Advent 1984

I have not been slacking!  The St. Mark blog site has been keeping me busy---trying to post every few days!  I have posted the Holiday House Tour as well as re-printing devotional thoughts from our 1984 Advent Book.

Read HERE to see why the wisemen aren't in this nativity.  This photo is from several years ago---baby Jesus won't be in mine until tomorrow.

Christmas Cards 1982

While preparing some blogs for the church on an Advent Devotional Book we did almost 30 years ago, I ran across this entry which appears to be a poem that I wrote.  To read the "poem", Click here.  Here is the truth:  that "poem" started out as greetings for our Christmas cards in 1982.  I took those small poems and combined them into one longer one.  It sort of works. . .

 First, Rebecca and Rachel made a series of drawings (some of which I still have).  Then, I used these drawing as inspiration for some Haiku.  Dave then traced the drawings and wrote out the Haiku.

Post Disney: Thanksgiving

After our Disney cruise, it took a few days for the kids to get back to "normal".  Anna got an early birthday gift of a purse and long gloves to go with her Cinderella outfit and Eli got a hook. . .just because.

Soon, life became a little more normal as we prepared for Thanksgiving.

 Playing video games, sitting on Grandpa's lap reading, putting together Christmas lists.

 It was Thanksgiving before we knew it.  Gregg, Jane, Richard, Lynn and John came over!

Anna and Eli weren't the only ones putting together Christmas lists---John and Lynn were mapping out a strategy for Black Friday shopping.

After Thanksgiving, we headed North where we were able to watch Roman at his gymnastics practice.

What Makes a Disney Cruise Special?

Obviously the characters on board are wonderful as was the pirate night and character breakfast.  But, there are also wonderful shows and current Disney movies. The Warrens went to this show with the kids and we saw the movie Lincoln 3 days before the general release in theaters.

 But, there are other things that show the Disney Cruise is well-thought out for families.  First, the security bracelets which the children must wear to attend the Oceaneer's Clubs.  Second, the Oceaneer's and Teen Clubs operated all day and most of the evening at no extra cost.  The kids could have lunch or dinner there, stay as long or as short as they like.  If the kids want to leave, parents are a short walkie-talkie call away.  Meanwhile the kids had a great time (Eli didn't want to leave) and the parents (and grandparents) could relax around the adult pool area.


Two walkie talkies are in each room---we could text or call one another.  Dave could sit and read on the balcony while I could find the Warrens and join them at the pool, shuffle board or in a craft activity (Todd is checking his walkie in shuffleboard photo).

Disney Concerns

I was worried that we were going to be"Mickey Moused" to death.  Most of the time the symbols were pretty subtle. The ship had several photos of the Disneys on a cruise in the 1930's---the decor of the ship was largely Art Deco from that era.

Curtains in our room

Sure, sometimes, the symbols were pretty large, but still were tastefully done.

Grand Cayman Excursions on Disney Magic

 In Grand Cayman, we parted ways with the Warrens.  We went on a bus and boat tour which included visiting Hell (a rock formation), the beach and seeing the mangroves on an ecology tour.

Iguana (about 3 feet long) not native to Grand Cayman

 We learned about these cute little jelly fish, how mangrove trees develop (pods drop in the water and take root) and saw some iguanas which were not native but blew in with a hurricane.

The Warrens visited a sea turtle farm, where they petted them, swam with them and Eli even learned to snorkel with "Nemo"---not the character, but tropical fish.

Pirates in the Caribbean

 Pirate's night was so much fun on the cruise.  Thankfully we cruised right after Halloween, so Leah could pick up a few items at a discount (like Anna's dress and Eli's sword).

I loved how Eli really got into character for Pirate's night. There was a special menu for dinner that night too. I especially liked the cornbread and black-eyed pea relish.   Earlier in the day they had pirate crafts and activities.

Leah bought the telescopes on the ship---correctly thinking they would entertain the kids at dinner.  Before dessert, there was a pirate parade and limbo.  In addition to rotating dining rooms, there always seemed to be an activity, characters, movies to entertain the children in the dining rooms.

Sadly, Anna and Eli were worn out from the activities and never had a chance to experience much of the night life.

 The Pirate Deck Party was particularly fun.  I sneaked up just to see it for future reference.  First, on the upper deck, was a show on the stage which was broadcast on the big movie screen.  Then, Mickey made his appearance high on the smoke stack---he then "flew" to the stage over the deck.

Meeting the Princesses

 The Disney Cruise had many opportunities to meet characters and the Princesses.  One was a meet and greet in the main lobby.  We saw the lines and crowds and thought we could see them from one of the balconies. . .

 We watched them twirling in---one even saw us and waved.  Anna loved it, but. . . she wanted to go down to see them.

 We thought maybe taking her to the Disney store would distract her. . . But, she just wanted to go down to meet them.  Thankfully, this was a two-day event.

The next day, her daddy seeing how much it meant to her, took his book to read and was the first one in line.

 He had her Cinderella dress to change into, but she couldn't take the time to change---not with the princesses twirling in to see her.