The Cruise Chronicles - Day Two at Sea

Day two aboard The Majesty of the Seas found the Smith-Dame clan docked at Royal Caribbean's private island Coco Cay. This is the view from our little piece of paradise. A girl could definitely get used to this. (I'm seriously thinking about making this my screen saver!)

What's great about traveling by ship with a large group of people is everyone can separate after breakfast and do their own thang until dinnertime. Most of us elected to get off the ship and soak up some rays on Coco Cay. With a gorgeous palm tree-lined beach, there was plenty to do for those who just couldn't relax on a reclining chair. And since the ages of our party ranged from 4 to 76, there was always someone to either chill or play with. And that's my kind of vacation!

The view of our floating buffet from the beach. Looks small, huh?

I called this picture Three and a Half Men.

Don't the Dame Brothers look good in pink? (I'm so pretty!)

If you look past the white flesh, there's a sun worshipper in there somewhere.

Thanks to my sister for snapping this photo. While I went in search of some lunch, the boys went in search of some friendly sport. They found it in Coco Cay's 2010 Beach Olympics. 

They came. They saw. They conquered. The Larger than Life team walked away with gold medals. These medals will become accessories for the boys later that night at our one and only formal night.

Little McCall enjoys some down time with her Mimi (check out Mimi's pretty nails and pedicure...she actually had little white flowers painted on all of her toes! Hmm...McCall likes this look!)

So we try to recreate it on her later that afternoon. (Unfortunately, we had to stick to a solid base coat because silly PK forgot to bring her self-adhesive nail flowers! And no, they don't sell them on the ship!)

But enduring 15 minutes of pampering really tuckers a girl out! (I love that she minded me and actually kept the toe separators on. This is one girl who takes her beauty routine very seriously!)

And it paid off! Isn't McCall adorable with her black velvet dress, embellished flats and soft curls? The poodle purse is actually a gift from Cousin Holly. Long story short...Holly and her girlfriends refer to themselves as The Poodles. This all-blonde, all-manicured group of Texas socialites even go on trips together...Poodle Palooza was in Scottsdale this year!)

The infamous GQ ad. Sporting their shiny new medals, the Olympians strike a pose. 

Brent and Holly make a grand entrance into the dining room.

And Gigi finally makes an appearance! Flanked by 9 of her 11 grandchildren and her only great-grandchild, her smile says it all!

Don't Laurie and my older "sister" clean up good?

Even a Poodle-in-Training demands superior service from her wait staff.

I won't even tell you how long we had to wait in line for this picture! But it turned out alright. Back row (from l. to r.): Taylor Dame (cousin), Jeff Smith (dad), Cooper Smith (cousin), Kelly Dame (uncle), Collin Smith (cousin). Middle row: Brent Hendrix (Holly's boyfriend), Eric Smith (uncle), me, Laurie Smith (sister), Holly Smith (sister), Cristi Dame (Brooks' wife), Brooks Dame (cousin), Ryan Dame (cousin). Front row: Carter Smith (cousin), Bonnie Smith (aunt), Gwen Smith (Gigi - grandma), McCall Dame (Ryan's daughter), Evelyn Dame (Mimi-aunt), Kathy Smith (mom). If you look closely, suave Brooks dangles his gold medal by his side! We gave him so much heat for that!

If you think we look like a nice, respectable family here, wait for day three when we break out our hippie garb for our own theme night! (We actually had other passengers come up to us and say, "Were we supposed to pack hippie costumes?) We also enjoy a fun day at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas (where Poodle Holly finally finds an acceptable throne to sit upon). And a couple of my medal-winning cousins decide to test their strength and luck once again...too bad it didn't have the same outcome!

"Sea" ya soon!

PK

Happy Birthday to One Groovy Chick!

So what if he's your nephew...you still got it, girl!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

PK

The Cruise Chronicles - Day One at Sea

When we last left our story, the Smith-Day clan had spent a fun-filled day at Epcot Center in Orlando. The next day, all 19 of us would board Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas for a five-day sail to the private island Coco Cay, The Bahamas and then back to Port Canaveral, Florida.

My mom is what you might call a seasoned cruiser. I think this last one was her 12th cruise to date. Since she now has Royal Caribbean V.I.P. status, those of us who were smart enough to board with her, were able to bypass the long security lines and get on the ship much quicker.

What does one do once you board a floating buffet? You head straight to the food! Luckily, it's not very hard to find. You pretty much follow the crowd and you'll end up either in the dining room, one of the cafeterias or poolside. My 12-year-old cousin Carter couldn't believe that you could literally get food anytime you wanted it. Let's just say he was never far from the soft-serve ice cream machine or the pizza bar...which were open 24-7.

Our floating buffet...The Majesty of the Seas

Since we had a few hours to kill before dinner, most of us headed straight for the pool to work on our tans. I, of course, first purchased my soda pass, which essentially kept me caffeinated and happy for five straight days. Here's McCall playing "squishy face" with Uncle Brooks, one of her many dads on this trip.

