the Johnson's and the Cortez's will all be celebrating together.  I can't wait to have my family intact again.  I  can't think of anything better than having all of my children under one roof.  That makes me happy and that gives me so much to be thankful for.  And as my family grows, the more the merrier! 

I will get pictures posted as soon as I download them and file them.  But, life is calling first. 

XOXO