Day 3 - Day at Sea

The third day of the cruise went spent at sea. We all had a great day exploring the ship and swimming in the pool.

Hunter, Chris and Jordan

There was a big screen tv above the swimming pool. So Chris and I could watch movies while the boys swam. Each night they played a different movie... Movie Under the Stars. They would get under a blanket and eat popcorn while watching the movie.

Jordan in the hot tub with a girl on each side

That night was formal night. It was fun getting all dressed up and eating a delicious meal.

Chris and Kim

Chris and Jordan at dinner

A family picture on formal night

Day 2 - Princess Cays, Bahamas

That night we cruised to the Bahamas. The Princess cruiseline owns an island in the Bahamas called Princess Cays. It was a beautiful topical island. They set up a buffet lunch on the island.

Princess Cays
Our ship is behind us

We all went snorkeling in the Bahamas. It was the first time Hunter and Jordan snorkeled. Hunter loved it. Jordan, on the other hand, was much happier just swimming and playing in the sand.

Hunter's 1st snorkeling adventure

Jordan took this cool picture of his room key. We used our keys to charge anything we needed or wanted our room account. I was so proud of Hunter and Jordan for not abusing this privilege.

Master Jordan Bristow's room key

After a day of fun in the sun, we went back to the ship for more delicious food and entertainment.

My two boys!

Day 1 - Spring Break Cruise

For Spring Break this year, we went on our first family cruise. After work Saturday, we started our trek to Ft Lauderdale. Chris drove since I was exhausted from working 6 days in a row. It is about a 10 hour drive to Ft Lauderdale. Chris drove to 2 am and we stopped at a hotel just passed Jacksonville. We were very glad to see the beds in that room!

The next morning was Easter. Somehow the Easter Bunny found our hotel room and bought 2 new cameras for the boys. Hunter's camera is a digital underwater camera. It is very cool. Jordan received a nice regular digital camera. They both really enjoyed taking pictures on our trip.

We arrived in Ft Lauderdale around 1pm with plenty of time to find our ship, get the suitcases to the right place, and park the car. We were definitely ready for a vacation!

Welcome aboard
Jordan looks like he is ready to start cruising

This is our cabin. We loved the balcony.

Jordan showing off the view

The dock at Ft Lauderdale was very busy. It was fun watching all the boats come and go.

Ft Lauderdale

This was one of the main areas of the ship. It reminded us a little of the grand staircase on the Titanic. We are glad history didn't repeat itself.

Jordan

Hunter and Jordan enjoyed ordering off the adult menu for dinner. We are not use to such long 5 course meals. The food was incredible.

Hunter with his dessert
It was called Menage a trois since there were 3 desserts.
I'm glad I didn't have to explain that to the boys.

The boys of summer

The Cubs

Hunter is playing baseball this spring for the Cubs. In the team picture, he is in the first row the second on the left.

Cross Walk 2010

For Palm Sunday, one of the local churches had a Cross Walk. The walk started in Little Mountain. We walked 5 miles to St. Peter Lutheran Church in Chapin. We all took turns walking with the cross.




If you click on the picture, you can see the line of people walking behind the cross.

Concession

Each baseball team is assigned two days to work the concession stand at the ballroom park. We worked the concession stand for the team Monday night. We sold hot dogs, nacho chips with cheese, ice cones, chips, drinks and candy for the hungry ball players and their families. We were very busy. There was rarely a time without a consumer.

Hunter helping some consumers

One of hardest parts was not knowing how much anything cost. The prices were posted but you were constantly looking at the price board and adding the total cost in your head. There was no calculator. Good thing we are good at math.

Chris and Hunter

Hunter had the best time. He was so excited about giving people food and change. He can't wait until it is our turn to work the concession stand again.

It is the Chicken Man again!

I told mom about the Chicken Man so she wanted to meet him also. She found this beautiful picture. Hunter was a little disappointed when he saw the Chicken Man. He thought he would be dressed in a chicken suit. Ernest Lee is definitely an interesting man. He has been painting in Columbia for 10 years now. He and his pictures are a part of Columbia culture.

Mom and Ernest Lee

Chicken Man

The Chicken Man, Ernest Lee, is in Chapin this week. Jordan and I were driving home and saw his van. He doesn't have a store but sells his painting out of his van. So occasionally in Columbia or around the state, you will stumble across him.

Jordan and the Chicken Man

He painted two Clemson paintings just for us. He said he was hungry and asked if we would go to a nearby store and buy him some fried chicken. Of course, we did. He is a local artist not a local starving artist. Jordan was laughing on the way home because we bought the Chicken Man chicken.

He puts this chicken on the corner of the street where he is selling art work.

I don't want to work. I want to bang on my drums all day.

A group from Africa came to Jordan's school this week. They taught them about African culture. They learned how to play the African drums, sing African songs and dance African dances.

Each class picked a color to wear. Jordan's class color was black. So the morning of the performance, I asked Jordan if he was Johnny Cash. He replied " It looks like I'm going to a funeral." Then he used a deeper voice and said "Well, maybe I am."

Mask dance

This is an African tradition. The legend is that the women of the tribe found the masked doll or spirit that would sing and dance. They would not let the men look at it. So they decided to have a tug of war. The winner got the masked doll. The men won and received the doll. But the men were very curious. They pulled back the mask and the spirit disappeared. So now the men dress up like the mask doll and sing and dance, so the women don't find out they broke the doll.

This is a video of Jordan's class performing.

Jordan loved playing the drums

They called all the teachers to the stage. They were such good sports. Jordan's teacher is wearing black and white behind the instructor.

The teachers dancing

First Boy Scout Camping Trip!

Hunter left on his first camping trip with the Boy Scouts. They are going to Lost Sea Caverns in Sweetwater, TN where they will go on a glass bottom boat through the cave and even spend the night in the cave. This is his first camping trip without us there and his first time in Tennessee.

In the car - Ready for the adventure to begin

Charlie, Hunter's old den leader, was nice enough to take these great pictures. Melanie, his wife, was nice enough to send them to me. Thanks!!!

Before entering the cave, see how clean everyone is.
Everyone has their head lights on.
Hunter is in the middle in gray.
(You can click on any picture to enlarge it.)

They explored the caves and squeezed through lots of tight places.

No one got stuck in the caves but some adults had to back out
because they could fit through the opening.

This is a picture Hunter took as he will going down one of the caves

Cave Exploring

Look at all that mud. His clothes, shoes, hat and even his underwear were covered in red mud.

Hunter took this self portrait in the cave

If the fun you had is measured in mud, they all had a BLAST!