Oasis

This morning Mike dropped us at the cruise port and then returned the rental car and caught an Uber back to us. They took our luggage to deliver to our rooms, but we stashed our swim suits in our backpacks so we could enjoy the pool while we waited!

The big kids were pretty hungry to lunch when we boarded and couldn't pass up their favorite pizza place! You can grab a slice or five here at pretty much all hours of the day.

Finley and Oliver thought everything was pretty cool! I loved watching them soak it all in!

We plopped ourselves down on the pool deck for the afternoon and ordered drinks to enjoy. The kids mostly swam, but we did wander over to check out the zipline at one point.

Joseph was the only one brave enough to go!

When rock climbing opened up for the day, the boys were pretty much the first ones there. They will be spending a lot of time on this wall this week!

Shortly before our dinner time, we went to check out our rooms and change into proper dinner attire.

These two ordered Shirley Temples and had fun picking their appetizer, main, and dessert from the menu. 

The food is always delicious and so so filling. I enjoyed not having to cook or clean up afterwards! It was nice to just sit and visit with the children for the evening.

The boys headed straight to the mini golf after dinner (where they spent majority of their time on the last cruise). I hung out close by and cheered them on.

Then we got in line to see the Aqua 80 show. I chuckled when I turned to see all of them lined up at the bottom of the slide just chillin'.

The show was epic and pictures don't do it justice! The high dives and the dancing and the music were unforgettable. The kids are already asking when we can see it again!

 

Fort Lauderdale

Today we drove to our cruise port and found our air bnb for the night. After the long drive, the kids were eager to stretch their legs and see the Ocean, so we looked up a beach and hopped in the car again. 

Not long after we had parked, they ran to jump waves! They were all loving it!

Mike & I literally just sat back and watched as they all laughed and hung out together. It was probably one of my favorite parts of the entire trip so far.

We hung out long enough for the sun to begin to set, and it was a beautiful sight!

Then it was back to the air bnb to change and find some dinner! We also hit up a grocery store around the corner for some quick breakfast things before we board our cruise tomorrow! At one point I'd had it with the boys shenanigans and I said, "Cut that out or I'm taking you home!" Finley replied, "Just wait till we are on the cruise and then she can't take you home any more..."

"I'll just throw you overboard!" I retorted.

They all burst out laughing and I couldn't help but smile.

These guys are already pretty tired after two days of roller coasters. Hopefully the cruise will be relaxing enough for them!

 

Universal Round Two

Today we started in Harry Potter world, riding some of the same rides as yesterday. When we were looking at the Hogwarts cloaks in one of the shops, I was helping the kids decide if they really wanted one and asked, "Do you think you'll wear it often?" Finley replied, "What do you mean wear it a lot? Like at Universal? Halloween? Saturdaaaaaays?" It made us all chuckle. 

As we rode one of the rollercoasters Hyrum pretended to cast a spell and said, "expensiiiiiivvve PETROLEUM!" which also had us all cracking up.

We enjoyed lunch and a butter beer at the three broomsticks (one of their faves from last time). 

The food is always yummy with a choice between a chicken leg or ribs.

All of the kids just got nuggets and fries...

By late afternoon, they were done with the rides and ready to head back to the hotel. We stopped for a quick treat at Marble Slab on our way out.

Swimming and sun bathing was enjoyed by all.

We walked to Denny's for dinner and on the way back stumbled across this alligator place where you could hold a gator. Hyrum begged and begged, and Mike laughed and checked it out. It's not every day you get to hold a gator where we are from. The kids thought it was super cool!

Then, just as I was falling asleep, I heard a sound no mother likes to hear in the middle of the night. Someone decided to barf up their mac & cheese from dinner and cover the entire bathroom floor (thankgoodness it wasn't the rug). I cringed as I wiped up the chunks with tissues and then mopped the  tiny bathroom floor with a face cloth and shampoo so it would be useable again. Definitely a night to remember!