Dutch Wonderland with our Toddler Prince

On day two of our Pennsylvania trip, we decided to head out to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster. We ate breakfast in the Hershey Lodge at Lebbie Lebkicher's. I didn't think it was fantastic and Jax was not excited to sit down and have a meal, but they did add chocolate chips to everything, so I couldn't complain.

After breakfast, we got in the car and headed to Lancaster. Dutch Wonderland was about 30 minutes from Hershey and easy to find with the GPS. We paid $10 for Premier Parking and parked to the right of the entrance, but we realized it really wasn't necessary. The walk wouldn't have been long at all. Jax was napping when we walked in, so we just took our time seeing where everything was situated. It wasn't long before we started taking pictures of ourselves acting silly with the animatronic dinosaurs.

Snapping a quick pic with a Tyrannosaurus Rex

TK hatching from a dinosaur egg

Jackson finally woke up from his nap and we headed back over to the dinosaurs and he enjoyed RAWRing at each one of them, and there were a bunch. He also photobombed a few people's family pictures. Oops. Then, we went over to the fossil area so Jax could dig in the sand. It was really hot, so he wasn't too fond of sitting in the sand for too long.

RAWRRR!

We decided to head over to the splash area called Duke's Lagoon. The small kids' area was having an issue, so the water was off, unfortunately. Jax wasn't able to splash around and slide down the little slides, but he did stand at the end of the big slide and crack up laughing every time a kid slid down and splashed him. Unfortunately, he wouldn't go down any of the slides by himself and didn't want to walk under the sprayers, but he enjoyed himself and cooled off.

By that time, we all got hungry, so we left the park and walked down to Sonic. We sat outside and enjoyed our slushes, sandwiches and tots. It wasn't a far walk at all, so we also decided to see what stores were in the outlets across the street. The stores I wanted to check out (Janie and Jack and the Disney Store) weren't there, so we headed back into Dutch Wonderland. We rode the cars and the train together, and Jackson enjoyed them both. The lines weren't long, and we are used to waiting on lines at Walt Disney World, so it was refreshing.

Fortunately, while walking around we saw that they sold Dole Whips, and like I said, we are used to Walt Disney World, so we know EXACTLY what those are and love them. TK and I both got a Dole Whip float and then left the park. They were so sweet and refreshing after that hot day.

On the way back to the Hershey Lodge, Jax fell asleep, so we went to the lobby bar and had one drink each. I had a Troeg's and TK had a Special Dark Martini. His drink was delicious and he was able to keep the glass. When we were done with our drinks, we went back to the room to freshen up and change for dinner.

Special Dark Martini

We took a drive to see if we could check out the outlets, but they were closed and so were most of the restaurants we wanted to try because it was Sunday. We saw lampposts on Chocolate Avenue that looked like Hershey Kisses and the Hershey Museum, which was also closed. Instead of eating at a Chili's or a Red Lobster, we headed back to the Lodge to eat at the Hershey Grill. When TK and I travel, we make a deal to only eat at places that we can't get at home.

Kiss lampposts

At the Hershey Grill, we all had delicious meals and I washed mine down with a Reese's Peanut Butter Martini that was pretty amazing. I was able to keep that glass also.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Martini

At the end of our meal, we walked back to the lobby of the Lodge and stopped at the gift shop. I got my mother some chocolate and smelly chocolate wax melts. I got my in-laws a magnet and my father sugar-free Jolly Ranchers. For us, I got a Reese's Peanut Butter Bar, a Reese's Christmas ornament and chocolate lotion. I wanted to make sure I bought things that were unique to Hershey.

Jax refused to shop anymore, so we went back to our room and turned in for the night. In the morning, we got everything together to leave. We couldn't find a check out option on the remote or the television, so I had to get on line at the front desk to check out. Lazarus, the attendant, was very friendly and the process was very quick and efficient. After we were squared away, I went to the Cocoa Beanery again to get us Frozen Hot Chocolates and bagels for our ride home, and TK and Jax went to the car. The bagels were terrible, even toasted, but the drinks were delicious, even without whipped cream. I guess during the morning rush, they leave off the whip to conserve time. I prefer it with whip, so I made a note for future visits and a note to skip the bagels.

We finished our weekend away with a final drive home and decided that we loved the Hershey Lodge, the food and Dutch Wonderland for little ones. We also concluded that we probably should've waited one more year to take Jax to these parks, but he had a great time nonetheless. I just think that we would've had more fun if he was more apt to get on rides, so we stuffed our faces instead and everybody won! We enjoyed ourselves.

A Trip to Hersheypark ... with a Toddler

Since we couldn't afford to head to Walt Disney World for a long weekend, we stayed closer to home and decided to go to Pennsylvania. We booked the Hershey Lodge because the price was comparable to other hotel prices for that weekend, but it was partly our fault because we waited until the last minute to book.

Hershey Lodge

We left for PA at 4:15 a.m. on Saturday and drove all morning until we got to Lancaster. Jackson slept the entire time, so we only made one bathroom stop in Brandywine where we actually saw hot air balloons in the sky. TK said he would never go on one, but I would love it. Our destination was Shady Maple Smorgasbord in Lancaster. We heard it was like a warehouse-sized buffet with delicious food, and wanted to see what it was all about. Lancaster is famous for its Mennonite population, farming and food, and even though the folks in town will never read this, the food is really good. There was a pancake station where you can really add whatever fruit or candy that you want. I got Blueberry Pancakes before I noticed that the list included cinnamon chips and bananas. Oh well! You can get your eggs made-to-order and special French Toast. I tried their donuts and HOLY SMOKES, they were good. A man on line told us that it was the "best breakfast buffet in the state," but I don't actually have anything to compare it to, so I will say he is correct. He then found me by the buffet and told me that if I liked gift shops, that there was a huge one on the bottom floor. OK, thank you ... I think.

