Family Cruise ~ Day 04

 Today was the big day that everyone was looking forward to. We started out the month of February in Cozumel, Mexico. We had breakfast early and then got off the boat to go do an excursion.

 Frank wanted to scuba dive, so he went off to his own excursion. He captured this picture before getting on the boat. It's so pretty it looks fake or like a painting. He had this printed onto a canvas when we got home from the cruise. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to scuba dive b/c a storm was coming in and the waters got too choppy. They had all their gear on and were ready to go, but had to go back to land b/c the harbormaster called all the boats back into the dock. I feel so bad for him, b/c he was really looking forward to scuba diving.

 Meanwhile, the other 23 of us loaded into 2 taxis and went to a place that does dolphin interactions. Look at how GORGEOUS this setting is!

 We split up into 2 groups b/c there were too many of us. Plus, we had 5 little kids that had to be looked after while each group did their thing. So, Mom & Dad & Nick & Savi & Nate & Riannon & Olivia did their interaction first while I stayed with the kids. Lexie & our group had to go get showered off and put on life vests. Then Lexie sat w/ the kids for 5 minutes while I showered quick and put on my life vest. I'm glad I got the first round of watching them, b/c they were done sitting and ready to get up & run when the Papa & Mimi group had to watch them.

 The water was cold when you first got in, but then in just a minute, it felt fine. Lexie is the only one that splurged to buy the professional pictures, so I'm using some of her pics. The dolphin interaction was SO COOL! We got 2 Mamas and 2 babies. We got to learn all about them, and also get some dolphin kisses. I had no idea that dolphins had ears! They are tiny holes on the side of their head and they can hear 7 times better than humans!

 We also got to give them a "hug."

 The COOLEST part though, was when we got to ride them! You swam out to the middle of the water, put out your left hand and they would swim up behind you. Then you grabbed their fin on both sides and they took off! Everyone got water up our noses, but it was so worth it! They are incredibly powerful. It was awesome to be in the water with them for a little over an hour. The time went by so fast! Definitely a highlight of the trip!

At the place we went, they also had a nice Mexican buffet for lunch and complimentary smoothies. Everyone ate until we were stuffed and then some of us headed back to the boat while others went shopping. Autumn accidentally left her bag in the taxi on our way there and by the time we got back and had Savi ask the taxi manager about it in Spanish, it was nowhere to be found. We were hoping someone had turned it in, but they hadn't. Oh, well. There was only a change of clothes, water shoes, and goggles in there ... nothing that can't be replaced.

 You have to walk through a maze of shops to get back to the boat and this cracked me up. All the cartons of cigarettes had this big sign of "Smoking kills" on them. I guess people still buy them anyways.

 Us 3 girls had a lot of fun hanging out and being together.

 We ran into Papa & Mimi at lunch and ate with them. Autumn cracks me up!

 Frank took Alisa back to the room so Autumn & I could have some one-on-one time. We went swimming and were shocked to find out that the freshwater pool that we thought was heated was in fact NOT heated. It was cold at first and then we didn't want to get out b/c it was so windy that getting out was colder than staying in the water. We had fun playing around and then laid out on the loungers for a little while before going to get some pizza.

 At dinner tonight us 4 kids gave Mom & Dad a picture book that I had made. We had everyone sign the cover page telling them thank you so much for this cruise. It really has been amazing to all be together and create such incredible memories. None of it would have been possible without Papa & Mimi's generosity.

 After dinner, the kids and Dad's cut a rug in the centrum. The kids LOVE the live band that plays and we were all laughing so hard at Nate dancing like a maniac. I'm sure people watching us thought we were drunk b/c we were having so much fun.