From Bahamas 18th Anniversary 2011

We stepped from the gangplank and onto the ship around 1:30 Friday afternoon.  We were ready for 2 1/2 fun days at sea as well as a day in Grand Bahamas and a day in Nassau.  We took a very unconventional approach to this trip.  The port was chosen for convenience and price, but we do have a history with this ship.  Carnival’s Fantasy was the ship that we spent our honeymoon on 18 years earlier. We are a family of 6 with children ranging from 5 – 16 years old and this would be the first vacation without the kids in over 8 years.  The purpose of this vacation was relaxation.  We did very little planning, no excursions were booked.  We planned to simply do as much or as little as we wanted at any given moment.  We were simply looking for a chance to be away and carefree.

Our first stop after boarding the ship was with our Maitre d.  We were able to switch from a table for 8 to a table for 2.  The meals and service were unbelievable each evening.

The days at sea were enjoyed on the Serenity Deck.  This is the child free, adult retreat on the back of the ship. It provided sun or shade, plenty of chairs, two hot tubs and very little noise. It was most enjoyable during the rain on the day we departed.

We booked no excursions.  As we disembarked in the Bahamas we would look for transportation.  Each day that turned out to be scooters/mopeds.  After returning to the boat in Freeport we discovered that Carnival does not recommend using mopeds because “they are very dangerous”, but we are rebels and did it again the next day.  The mopeds combined with the geocaches that I had printed before we left home provided a great adventure.  The caches had been placed on the paths less traveled.  In most cases these locations were both deserted and breathtaking.

I would recommend taking a look at CruiseCritics Secret Tips to cruising. There was a lot of good information though some of it has changed over the years.  On this ship they no longer provide free playing cards at the pursers desk.

The Mid Atlantic Chapter of the National MS Society has done it again.  This is my third year participating in this event and as always it was a pleasure. The route was great and the support provided by the staff and volunteers was second to none. I was only able to ride on Sunday this year, but I did manage the 100 mile route.

It is never to late to make a donation for this organization. For now my Participant Page is still active.  Later you can donate here.

I’m not sure about cycling through this area with the little ones, but I am looking forward to walking the trails with them.

For more information, check the following links.

Waccamaw Trail Blazers

SingleTracks

VBS at First United Methodist in downtown Conway

Shake It Up Cafe!
July 10 – July 14 … in the evening … not sure of the time
This is going to be the most exciting VBS ever! I hope that you have plans to join us and bring a friend! This year’s VBS is sure to be over the top! For the first time ever, we will be using a live band for all of the music, skits, and adventures that will be going on with VBS! It will be held in the evenings, and we still need volunteers, if you’re interested in helping out, we need it! Please let me know, and go ahead and mark your calendars for some great summer fun!

VBS at Trinity United Methodist

Around July 17 … still getting the dates and times but … it’s in the evening

VBS at NewSong in Conway

July 11th to 15th *** 9:00 till noon *** Ages 3yrs to 5th Grade

Wacky Wednesdays – Pirate Style

Wednesdays this summer from 10:00 till 2:00 at NewSong Church in Conway

Conway Summer Reading Program

KICKOFF is Monday, June 6th at 10:00 am
Mondays – June 13 at 1:00 PM, June 13th at 10 AM,  June 27th  10 AM (Awards Ceremony)

$1 Summer Movies at Rivertown Theater in Conway

8 weeks of $1 movies for kids *** 10:00am on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Click this link for the movie schedule: http://www.franktheatres.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3TtSjtSawUM%3d&tabid=306

Abiding Village

Lots of free classes this summer for Art, Dance, Percussion ~ Check out their site: http://www.abidingvillage.org

Myrtle Beach State Park Summer Program

May 31 to September 3rd …. many Free programs … 9:30 to 3:00 on Tuesdays through Saturdays

Click here for more info and a printable schedule.

Island Inspired Summer Surfing

Surf Clinics on Saturday Mornings – FREE Lessons – Bring your own board or rent one for $10 – must preregister

Click here for  Island Inspired Girls Only Surf Club on Facebook – dues TBA but minimal
Click here for Island Inspired Boys Only Surf Club on Face book – dues TBA but minimal

For more info: www.islandinspired.com or 843-236-2841

This is how they play in the snow in Aynor.

If I had to guess,  it has been  about eight years since our last family photo shoot.  I can’t believe how much has changed during that time.  It is easy to be distracted by “life” sometimes and forget to count our many blessings.  I have been blessed with an amazing family.  I love the fact that pictures give us an opportunity to look at ourselves from a different perspective.  This shoot has created stories that will stick in my mind forever.  The shots captured the smiles that these stories enticed from us. I have looked at these shots 100 times already and can only imagine how many times I will do so in the future.

Take a look at www.cocobleuphotography.com her work will take your breath away in many cases.

This weekend was the first competition for the 2010 FLL.  This year Engineering meets Medicine in the Body Forward Challenge.  Our team, “HEART Robotics” was fourth in the overall standing and will moving on to the state competition in February.