Buggy Parking

Shady Maple Smorgasbord

After breakfast, we made our way out to the Hershey Lodge to check in. When we got there, I got out of the car and got on line at the front desk. The attendant was nice and she gave me three bars of chocolate, but our room was not ready yet, so I went to the concierge desk and bought our tickets for Hersheypark. I also got complimentary tickets to the Hershey Gardens and Hershey Museum. You get them for free if you stay at the Hershey Lodge or the Hotel Hershey. I looked around the lobby a little and it looked very comforting with dark leather and large plush seating. The back of the lobby housed a bar and I knew I would pay it a visit some time in the next couple of days. There was also a four-sided fireplace that you could probably sit around with a hot chocolate in the fall and winter. That's what I would do.We dropped our bags off at bell services and headed out to the park.

Hershey Lodge Fireplace

The Lodge had a complimentary shuttle to Hersheypark, but we decided to take our own car. We paid $12 to park and walked right in because we already had our tickets. Jax was free because he is only two years old and considered a Miniature because he is only 34.5" tall. So, we rode two rides with him and there were other rides for him, but he wouldn't go on anything alone. We made our way to the Boardwalk area and I changed Jax into his bathing suit and water shoes so he could run around and splash around a bit. We didn't go on any slides or try the surfing attraction, but if we all wore swimsuits, we may have. The water area of the park was pretty large, but we stayed in the area for little ones.

The Boardwalk Splash Area

We forgot our towel, so we bought a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup one and made our way to the front of the park. We got our hands stamped and went to the car. I changed Jax back into his dry clothes so we could get gas and get a few things at Target. Jax fell asleep after Target and we went to go eat lunch at Smoked Bar and Grill. He slept through the whole thing and we got him Macaroni and Cheese to go. Lunch was delicious and we loved it so much that we would've gone back the next day if it wasn't closed on Sundays, like almost everything else.

We headed back to the Lodge to check out if our room was ready and it wasn't, so I went over to the Cocoa Beanery to get myself a Frozen Hot Chocolate. While I was paying, my phone rang and it was the front desk telling me that our room was ready. I scooped up my drink and went to the desk to pick up our keys. While I was waiting to get the keys, I tried the Frozen Hot Chocolate and it was like one big delicious punch in the face. I almost shouted across the lobby at TK to tell him how yummy it was, but then I saw the beautiful fireplace and kept my opinion to myself.

Our room was in the same building as the lobby because I requested an inside entrance room. It was lovely with little Hershey details all over. There were kisses on the sheets and on the wallpaper in the bathroom. I was impressed by their commitment. The toiletries even smelled like sweet chocolate and I knew that when I found the gift shop, chocolate lotion would be purchased.

Hotel Room

Bathroom Sink with Hershey Kiss Wallpaper

Can you find the Hershey Kiss on the sheets?

When we got settled in the room, I called down to bell services to bring up our luggage and to the front desk to ask about the pack n play. They delivered both and the pack n play had a Johnson's Take Along Pack in it. I was so surprised that they would give away baby toiletries to their guests and thought it was a great touch.

We got freshened up and then headed back out to the park. This time, we took the free shuttle and it dropped us off right at the gate. We headed right to ZooAmerica so Jackson could run around a little. ZooAmerica is a zoo connected to Hersheypark and it features North American animals. Admission is included with admission to Hersheypark, but you can buy a ticket to get into to ZooAmerica without going through the park also.

Jax checking out the fish in the bear exhibit

After Jax got to see a bunch of animals, we headed over to some of the carnival games and he played the one where you throw the wiffle ball into the cups, and he actually won! He got a Despicable Me Minion for getting the ball in a gold cup. Not bad!

Finally, we decided to get some snacks so I got a slushie in a Hersheypark cup and TK got a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae, and whoa, was that sundae delicious! Jax had apple juice and pineapple tidbits from a cup of fruit I had for him. He isn't big into baked goods or ice cream. Whose kid is this?

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae

After we had our snacks, we decided to head back to the Lodge for the night. All day, we didn't see any Hershey characters walking around the park, unfortunately.

Jax put himself to bed that night and I was shocked, but he was done, so I understood. We were done too. It was a long day of traveling, eating chocolate and laughing, and we were ready to do it again. 

Cars Second Birthday Party

On July 12, 2014, we celebrated Jackson's second birthday with a Cars birthday party in my parents' backyard. He is obsessed with cars, trucks and planes, so it seemed fitting. I found invitations at Party City for $3.99 per pack and chose the Saturday after my son's birthday as the date.

I was able to prep for the party a few days before and bought checkered duct tape and covered all of the water bottles in labels like checkered flags. Last year, I covered water bottles in Mickey duct tape for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse first birthday party and guests really liked it, so I decided to do it again, but the checkered tape was the only Cars-related tape I could find. Again, guests thought that they were fun, but I was unable to redeem the bottles afterward because all of the labels had been removed. Aw well!

