We returned on Monday from a 4 night cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. We went with our old neighbors Katina & Freddy and Erin & Bret. All of our children stayed at home with their grandparents. We have been planning this trip for over 6 months. Brandon and I have never been on vacation with other couples, so I was hoping this would go well. It was great! We all had the same vacation style. We hung out during the day in a central location near the pool & if some of us wanted to go do other things we did & then met up for dinner. The guys all went the the golf simulator. The girls shopped. Each couple got a couples massage. We had our couple time & our friend time. Every night we spent time at the piano bar, the dance club & watching a band. I really can not believe what an awesome time we had. Usually Brandon and I are more layed back on a cruise. We usually go to the show, maybe hit the piano bar & that's it. Not this cruise... we partied like rock stars. And, if you have heard me talk in the past couple of days you believe me. My voice has been gone since Friday. Saturday was spent in Cozumel. Katina & Fred went to power snorkel in the morning. We decided to go shopping in Cozumel & ended up bumping into Erin & Bret. So we all went shopping & then parted ways so we could go to snuba. It is kind of like a combo of snorkeling & scuba diving. You have the oxygen, but the tank is attached to a float above you. We did this on our honeymoon and I was totally freaked out so I really wanted to try it again. Well... I was totally freaked out again. But, I did not cry this time. The instructor took off my weight belt & let me stay on top of the water until I was ready. Then he brought me down to the ocean floor (about 25 ft.). It is so beautiful. Here is a pic before I got my courage up. Brandon said he was pretty proud of me that I didn't cry & I didn't give up. It just takes me a little while to get used to that feeling of breathing through my mouth & the weight belt always freaks me out.
After snuba we all met up at Carlos & Charlies for more fun. We found it! A magician sat at our table & did some of the best card tricks we had ever seen. We may have had a couple of beers in us, but even Freddy (who does not drink) couldn't figure it out. I am trying to remember some other highlights....
Dinner. Oh Dinner! OK, what you need to know is this was Freddy's first cruise. He is a very personable, upbeat, happy person. If you don't like Freddy, then something is seriously wrong with you. Also, he has a great Boston accent. So, taking him on this cruise was kind of like taking a 4 year old to Disney for the first time. Everything was awesome, some things were wicked awesome. He was so excited that he could order whatever he wanted to for dinner and as much as he wanted. Lobster night was my personal favorite. He told the waiter to just keep them coming. After his 7Th plate he begged the waiter to stop. Erin wasn't even eating lobster & thought she might puke. Freddy is pretty sure that heaven is a cruise. Massages, all the lobster he could eat, lots of "alone time" with your spouse. He really made the cruise all that much more fun. I loved seeing everything new through his eyes.
Singing. There were two types of singing going on. First at the piano bar. We had a blast singing. I noticed that our friend Bret knew every word to every song. Pretty impressive. So, when we walked by the karaoke bar & he said lets sing a song I said sure. We were the last song of the night & by the time we had our chance there was only 1 other group in the room. Bret picked the Beastie Boys, Paul Revere. I was taken back by this choice as Bret is usually on his best behavior & this seemed to not match his personality. Little did I know he is a closet rap star! We had a blast . 2 nights later I asked him to sing it again by himself so I could watch this time. Well, I actually got it on video. Brandon and I have watched it over and over cracking up every time. Not because it is bad, but because it is great. Just, not the Bret we know. The two songs before him sucked. The room was a little more full this time. He brought the house down. This pic is from the first night. Another girl thought she was going to sing with us, but she had no idea what song we were singing until she was up there. She could not hang with Grand Master Bret!
There are too many stories to share. I just want to say that I knew we had good friends, but sometimes when life takes over it is easy to forget how much you like them. Katina & Erin... you both are great friends & I really miss living next door. You are beautiful women, great wives & fantastic Moms! Every day I thank God for friends like you. Thanks for keeping me off the table!
I missed Connor & Hudson a bunch. But I really wasn't worried. They were with Brandon's parents & I knew they would be fine. It was great to be able to relax & just enjoy some grown up time. I was reminded how much I love Brandon (not that I forgot, but it is nice to be reminded) I was also reminded how much I like spending time with him. Sometimes when kids & chores & life takes over I think husbands & wives forget that at one time you were both just friends. Brandon can really make a party. If you can't have fun with him in the room.. you need to leave the room. He got involved in a Fear Factor competition on the boat & dominated it beginning to end. I have video of that too... but I saving it for some good blackmail.
