Puerto Vallarta

Our First Stop was to Puerto Vallarta. It was VERY hot and humid. We would take small trips off of the ship before we headed out for our excursion. Right where we docked there was a market place, so we decided to go out for a brief visit. Caiden got an opportunity to pet a baby donkey in a t-shirt. Of course I had to pay the lady to take a picture with my own camera, but he liked it. Grammie Sue talked to the birds, but they were a little too loud for Caiden.

The market place at Puerto Vallarta
Caiden found a friend...the friend looks none too thrilled
Sue talks to the birds
Caiden and I waiting for our excursion
Micah, Jeff, Papa Jim and Caiden - Notice the how Micah, Jim and Caiden all have the same hat?
Caiden and Micah entertain themselves while we wait
Papa and Caiden waiting in line for the bus

Then we were off for our excursions. Dave, Jake and Pam headed out for the Extreme Canopy tour. They were only allowed to take their camera so far and then they had to lock it away in a locker. Unfortunately, I don't have any cool pictures of them zip lining through waterfalls or anything. They all said they had a great time.
Jake getting strapped in for the zip line
Protection for that brilliant mind
Dave anxious to go!
Pam and Jake - Daredevil couple :)

The rest of the gang (Sue, Jim, Wendy, Jeff, Micah, Caiden and myself) went for a bus tour that drops us off at a tropical location where we could hike and swim. The bus ride over was a bit fun because it rained on Caiden and myself. Apparently it has rained the night before and had caught in the bus...it would pour water on the passengers on the right side of the bus - which is just where Caiden and I chose to sit.

Prior to arriving at our final destination we stopped off at a site where they had a nice view and had a little market. There was a guy there painting these ceramic plates that in retrospect I wish I bought. Well, at least I have a picture, right? I guess it's a good thing I didn't buy it though because this bus did not wait for anything. We nearly lost Jeff...we had to yell at the bus driver and ask everyone to yell for Jeff as he was taking off without him. Thankfully, Jeff got on, but he wasn't quick enough - the merchant that he was talking to came running after him still trying to get him to buy her wares.
They're smiling because they are on the DRY side of the bus
So are they.
Caiden CLEARLY was not, and was bit grumpy - of course, I know how to fake it :)
Jim and Sue
This is what I wish I would have bought...I thought they were really good

After a short bus ride, we arrived where we would be hiking and swimming. They had a little restaurant there which was very primitive. They offered food and drink, but I was afraid to eat or drink anything that they provided - not to mention that the food was mostly shellfish. Thankfully, I had bought a large bottle of water right before we exited the ship.

I thought it was very pretty though
Caiden and Sue pose before going down the trail

This was the restaurant
And the food that they offered. They didn't have menus so this was how they showed you what they had.

We lathered ourselves in this bug spray and off we traipsed into the jungle. It was SO hot and humid that there were even rain storms. We were all soaked from either the rain or the sweat from all of the humidity.
Caiden takes the early lead
The Gang!
It was very pretty
Caiden was having fun
But he always remembered to rehydrate

The march across the river or stream or whatever was a welcome relief, as was the rainstorm. I SO felt like I was a heroine in a movie...you know crossing the river, and looking for civilization after your plane crashed or something like that. :)


Jim striking a pose
Wendy helping Caiden across
Sue halfway across with Wendy and Caiden
G.I. Jane, or National Geographic Camera Carrier Girl?
Caiden proud he made it across!
Wendy ready to document what happens next!

Our trip wasn't without it's educational pieces. They showed us how to open small coconuts and showed us unique plants that when touched they would fold up and nearly disappear. Caiden REALLY liked that.
Coconut Tree
The guy crushing a coconut
And there it is open
Caiden examining the coconut

Sneaky Guide trying to feed Micah a coconut
Caiden with the plants that fold up when you touch them - they are the ones that look like ferns...hard to see...Caiden has touched them all
Enough education - it's back to the hike

We didn't try this, but here are some local kids swinging into the water.
Sue and Jim waving goodbye to Puerto Vallarta

I have to say Caiden was SUCH a trooper. He REALLY enjoyed hiking, and there were some pretty steep parts where I had to hold his hand to make sure he doesn't fall down the jungle side. Although I wasn't expecting the hike and swim excursion - it touted itself as a bus tour that shows you where some movies such as Predator were filmed *we never saw that*...it was a lot of fun.