Racing Fluids

The day before the party, I started on the cake. Weeks prior, I did some research on Pinterest to see what kind of cake I wanted to make for Jax. I decided on a big #2 with a road on top and toy cars driving on it. I bought a box of black fondant to roll out for the road and white gel icing for the lines on the road. For the cars, I bought Cars Micro Drifters at Toys R Us. I used box cake mix to make one yellow cake layer and one chocolate layer, then I shaped each of them into a 2 and did the same with the fondant. I had extra fondant so I was able to make wheels for the sides of the cake as well. I frosted the cake, stacked them and then added the decorations. I think it came out pretty good, which was reassuring because it could have been a disaster.

Cars #2 Cake

On the day of the party, we started decorating pretty early so we could get everything up. Fortunately, we had a nice day, so we set up the inflatable pool and the sprinkler pad for all of the kids. For the decor, my mother found hanging decorations, which included colorful pennants, a Lightning McQueen and Mater photo drape with props, a cardboard Al Oft (the blimp from Cars) and Lightning McQueen hanging decorations. The deck was decked out! As an added bonus, I drew eyes on a long white strip of paper and placed it in my mother's car's windshield so it looked like a real Cars character was parked in front of the house. Some people thought that it was a sun shield. I just laughed.

Cars Decorations

Since Jackson's seven little friends were coming to the party, I made sure that they had fun goodie bags to take home. The boys got Cars cups, Cars candy, Cars stickers, glow necklaces and a variety of other fun stuff. The girls got Frozen cups, Cars candy, Disney stickers, mini tiaras and a variety of other fun girlie items. After writing each name on the cups, I put each group of goodies in a cellophane bag, added some shredded colored paper and secured them with bendy ties. Each kid seemed happy to get them on their way out.

Fun Goodie Bags

After hours of fun, food, family and friends, we called it a night and cleaned up the backyard. We were able to preserve some of the decorations, but the cake was basically gone and so was most of the food. The party raced in and raced on out, but it was a winner. It was a very Happy Birthday for our little speedster.

A Reminder of My Regret, or 'Planes: Fire & Rescue'

Planes: Fire & Rescue Theatrical Release Poster

The weekend that Planes: Fire & Rescue came out, we decided to take Jackson to see one of the first showings of the day at a local theater. Fortunately, when we pulled into the parking lot, it was empty. Jackson's ticket was free because he is only two and the children's ticket age starts at 3 years old. Maybe that should have tipped me off that 2-year-olds are too young for the movie theater.

TK kept Jax outside in the lobby area until the previews began. It may have been better if he waited until the actual movie started, but Jax sat and watched the previews and liked them all. One was for Annie. Another one was for Big Hero Six and another for The Book of Life. There were a few others, but I cannot remember which ones because I just wanted them to end so that the movie could start. That was out of character for me because I love the previews; sometimes they are even better than the movie. I just knew my toddler's clock was ticking and the longer he was happy, the longer we were happy.

I love animated features and my favorites are made by Walt Disney Studios. So, the fact that my son loves them too, makes me very proud. Fortunately, I was able to pass this hobby on to him already because he will sit and watch Cars, Planes, Toy Story, Frozen and even Finding Nemo. I love it and one of the main reasons is because I've loved drawing since before I started school. It is one of my biggest regrets that I did not go farther in animation than the 3D rending class during my junior year. I had a professor that didn't have the patience to teach me the things I was having trouble with. So, after I barely recreated a mug using a step-by-step process, I could not get it exactly how it should look or get any extra help, so I withdrew from the class. That was basically a turning point in my life. I had to settle with the fact that I would not become an animator or work for Disney and Pixar. It crushed me, but I went along with my art degree, which I don't actually use in my current day-to-day life, and this is where the regret lives.

As we watched Planes, I was completely captivated by the backdrop of each scene. That's exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to be the person that drew the elaborate background settings for animated features. One of my favorite scenes from an animated feature is when Peter Pan, Wendy, John and Michael fly over London and you can see the whole city lit up at night. It is just a beautiful piece of artwork. At one point during the movie, Dusty flies by a waterfall and I felt the tears well up in my eyes. I was overcome with emotion because I felt like I really failed myself and my passion. I love my family and my life, but I just wish that art (my real passion) was a much larger part of my life.

After an hour and five minutes, Jax decided that he had enough and didn't want to sit any longer. Unfortunately, we did not get to see the last 20 minutes of the movie, but we know that we will see this movie a hundred times, just like we've seen the first Planes almost a hundred times. Planes: Fire & Rescue was a good movie, from what we saw. The artwork and characters were well-developed and the jokes were funny. We would love to see the rest of the movie, and we are sure it will be part of our collection shortly after.

Trip Report, Day 8: Final Day on the Norwegian Gem

We got up early and got our stuff together to leave. We all met and had breakfast in the Garden Cafe Buffet. Our departure time was 9:30 a.m. and we had pink tags on our bags, so we had to get back to our room to scoop up our stuff and find a spot to wait. We hung out in the lounge area near the beer and whiskey bar waiting for pink to be called.

When pink was announced, we walked around the ship and got in line to check out. We first had to be cleared to leave the cruise and then we went to find our bags. As we gathered our bags together, TK went to look for a porter with a baggage cart. When he came back with the porter, he started to pile the bags on top of each other because we had a lot for seven people. He sped us through the line and through customs. We gave the customs agent our passports and the declaration slip, and we were on our way.

