Back from the cruise that almost never was...

So we are finally home for our extended vacation, it was so, so, so much fun. It was so hard to go back to work this week but the weather here is finally warm so that makes it better. We started off our trip by spending the weekend in California with my brother Stephen's family. It was Abby's birthday party on Saturday, a very Dora themed party. It was really fun and perfect weather. She had a BBQ and very yummy Dora cake with strawberries. Aaron and I got her a little swimming pool for her back yard, which while it was the only non-Dora present, was a big hit. Here are some pictures from the big day.

So as you can see, its all smiles in the these pictures because this is before Sunday, which was supposed to be our cruise day. So even though Aaron doesn't want me to tell people this, I'm sure SOME day (not today) we'll look back on it and laugh so I wanted to document it. :) So....all along the cruise people tell us be at the ship at 4, be at the ship at 4, it leaves at 5. So we take it kind of as a suggestion, like when the airlines say be at the airport an hour early. I checked in online so it said we would have a speedier entrance onto the ship. Well we leave my brother's house on Sunday afternoon pretty casually planning on arriving at the boat by 4 but it takes a little longer than expected and we get there right after 4. Big Mistake. We get to the gate and the guard tells us we can't get on the ship anymore. Panic sets in, but its right there just sitting there. Well its too late, I guess with coastguard rules they have to put in a ship count one hour before sailing time. I called everyone at that stupid cruise place to no avail. No one could help. It was a nightmare. The be there at 4 was not a suggestion. So I'm on the phone crying to the people and it comes down to 2 options, fly to Cabo San Lucas and meet the ship there or do nothing and get no refund (that's right, no refund, nothing, at this point I'm completely and totally regretting my decision to not purchase that stupid travel insurance). So we're struck we have to buy the tickets to Cabo. I'm thinking of the cost of last minute tickets to Mexico, freaking out, but one way tickets from LA to Cabo were suprisingly only $89 each. So we took Aaron's graduation present, bought the tickets, and left the next morning on the first flight out. It was crazy but actually we ended up having a blast with 2 days in Cabo and then the next day got on the ship 3 hours before it left Cabo and made sure we were back early every port after that. :) Many, many stories and pictures to follow!!

Oh and I came home to 3, that's right, 3 of my best friends having babies. Congratulations - Mandy, Rebecca, and Ambyr. I can't wait to see them all!!