Birthday Cruise Celebration

After Thanksgiving was over, it was time to finish out a few work items and pack up and go on a Birthday cruise celebration in honor of Tyndell and Mom A.  A few months back, Tyndell had asked if we could go to Disney for her fifth birthday (when we lived in Delray, it was only a few hours away, so it was pretty easy to go for a weekend or day and we definitely took advantage when we could, so it was understandable that Tyndell would miss that).  As we looked into the pricing for a weekend at Disney from NC, it was surprisingly more than going on a short 3-night cruise on the Disney ship, so we decided to do that instead.  And to make it even better - it became a family affair with Mom A, my parents and Brandon deciding to join us too.  On our way down to leave on the ship, we had a little extra time so Jeff, Tyndell, Silas, and I made a quick stopover at Kennedy Space Center since we had never been - it was amazing!  I completely recommend it - mainly because they have the Atlantis Shuttle, which was breathtaking.  Honestly - don't laugh - but Jeff and I were getting emotional seeing it.  It's just amazing seeing something that had been part of so much science and technology and been IN SPACE.  I was choked up.  But my space nerd inside me was alerted to the family phone calls (why aren't you here yet?!) and reality that we had a boat to catch so we had to cut our spontaneous side trip short to check-in on the Disney Dream boat leaving Cape Canaveral.  We spent Thursday - Sunday on the ship with stops at Nassau and the Disney owned island during the trip and I have to say that it was a really impressive trip.  I'm not really a cruise fan at heart, but there's definitely a place for that type of travel and for what it is, Disney does it very very well.  The ship was immaculate - cleaner than anything and constantly being cleaned - there were cool activities and things to see all the time, and the food was excellent.  We had a blast the first day in Nassau relaxing on the ship's pools (heated nonetheless with a big Disney movie screen to view while soaking....this was Tyndell's favorite part - pool time and movie.   The pitter patter of her heart was in birthday bliss) and then Mom T, Silas, and I took a walk in the port just to get some exercise and change it up for a few hours.  Plus - I just felt like - I'm not really interested in this port, but we're here, we should go see it to say that we did.  The next day was the Disney island called Castaway Caye, and it was really beautiful and we had a lovely beach day with my parents and Brandon sitting on the beach, having some cocktails, taking pictures, and just enjoying the weather.  When we got back on the ship, it was our last night, so at dinner we had a cake and singing for Mom A and Tyndell which was fun.  The Disney boat had very fun details all over the place - from neat statues (Silas was obsessed with a Donald Duck one), to the Peter Pan constallations above Tyndell's bunk bed in the room, to movie pictures on walls, characters around every corner, table settings in themes, and interesting people from all the over world to talk to - it was a great trip.  I'm not sure we'll do it again - maybe when Silas is old enough to enjoy it - but it's a possibility.  Definitely a great way to do Disney a little different.  We had a blast with our family and it was wonderful being together to celebrate two very important birthdays and lives.  yay!