We had a great time cruising together on the Norwegian Gem and want to take many more cruises as a family in the years to come.

Just to make decisions on future cruises easier, here are some highlights and negatives from our trip on the Norwegian Gem:

The Highlights
- Food was available somewhere, 24 hours a day. 
- The private island, Great Stirrup Cay, was amazing and relaxing.
- The cabana rental was perfect for our big family.
- The Hippo Slide was fun. 
- The waitstaff was friendly and attentive.
- The stewards will get you whatever you need.
- The Chocoholic Buffet
- Alcoholic beverages were tasty. 
- The Pub Crawl was a good time.

The Negatives
- Apple juice was difficult to get for my toddler after breakfast.
- There was nothing for a toddler to do after 8 p.m.
- You need a ride to go anywhere at Port Canaveral. 
- The pools were crowded.
- Atlantis was a waste of time, unless you spent hundreds of dollars.
- No cupcakes, cookies or brownies
- Alcoholic beverages were pricey.
- Our room was quite small. 

Bon Voyage! 

Trip Report, Day 7: Last Full Day at Sea

Today, we woke up, had breakfast and went looking for our family. My mother took a zumba class and saw us on her way back to the room. My dad, Uncle George and Aunt Rosie were all playing bingo, so we went to meet them. TK played video blackjack for a little while as we waited for them to finish playing bingo. After they lost at bingo AGAIN, they headed to the casino and Jax and I did more laps around the ship.

I met my father, Uncle George and TK to have some sushi for lunch. Jax snacked on some Cheerios as we ate some delicious rolls. I started with Edamame and then had a Shrimp Tempura Roll, but everyone else had two or more rolls. We loved them and the sushi chef was very friendly and taught me about the different types of fish in each roll. Finally, when everyone was done, we went to see the crew talent show, but I had to get up with Jax because he bumped his head on one of the chairs and would not sit still. I took him to the top of the theater and we watched the show from there. My mom and Aunt Rosie came to the rescue with some grapes for Jax, and he was content.

We walked around the shops a little bit after the show was over and TK made a deal with me that if he won some money in the casino that I would be able to buy a dress from the shop. I don't usually spend $50 on a sun dress. Fortunately, he won exactly the amount of the dress and I made the purchase. TK went back to the room and I walked Jax around while he fell asleep. Then I went to the atrium and watched people perform Just Dance 4 on Nintendo Wii. It was pretty funny and entertaining. Since TK forgot to return from the room to meet us, we went back to the room to relax before our dinner reservation at the hibachi restaurant.

When we arrived at Teppanyaki, we sat around the hibachi table and ordered some cold sake. The food was delicious (especially the sauces) and the show was entertaining. I couldn't figure out the origami lesson on the menu, but I did catch egg in my mouth on the first toss, so I felt slightly accomplished. After dinner, we went back to the room to get our bags packed and ready to be taken by the stewardess. Deisei took our bags and we met back in the atrium for coffees and hot cocoa. We also made sure that Jax took a final picture with his friend Tetiana. Then, we turned in so we could get up nice and early for our departure the next day.

Trip Report, Day 6: Chocoholic Day at Sea

We refused to get up for breakfast at 9 a.m., so by 10:30, we made it to the buffet to just grab bagels. Then, we went looking for our family and our little guy. We found my mom first in the shops and then saw my dad and Jax as they were walking around and looking at souvenirs. He loved the wind chimes and found this $700 bracelet that he liked and needed to show me. It had light blue stones in it and wasn't something I was interested in buying for that amount of money.

They all went to the casino because the guys wanted to enter a Texas Hold Em tournament, but immediately realized that it wasn't worth it. It was $300 for the three of them to play and they could only win $350. So, they just played table games instead and did pretty well. Jax and I did laps around the boat while we waited for them to finish playing.

After the casino, my dad, Uncle George and TK entered a putting competition in the lounge. Some of the shots were from the top of the stairs. Jax and I left to go to the kiddie parachute play session, but Jax wasn't interested in the parachute and just played with the blocks and cars in the room. When the session was over, we went back out to the kiddie pool and Jax went in again. After he splashed around for a while, we went back to the room to rest and then get ready for dinner.

When Jax woke up, we all got dressed in white and headed to dinner. Jax had a mini meltdown during dinner, so someone had to take him walking every few minutes. This is where it really helps to have a large traveling party. After dinner, we went to take formal family pictures in our matching outfits where the photographers were set up with a few backdrops. It was the White Party night, which we missed, but we showed up in time for the enormous Chocoholic Buffet. There were some interesting treats, but again, no cupcakes, cookies or brownies. I enjoyed the Chocolate Cheesecake and Cream Puffs with a nice cold glass of milk. When we had our fill, we went back to the room with Jax to watch a movie because there wasn't anything else for us to do that would keep him entertained. We called it a night.

Trip Report, Day 5: Nassau, Bahamas

Atlantis Outdoor Mall

Today we had breakfast at somewhere other than the buffet, the Grand Pacific Dining Room. I had a Belgian Waffle with Banana Compote. Yum! After breakfast, we headed out to Nassau and to a Tortuga Rum Cake store and Del Sol, a heat-activated clothing store. Jax got a few Disney color-changing t-shirts. When we were done shopping, we got on a ferry to head over to Atlantis. It was $4 a person. On the trip over, we saw Nicolas Cage's vacation house and a hut that was used in a James Bond movie.