On The Ship

Who needed excursions? I mean they were fun and all, but there was so much to do on the ship itself that you could spend your whole time there. In addition to the shopping, poker, and casino that they had we spent a lot of time with the food, water slide, pools and spa. The ship activities definitely kept us busy. It was a big ship with so much to do that I was constantly getting lost *I know that's not saying much, but trust me it was a large ship*.

The boys sent all the girls to the spa for some relaxing treatment. They set us up with something called the Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap & Massage. This massage touted it's benefits for lasting up to 6 weeks by "combining the richness of the sea and aromatherapy". "You will be smothered in exotic warm aroma sea weed & then cocooned in a weightless foil". Unfortunately what they forgot to mention to Dave is that the "exotic warm aroma sea weed" is laced with Iodine (which I am allergic to) and is toxic to unborn children. Armed with this information, I opted for the Pregnancy massage , a much cheaper alternative and healthier for Kiya and I. There is nothing like a good massage - thank you boys. :)

The Spa
Yes, Clearly I need a tan to hang out with these ladies. Might I add it was the FIRST day of the cruise
The Massage Chair
Massage Rocks

While the girls were off at the spa, the boys took the kids to Build-a-Bear on the ship. Caiden had a blast stuffing his new bear which he has fondly named Mrs. Tina Bear. As you see, he REALLY got into the stuffing part of the whole adventure.
Caiden Picks his bear
Caiden stuffs his bear
He REALLY puts some elbow grease into it. He takes pride in his work.
All Done!
Testing to make sure it passes the huggably soft test...yep...sure did!

The water slide was a lot of fun. Pam & Jacob were hard core. They even went on the water slide when it was cold and the rest of us had towels wrapped around us. We all took turns going on the water slide. Yes, even I went, although I was careful about it - as you can see I was carrying my sunglasses the whole way down. :)
This is the view form where the water slide was
And of course...the waterslide!!
Pam, Dave and Jake waiting in line for the waterslide.
Dave coming on down
And Dave's splash!
Jake on his way down prepares by holding his nose
Jake's splash...one of these trips down Jake's splash got a lady waiting on the side all wet!! She was not happy - but she should have moved. You can clearly SEE the water slide.
Sue coming down the waterslide - glasses intact!
Pam looks like she had a lot of fun
This is me emerging...of course I had my sunglasses in hand, but I was more worried that my top might have come off. Thankfully, it didn't. The water ending was a surprise because it seemed like a longer journey.

After the water slide it was time for some fun in the sun and the pool. The kids loved the kid-size pool that we found, and we kind of took over and made it our own. :) I of course, was a bit embarrassed as I was wearing a bikini and I was 4 months pregnant. I spent most of the time covering my stomach...Dave said people wouldn't know I was pregnant...that was MY point. They would think I just needed to do some crunches. So here I am in a bathing suit four months pregnant.
The kiddie pool was a lot of fun
Jake and Caiden
Caiden swimming in rough waters...the jacuzzi
Pam and Jacob enjoying the sun
Me in a bathing suit...4 months pregnant. ugh!

At dinner, we ate everything in sight. Micah and Caiden entertained themselves by playing in the window. The servers really got into their jobs as they would dance and sing for us. It was a lot of fun. Wendy and Micah got up and started dancing with the servers one night, but Caiden chose to groove by the window. Very cute.




Cousin bonding time

Every night after dinner we would take in a show. And of course, we could always create one of our own. Here is Wendy, Micah and Caiden dancing. Dave and Caiden closed their eyes and counted to 20 before they went to find Wendy and Micah during Hide and seek!



Wendy, Micah and Caiden getting their groove on
I believe Caiden was channeling Elvis here...either that or Forrest Gump :)
Caiden and Daddy counting before they try to find Wendy and Micah

Sometimes we would meet in one room and play some games.




And of course every night after the day's activities we would come to our rooms and there would be a towel animal. Below are a few of the animals that the crew made for us. Sometimes they were accompanied by smiling cookies :)

The elephant
The monkey
I think this is a rabbit

If after the end of the day we still had some room leftover they would have MORE food. Here is a midnight buffet.





So as you can see there was PLENTY to do before we even GOT to port.