The Family Cruise

To celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary, Don and Penny took the entire family (grandkids and all) on a 10 day Carribean Cruise. The vacation was wonderful not just because we had the chance to spend over a week all together, but because we had a chance to celebrate the union of two of the most wonderful people I have ever known. I am so happy to be a part of the family :)

Here is the happy couple caught in a late night moment in the lounge

Kevin and Austin in the matching outfits we bought for them in Trinidad. Aren't they a cute pair?

This is a picture taken in Trinidad along the way to the beach. Trinidad was by far our favorite island to visit, due largely in part to our great tour guide. He even introduced Ryan and Scott to fried Shark.

Here Austin gets his first experience at a beach (in Trinidad). He loved building sandcastles with Aunt Wendy (who, by the way, brough all of her sand-castle-building equipment with her), Auny Lynda, Ryan, Cheryl, Kevin and me

Here we all are in Curaco (La Guaira - Port of Spain). From left to right Me, Don, Kevin, Austin, Ryan, Lynda, Scott, Cheryl, Michael. Penny and Wendy are missing from the photo. Is Wendy shopping already??

Here is my little man all dressed up for one of our formal nights. I have to say on the record that Austin was such a good boy! He loved all the constant attention, and managed to sit relatively still through the long formal dinners. Of course, he had plenty of people to entertain him too:)

Here Ryan and Cheryl pose with Austin outside the main dining hall. Austin is wearing the passed down Tartan Plaid (from Nova Scotia). Kevin wore this when he was a baby (as did Wendy with the addition of a little baret that we decided not to put on Austin). Maybe someday, Austin's child will wear it too.

This is by far one of my favorite moments on board. It was the end of a long day. Each couple had renewed their vows, shared another wonderful day together, and we wound up in the Crow's Nest (a piano bar on the top deck). Trying to keep Austin entertained, I took him out on the dance floor, where we enjoyed a mother and son dance together. Looking into his big eyes, I realized that although days can be trying, moments like this made everything else trivial.

A picture of one of the many beautiful Bays on St. John

Kevin and Gen on the beach. ha ha! We wish! Here is Ryan and Cheryl in the crystal clear water at Half Moon Cay, Holland America's Private Island. The boat we were on in the background is called the ms Volendam. Took Kevin parasailing for the first time here! That is about the best thing I can say about this island.

A specatcular view from the boat on one of our last evenings before we headed out to sea for the return home

This was such a wonderful trip. I don't know of many other families that can spend day in and day out with each other and not get on each others nerves. We are so grateful that Don and Penny included us in their plans!