When we got to Paradise Island, we walked to Atlantis and through their outdoor mall, which was a serious trek. The only areas in Atlantis that we had access to were the mall and the lobby of the hotel. We couldn't take Jax in the casino and we weren't allowed to even see their grounds. We needed a ticket or a room key, and when I asked about complimentary activities, the desk clerk laughed at me. They charge $40 per person just for their aquarium and I heard that wasn't all that fantastic anyway. TK, Jax and I decided we were going to head back toward the boat. We stopped at Ben & Jerry's first and wasted $20 on nothing. TK got a waffle cone and I got a really small cup of lemon sorbet and a Coke Zero. $16.55. WHAT?? I officially dislike Atlantis.

Strawberry Daiquiri and Conch Fritters

We took a cab back to the pier and then walked a long way to the Fish Fry. On the way, we passed Junkanoo Beach which should have been our first stop instead of wasting our time at Atlantis. At the Fish Fry, we ate at Frankie Gone Bananas and had Conch Fritters, Conch Chowder and a girlie drink each. The Fritters and Chowder were good and had a little kick, so we needed the frosty drinks. After eating, we took a cab back to the ship. We got back early and Jax fell asleep, so I decided to go use my spa credit for a facial. My appointment wasn't until 3:45 p.m. and I was there at 3, so I popped into the library to have some quiet time and I did a crossword puzzle that they had available. Twenty minutes before my appointment, I went to check in and they allowed me to hang out in a lounge chair at the front of the ship.

Samantha, my esthetician, came out to greet me and bring me into the spa room. We talked about my skin and then I got ready for the facial. I didn't have to change my clothes or put on a robe, which was odd to me. Every other spa I've been to, I had to get out of my clothing, but this time, she just wanted me to bring the straps of my dress down and take my hair down. The facial was great and refreshing. It was my first facial ever, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Samantha also gave my hair a treatment that allowed me to put a brush right through it when she was done. When does that EVER happen? Never. She also spoke to me about how I should be cleansing my face every week. Eventually, I will follow her advice, but with a facial mask for $50, I will have to wait.

Afterward, I went back to the room and saw TK, Jax and Uncle George. Apparently, while I was getting a facial, my family was worried about us because they couldn't get in touch with TK or me. TK and Jax were asleep in the room and I was getting pampered. I told them where we would be when we left them in the casino, but they weren't sure if we made it back to the boat and that it might leave without us. So, we all met out by the pool and Jax refused to swim with my dad, so we had to take him back to the kiddie pool so he could splash around for a little bit.

Chocolate Decadence

Everyone met for dinner shortly after we showered and changed. That night I had the best dessert (I counted the ice cream as a snack). It was called Chocolate Decadence and I was waiting for something completely indulgent and full of chocolate ALL week. Also, I didn't see a cupcake all week. I thought that was odd. Chocolate Decadence was so delicious, sweet and warm, and it had berries on it. I tried to share it with everyone, but my dad said it was too much chocolate. What does that even mean?

After dinner, we went to the atrium where the Ranger game was on the big screen and we sat at the bar and took turns taking Jax for a walk. We also met a really cool couple, Kevin and James. My parents took our sleeping baby for the night and we decided we were going to hang out for a while. When the Rangers lost, we headed over to the Bliss Night Club to see what was going on over there. The club had all 20-somethings in it and I was disappointed to see that more of them got up to dance to "Cotton-Eyed Joe" than "Hypnotize." What is going on in this world? At 3 a.m., the lights came on and we said good bye to our two new friends.

Trip Report, Day 4: Great Stirrup Cay

Today, we got up, had breakfast and prepared to head over to the private island, Great Stirrup Cay. We reserved a cabana on the island, so we received VIP tender tickets which allowed us to take any tender boat we wanted to head over to the island. We decided to take the earliest boat possible. A tender is a boat that will take you to the island because the ship cannot dock at a pier and has to anchor in the middle of the ocean/sea. I didn't know what they were before this trip, but now I am very familiar with them.

So, we got on the tender boat and it was rocking back and forth as they let people on and idled in the middle of the sea. I ended up popping a Dramamine because the boat was seriously swaying and I didn't want to be nauseous while swimming at the beach. Even Jackson was holding on to us because he was uneasy about it and he jumps headfirst off of couches. When we started moving, we both were fine. It took all of 10 minutes to get over there.

When we got to the island, it was awesome. We just had to grab our bracelets for the cabana and then head over to cabana #9. It was the second farthest, of course, but it was lovely. Already at the cabana was a plate of fruit and chips with salsa. There were also bottles of water in the refrigerator, towels, lounge chairs and yellow foam floats. Fortunately, it was not a far walk to the beach and there weren't too many people on the beach with us, so we went right in. Jax went in the water with TK at first and then Uncle George brought down the yellow floats and Jax walked across them. After a little bit, he got out and we played in the sand with the bucket of toys we brought from home. He liked being able to stand in the water and throw rocks and shells.

After a little while, I went to get my snorkel and swam along the rocks on the coast. There were tons of little striped fish hanging out in there and a few big fish also. I let TK try the snorkel so he could see what I saw. It was great and I was glad that I made the decision to buy a snorkel at Target when I did.