Busy little McCall soon tired of Uncle Brooks (or maybe it was the other way around!), but luckily Mimi (her grandma) came prepared for such moments of boredom. She whipped out this cute felt fish that required some stitching around the gills. Once completed, it was time to put on a puppet show! 

Good thing my sister's boyfriend Brent was nearby and could take up the post of McCall's third Daddy. He was such a good sport, especially when her puppet started punching him in the face!

Before you knew it, it was time to clean up for dinner. It was a casual night, which meant we could basically wear whatever we wanted. My cousins Carter and Taylor sort of have a bro-mance going on, despite their 12-year age difference. I think it has something to do with being the youngest in their families. Regardless, these two were roommates and loved every minute of it! Here they are modeling their dinner attire, which includes "Ski or Die" hats.

And then came the hot dog. I literally walked past Cooper's room and was greeted by this...vision in mustard. Little did I know how popular Hot Dog Boy would be that night. Let's just say Cooper came out of his shell bun.

The proud parents of Hot Dog Boy, my Uncle Eric and Aunt Bonnie.

After dinner, we met in the lobby for a 70's Dance Party. (Too bad our own hippie night was scheduled for Wednesday night...that would have made for some great photos!) But no complaints here...The Village People kept us entertained!

I think my sister Laurie was a little confused by the combination of oiled-up YMCA dancers and her cousin's hot dog costume.

But we managed to get our 70's groove on!

And even my mom got out on the dance floor to do the fist pump, ala Jersey Shore-style!

Once The Village People left the floor, Hot Dog Boy did his thing! The best part of the night was when the DJ thanked Oscar Meyer for sponsoring the dance party.

Hot Dog Boy was admired by many cruisers of the female persuasion! 

But Hot Dog Boy wasn't the only one with the moves! Cousin Brooks and his wife Cristi enjoyed their first night without 5-month-old Baby Nixon, who stayed behind in Miami with Cristi's family. 

Two thumbs up for our first day at sea!

And thus concludes day one aboard The Majesty of the Seas. Stay tuned for day two at the private island Coco Cay, where the Dame boys compete in The 2010 Royal Caribbean Beach Olympics and actually medal! McCall also gets her very own poodle and we all dress up in our finest garb for our one and only formal night. Gigi also reacts to The Cruise Fairy, who somehow finds her way into Gigi's cabin and leaves behind little gifts with cryptic notes that all end with, "As Time Goes By..."

"Sea" ya soon!

PK

The Cruise Chronicles - Epcot Center

It's been a month since I returned from the 2010 Smith-Dame Family Reunion, otherwise known as "19-somewhat-crazy-somehow-related-people-surrender-all-cellular-devices-to-sail-the-high-seas-for-a-five-day-adventure-where-we-saw-everything-from-sting-rays-to speedos."

Now that I've had time to organize my photos (and borrow a few from Facebook!), I'm ready to share the good (groovy hippies), the bad (stomach flu at Epcot) and the very ugly (a red, white and blue speedo).

Let's begin our story in sunny Orlando, where a trip to The Mouse (or his friendly neighbor, Epcot) is a not only a blogable event, but a mandatory stop for all Smith-Dame cruisers. Just don't tell 54-year-old Aunt Kathy that there's a person in the Mickey costume. She takes all things Disney very seriously...

...so seriously that she presents our two princesses (31-year-old Holly & 4-year-old McCall) with princess t-shirts and tiaras - even before we board the shuttle!

This is when PK starts to feel...not so hot. Despite a good night sleep and a light breakfast (granola bar and a Coke), I start to feel the onslaught of stomach trouble. (And just so you know, I begin every morning with a granola bar and a Coke, so it's not the sudden rush of sugar to my system!)

Once we enter Epcot, both princesses pause in front of what McCall later labeled the "shiny, metal ball."

Disney theme parks really are the happiest places on earth. Here's 18-year-old Collin in a sweet moment with McCall.

But how can you not smile with this cute little munchkin?

Collin, your secret is safe with me. No one will ever know there's a teddy bear lurking inside.

Right about now I literally run for the nearest bathroom and spend the next hour or so becoming very acquainted with the park's nicely-maintained facilities. The family went on a bunch of rides, and we later met up for an iced-cold Cola with my new boyfriend.

By the time lunch rolled around, we heard there was a Royal Banquet Hall where all visiting princesses could dine in their best garb. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be...they charged a whopping $35 a head, so we took our royal party to a cafeteria in America and settled for a $10 hamburger.

But it wasn't a total loss...princesses were everywhere in America! Here's princess-struck McCall and Snow White near her famous wishing well.

And then McCall and Daddy got to meet enchanting Belle and the mean old Beast.

As we roamed from country to country, we stopped in Canada so McCall could peek her face out of a totem pole. By the afternoon, I "think" I'm recovered from my earlier stomach issues.

Around 4 p.m., we were blessed with a quick rain storm. It helped cool down the humid temperatures and gave us an excuse to duck into a store. Here's 12-year-old Carter giving McCall a lift.

