drumroll.... i am finally posting our CRUISE!

So, for our Christmas present this year...my parents were beyond generous and took my entire family on a Cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It really is a rarity these days for us ALL to be together. And this way - it is sad to say - we were sort of "forced" to all be together and hang out for a week with no distractions (like kids, etc...) and it was really nice.

**And a special thanks to Troy's sister Mel and brother in law Josh for keeping our kids for 9 days...yes, 9 days! I am forever indebted to them. It really is hard to leave your babies. But it made it all the more easier when i knew they were in good hands and having lots of fun! Thanks beyond words!

This picture was monumental. We tried night after night to get a table of 14 so we could sit together but was told that was impossible b/c the biggest table seats 12 and those few tables were already booked for the entire cruise. Well, there is this chip in me that when someone says No to me- it just makes me work all that much harder to find another person to talk to so that i can make it happen. Well, in the end - it happened and we were all 14 able to sit together for the last 3 nights. The Mat re Di, Jon Paul, and me became great friends and he brought in special tables and put them together and made it happen for us. It really was fun to all have dinner together. Wahooo!!
One of the formal nights.

Our entire group




Me and my sis


The second formal night

This was in Mazatlan...We almost died in this make-shift taxi...but, hey- it was cheaper than a real taxi...only 1.50 a person instead of 3.00 a person! We sang Christmas songs at the top of our lungs...good times!

Troy felt cool with his new tattoo! And it really lasted a long time (he may even still have it on now?)

Puerto Vallarta

Driving to our excursion in Puerto Vallarta

Sorry you have to look at my ugly feet!!! But this picture is the aftermath of the excursion (this picture really didn't do it justice!)

So, our excursion was these series of ziplines in the jungle. I think there were 12 of them. And they were high, high, high in the jungle. I believe this photo was before the highest and longest of the lines. Yes, 1650 ft long and yes, 361 feet in the air. I had fun on the first 5 or so but after that - i had a few tears b/c i really didn't want to go anymore(but no way to get down - except by the zipline). It was exhilarating but also really nerve-racking b/c you were so far up. i was afraid i would get stuck in the middle of the zipline and be looking down and pass out. Well, i joked if i didn't pass out in that instance- i would knock myself out. Oh btw- i also had a hard time braking and so on the longest zipline - i wasn't braking enough and my body hit into the end of the line and my body flipped around like a rag doll and my feet hit the ground hard and that is how my feet were so bruised...very painful. I know, i know...i am tough!

Sheri on her way down one of the lines.

The food was wonderful... and at dinner it was very elaborate...here are a couple samples.