We got out of the water and went up to the cabana for a snack. With the reservation, we received a $50 food credit to order food from a menu they gave my parents. The food we ordered, including beer, fruit and shrimp cocktail, arrived and the barbecue down at the entrance area also began, so we decided to take a walk. My dad and Aunt Rosie stayed back with Jax. At the barbecue buffet, there was an interesting array of food including pizza, burgers, brownies, salads, ribs, chili, hot dogs and chicken. We brought back a few plates of food, but my father decided that he would wait for my mother to get back, but she was shopping at the little shopping area that was set up and I figured that might take a while. We saw some guy walk by sipping a drink in a coconut shaped like a monkey's head and when TK asked him, he said he got it at the bar. The cabana had waiter service, so we asked the waiter for two monkey heads with pina coladas. The drink was so refreshing that it was hard to go back to my Blue Moon afterward.

After eating, we pulled out the lounge chairs and soaked up some sun. A few minutes later, TK's curiosity got the best of him and he wanted to take Jax down the Hippo Slide. So, we walked down to the big inflatable slide that we could see in the distance. I had to use the restroom, so I stopped on the way. Unfortunately, Jax fell asleep on the way, so we couldn't take him on the slide. But, that didn't stop TK and I. We met up with my mom and she watched Jax as we climbed up to slide down together. It was pretty high and a lot of fun. We ended up colliding at the end. Oops. When we exited the ride, we got our flip flops back on and decided to do a little shopping for our niece and Jax. We got Genny a little straw purse and a t-shirt with little beads. We bought Jax a Bob Marley t-shirt. That was a sweet find, even though we were in the Bahamas and not Jamaica.

When we got back to the cabana, we headed back to the water before laying out in the sun again. Unfortunately, by that time, it was time to head back to the ship, so we scooped everything up and headed to the tender area. On the ship, we went right to our rooms to get changed and ready for dinner. I had sunburn on my upper back only. The rest of my body that saw the sun was just tan, thankfully. We headed back to the Grand Pacific again and I had a soup, a salad and Gnocchi. It was great and just the right amount of food.

We hung out in the atrium before ordering a martini and arriving at the Happy Family Dance Party in the Bliss Night Club. Jax didn't love it and I took one for the team when TK didn't want to participate in the Nickelodeon contest. We did a musical chairs-ish game and it came down to me and a three-year-old girl, so obviously I had to lose and take a whipped cream pie in the face. Unfortunately, when that little girl won, she got a pie in the face too. Poor thing. They should've given her a prize of some sort instead. After wiping the whipped cream from my face, Jax was finished dancing and being happy, so we went back to the room to watch a movie and go to sleep.

Trip Report, Day 3: Port Canaveral

Today, we had breakfast at the Garden Cafe Buffet again and were prepared to go ashore. We were allowed to leave the boat at noon, so we met my cousin Georgie, his girlfriend Paige and her son Garrett. We love them! They rented a car and also took their own so we could all travel wherever we wanted to go because there were 10 of us. We even had a car seat for Jax. It was very nice (and smart) of them.

Our first stop was Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach so we could do a little shopping. I got Sanuk Flip Flops that I love and a small Dakine pocketbook. TK got a hat and a tank top, and we got Jax the cutest shark pail and shovel. We also bought stickers for our cars, and future cars. Georgie bought Jax a Ron Jon surfer van, which was very nice of him. My mother bought Jax a full Hawaiian outfit. It was adorable, I have to admit.

When we finally finished shopping, we headed to Historic Cocoa Village. It is a nice, small, coastal town that has a number of shops and restaurants. It is small enough to walk it all. Our first stop was Ossorio Bakery & Cafe for lunch. I had a lemonade and the Sara Salad. They had pizza, sandwiches, free refills for iced tea and lemonade, and homemade ice cream, so we made sure to get some on the way out. I had Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream in a waffle cone and it was seriously delicious. While eating our amazing ice cream, we took a walk down the street to a cute toy store, a great flip flop store and home decor shops. Paige bought a pair of flip flops because the Flop Shop had some seriously comfortable ones and the prices were comparable to other places I've been. My mom asked one of the store clerks if there was a park close enough to walk to and there was, so we headed there.

We walked a couple of blocks and found a park with a jungle gym, a swing set, a volleyball court and a fountain. Jax played around a little bit and TK and Paige played a game of volleyball with two random middle school girls who were on the volleyball court. Then, Jax found the fountain and made a beeline straight for it. My dad and Uncle George ran with him through the fountain and he got soaked. He wasn't happy that we had to leave, but  I changed his clothes and he passed out in the car on the way back to the ship. Georgie and Paige had to go, so we said goodbye and headed back to our rooms to get ready for dinner.

That night, we had dinner in the Grand Pacific Dining Room, but Aunt Rosie wasn't feeling well, so her and Uncle George stayed in their room and got room service. The Grand Pacific is fancier than the Magenta, but still included in the price of the cruise. That night, I had Red Snapper, something I had never eaten before. That was one thing I wanted to do while on the cruise: eat something I've never eaten. It was delicious and light. I was kind of surprised because I like shellfish and mollusks more than I like actual fish, or so I thought. Now, I will consider Snapper when I am eating seafood.

After dinner, TK and I headed over to Shakers Martini Bar for a couple of beverages, but then decided to head to the Java Cafe in the atrium. Jax made friends with the piano player, Tetiana. She played "Let it Go" for him and he loved it. Eventually, Jax fell asleep and we called it a night. 