Sadly, the happiest place on earth could not make my stomach happy. Realizing our day of fun was wrapping up, McCall quickly faded into my lap while we waited for the shuttle. This girl can literally fall asleep anywhere!

Once back at our hotel, I quietly returned to my room and stayed there for the rest of the night. The family took advantage of the remaining daylight hours and played in this cool pool.

And once McCall woke up from her nap, she magically turned into The Little Mermaid. Since her actual middle name is Ariel, she's always been fond of water and now apparently slides, too!

And that wraps up this edition of The Cruise Chronicles. I have so many fun stories and pictures to share from the rest of our vacation. Stay tuned because I'll be devoting individual blog posts to each of our days on the ship.

"Sea" ya soon!

PK

Newton's Third Law of Motion

There's really no point in fighting it.

You go to enough weddings and sooner or later it's bound to happen.

Even if you try not to make eye contact...

Even if you position yourself in the very back of the group...

Even if you stare at the ground and mutter to yourself, "Please not me..."

There's really no point in fighting it.

If the bride tosses the bouquet right at you, (and you're wearing 3-inch heels), you pretty much have to go with, "For every action, there's an equal an opposite reaction." And all I can say to that is: Isaac Newton really knew his stuff!

But then again, yellow roses have always been my favorite.

Maybe Mr. Newton had nothing to do with it...

Maybe the bride secretly knew my weakness for said flower...

Maybe I was a goner from the moment I stepped out on the dance floor...

The only conclusion I can come to is this: I really hope my future husband's name is NOT Isaac.

PK

My Clever Girl

I just returned from the 2010 Smith-Dame Family Reunion, a.k.a. "The Cruise". I have so many stories and photos to share, but my to-do list is a mile long this week. Stories and incriminating photos will just have to wait! But this particular story just had to be shared right away...

While I was mindlessly floating on our party ship, Lexus spent a week with a friend 0f mine from church. Mary Ann has a chihuahua named Lexi (what are the odds!), so the two pups became best friends and shared everything from food to toys to the coveted spot on Mary Ann's couch.

While I thought I had brought back all of Lexus' belongings, I forgot one crucial thing: the puppy gate! And I didn't realize this until I was leaving for work on Monday morning. Hmm...what's a girl to do? No time to swing by Mary Ann's...Wait a minute! What about your IKEA bookcase? All you have to do is push it in front of the kitchen walkway. Surely Lexus isn't smart enough to figure out there's actual openings in it...you've got books and stuff in them. Right?

WRONG!

This is what greeted me when I came home Monday night. This and a scampering dog who realized she'd been caught! (There was also the lovely bouquet of one of her presents!)

Yep, my clever girl figure out that all you have to do is push your nose a little and boom...total freedom! They say the Italian Greyhound breed is known for their clever ingenuity and now I believe it! Needless to say, a phone call to Mary Anne was placed that very night and Lexus is now safely (and securely!) back behind her puppy gate...that is until she and her pet monkey Rafiki devise their next breakout!

PK

A Little Silliness

I just love summertime...especially since its long, carefree days seem to practically beg for a little silliness. Which is why Paper Crafts is having so much fun with our July Gallery Challenge entitled: "Matt, Brad & Chip: The Boys of Summer". In this two-week challenge, we're looking for projects that incorporate mats, brads and chipboard.

And since every challenge needs a little inspiration, my fellow Texan, Matthew McConaughey offered to pose with his favorite magazine...just to show his support for our cause!

Thanks, Matthew!

Let me know if you're interested in a subscription...I know people!

PK

#1 Dad

Last Saturday, we hosted our monthly card group at Doodlebug's headquarters! (It helps to have friends in high places...thanks, Brady! And to Andrew for all the yummies!)

While Brandy will be showing our swapped cards next Thursday on the Paper Crafts Connection blog, I just had to show off the card I made for my dad for Father's Day. (Disclaimer: I assembled this card, but all the pieces can be found in the Go-to Sketches Card Companion Kit.)

This card follows Kim Kesti's sketch on p. 98 of Go-to Sketches. The banner comes pre-printed with the sentiment "Bon voyage". While this is a lovely sentiment, I decided to change it to "#1 Dad" for Father's Day. And because my dad is an airline pilot, it's even more sentimental.

Hopefully dear ol' dad likes it and doesn't ruin the surprise by reading my blog before the card arrives in the mail!

PK

P.S. My rub-ons didn't come with a "#", so I fashioned one together by trimming four "l's"!

Circle of Strength

Years ago, my mom gave this poem to my grandma and grandpa and each one of their four children as a Christmas gift. Not only did it hang in my parents' home, but I loved going to my aunt's and uncles' homes and seeing it there.

"Our family is a circle of strength and love…
With every birth and every union the circle grows…
Every joy shared adds more love…
Every crisis faced together
Makes the circle grow stronger."

~Author unknown

And even though cancer once again touched our lives, our matriarch said, "I'll show you." Then she got up and went to the beauty shop for a cut 'n color. But not before we continued the Memorial Day tradition of putting flowers on her husband's grave...and his parents'...and her parents'...

"Our family is a circle of strength and love..."

PK