Trip Report, Day 2: First Full Day at Sea

Today, we woke up, got ready and headed right over to breakfast at the Garden Cafe Buffet. When we finished our waffles and eggs, we looked for the Spinnaker Lounge where they were selling bingo cards. When we finally found it, we waited to get the cards and then played bingo. Not one of us won anything and TK and I took turns walking Jax around because he wouldn't sit still.

After losing, we headed over to the kiddie pool so Jax could splash around and he loved it. They had a mini indoor pool with a little elephant slide in it. He didn't want to leave, but we had to. We tried to sit by the pool, but he didn't want to do that either because it was too hot and the pool deck was very crowded. TK, Jax and I headed inside to grab some lunch from the buffet. They had pretzel rolls that I loved.

When we were done eating, we went back to the room to get ready for the Pub Hop. Jax was going to hang out with my parents for the hour we were gone. TK, Uncle George and I met the small group of five at Malting's Beer and Whiskey Bar. It was $25 each and we visited five bars on the ship and received a drink or more at each one. At the first bar, we had to chug an entire Stella Artois and then flip the cup. We jumped right in! I came in the middle. Two college-aged sisters won. When we headed to the next bar, Mandy, the crew member who led the hop, had us chanting and singing. It was a little embarrassing, but none of those people would ever see me again, so I did it. At the next bar, we played a game, which I won, but I still had to drink an entire Strawberry Margarita and a half. At the following bars, we played a game with an apple that we had to get through our clothes, we did a waterfall and then we played a game where we had to transfer a balloon from one person to the other and then run to the bar to take a shot. It was much more involved than I thought it would be, but it was also a lot of fun. Uncle George beat a girl in a chugging contest, so he won a t-shirt. It was impressive.

After the Hop, we got to Shakers Martini Bar and waited for everyone. Since we were already there, we decided to participate in the Martini Tasting for $15 each. We had a flight of six small martinis. I knew dinner was soon, so I just sipped on them and didn't finish most of them, except for the Appletini. I enjoyed that. I also answered a trivia question correctly and won a Chocolate Raspberry Martini, which was also very good. That one came to dinner with me. We met up with everyone while the tasting was going on and my parents headed into the casino and left Jax with us because he was napping. So, we finished up there and headed back to the room to get ready for dinner.

For dinner, we had reservations for Moderno, the Brazilian steakhouse on-board. It was delicious! There was a salad bar and the waitresses came around with all kinds of meat for us to eat. I love Brazilian steakhouses. Well, steakhouses in general, actually. After dinner, my family went to the casino and Jax and I went back to the room and then for a walk around the ship. We tried to take Jax to the "World Beat" show, but of course he wouldn't sit still enough for the show to start, so TK took him back to the room. Selfishly, I stayed and watched the whole show, but I am not sure if TK would have liked all the twirling. The singing was OK though. After the show was over, I went back to the room and saw that my kid had ran all over it, so it was time for bed.

Trip Report, Day 1: Cruising on the Norwegian Gem

Since you know we have a toddler and you know that we like to travel, my family and I decided to take a cruise together on the Norwegian Gem. We all had cruised before, but never all together, so we were super excited to get away for a week and cruise the Atlantic Ocean. The travelers on this trip included my husband Tom (TK), my two-year-old son Jackson (Jax), my parents (Mike and Angie), Uncle George, Aunt Rosie and me, of course. We normally travel in big groups. It's more fun that way!

On Saturday, May 31, we got up and started to get ready to leave. TK, Jax and I were actually ready and waiting for my parents, for a change. We packed our bags and gear in their car and then we headed over to Burger King for breakfast. Jax likes French Toast Sticks, so we knew Burger King was a safe bet. When we got our food, we headed into the city and to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on 50th Street and 12th Avenue. By 10:30 a.m., we were in the Terminal, checking in and meeting up with Uncle George and Aunt Rosie. We were able to wait in a VIP area because one of the crew members handed my father a paper that got us in. We still have no idea why that happened. At around 11:45 a.m., we were allowed to board and we walked on the boat. We were greeted on the 7th deck by crew members and I made my way to one of them to sign up and pay for the Pub Hop that I read about online.

From the 7th floor, we headed up to the 12th for lunch on the pool deck. Fortunately, we were able to find a table and we got burgers at the buffet and drinks from the waiter. I had the drink of the day in a souvenir glass, which had a funny name, but essentially, it was a Mai Tai and a pretty good one (It had better be for $9).

While we were hanging out, there was an announcement that our rooms were ready and we abandoned the table and headed down to the 5th floor. Our room was an inside cabin, so it was a walk-in closet with furniture. We were missing the toddler life preserver and the pack n play, so we told the stewardess, Deisei, and she said we would have everything before the end of the night, which we did. We had to muster at 3 p.m. and hear all about what we should do in an emergency. Jax was making noise the whole time, so everyone in Muster Station G2 was on their own.

Afterward, we did a little exploring to see where everything was on the ship and cruised past the Statue of Liberty and the Verrazano Bridge. As soon as we passed the bridge, we came back to the room to see if our luggage had arrived, and some of it had! TK's bag arrived first and Jackson's arrived last. Jax and TK took a nap, so I went with my mom and Aunt Rosie up to the spa and fitness center for a raffle. I actually ended up winning a $100 voucher for the spa, but the stipulation was that I had to use it while we were at port. Then, I came back to the room to wake up TK and Jax, and get ready for dinner in the Magenta Dining Room. The Magenta was on the 6th floor, so it was only one floor above us. I had a Broccoli Soup, Surf and Turf and a slice of Apple Pie for dessert. Jax had his first Macaroni and Cheese meal.

After dinner, we headed out to the bars and lounges and everyone hung out in the casino, but Jax and I made our way outside because it was way too smokey in there. TK, Jax and I walked around the ship for a little bit and then to Malting's Beer & Whiskey Bar where Tom had some scotch drink that I wanted nothing to do with. Soon, Jax started to fuss and we decided to go to bed. We were cruising and the next day was a full day at sea.

Toddler Packing List

When we travel with our little guy, we have to bring A LOT of stuff. And, by A LOT of stuff, I mean a full packing list for him on loose-leaf paper, front and back. Honestly, when preparing to be away from home for a week or more, it really helps to have a checklist and everything we need.

So, I would like to share my list with you, just in case you need your own to check off. Please keep in mind that this is the list I used for a one week family vacation with my son when he was 16-months-old and we went to Walt Disney World and 23-months-old when we went on a Caribbean cruise.

The Fabulous List:

- Outfits (9 daytime, 7 nighttime)
- Undershirts
- Pajamas (7)
- Socks (7)
- Sunglasses
- Hats (2)
- Shoes, Sandals and Sneakers (2 dressy and 2 casual)
- Water Shoes
- Bathing Suits with Matching Rash Guards (4 sets for the cruise, 2 for WDW)
- Sweatshirts (2)
- Diapers (56)
- Swim Diapers (1 pack)
- Wipes
- Wipes Case
- A&D
- Baby Powder
- Travel Diaper Bag
- Changing Pad
- Pacifiers and Holder (for the younger trip)
- Toothpaste and Toothbrush
- Travel Baby Wash
- Travel Baby Shampoo
- Travel Baby Lotion
- Nail Clipper
- Baby Comb
- Baby Hair Gel
- Baby Tylenol
- Boogie Wipes
- Little Teethers
- Baby Sunscreen
- Wash Mits (2)
- Thermometer
- Antibacterial with Holder
- First Aid Kit
- Safety Swabs
- Baby Detergent
- Stroller Rain Gear (for WDW)
- Baby Poncho (for WDW)
- Stroller
- Stroller Attachments
- Baby Carrier
- Snack Pods (2)
- Sippy Cups (4)
- Bottle Brush
- Dish Soap
- Tiny Diner or Placemats
- Food Pouches
- Ice Packs
- Snacks (Goldfish, puffs and cheese curls)
- Vitamins
- Bowls (2)
- Animal Paper Plates (1 pack)
- Over-the-Head Bibs (2)
- Pack N Play Sheets (quilted and regular)
- Blankets (1 thick, 1 thin)
- Sound Machine (16 mo.) or Night Light (23 mo.)
- DVDs (3) and Portable DVD Player with Charger
- Books and Toys (cars and planes for my kid)
- Child Harness
- Birth Certificate (16 mo.) or Passport (23 mo.)
- Mickey Ears (WDW)
- Mat Board with Sharpie Markers (for WDW autographs)
- Beach Toys (cruise)
- Swimmies
- Wash Cloth (for cooling down in theme parks)

This completes my list, but, by all means, add your own stuff because you may go on a ski vacation or a camping trip (God help you) and need a lot of different things than what I have listed. Make it your own. I did.

Traveling with a Toddler

My son Jackson is 23-months-old and he has been to Busch Gardens in Virginia, Walt Disney World and on a Caribbean cruise already. He even has a passport because he needed one for the cruise. I didn't have a passport until I was 19 and my husband didn't have one until he was 37, but we love to travel, so we bring him with us and we love it. Lucky kid! I have a few tips that I found while I was researching how to travel (kind of) easily with a toddler. I am not trying to patronize anyone or act like I know everything; these are just a few things that worked for me and my family.

The first thing I will advise you to do is to travel with more adults than children, if you can. We have traveled with my parents, my Aunt Rosie and Uncle George, and my cousin Georgie, his girlfriend Paige and her son Garrett. By having a bunch of adults, we are able to take turns walking him around and keeping an eye on him. At WDW, we even took turns taking him on rides, so that each of us could get in a picture and he had plenty of people to play with. 

When we went to WDW, I sent a box of my son's supplies to the resort because they accepted packages two weeks before the reservation. By sending the box, I didn't have to figure out how to get all of his diapers, food pouches, sippy cups, bath toys and towels on the plane. Keep in mind, a toddler averages six to eight diapers per day, so that's a lot of diapers for one week. All of his stuff that would be used on the trip was already at the resort in the box when we got there. We just had to ask for it at the reception desk when we checked in. Fortunately, we were able to take a quick trip to the grocery store for milk, water and extra pouches, as well.

If you are flying, you are allowed to keep small electronic devices on throughout the entire flight from take-off to touch down. This was great to hear after sitting down in our seats. So, I suggest bringing a portable DVD player with a few of your child's favorite movies. Jackson was able to watch Cars for the entire flight to Orlando, have some snacks and then he actually fell asleep about an hour and a half in. It was glorious, and I was very nervous about how he would act on the plane because he has a lot of energy. It was a breeze! On the cruise, we were able to watch movies on my father's laptop at the end of the night because there was nothing for a toddler to do after 8 p.m., and my kid stays up late.

My son loves cars and planes, so we make sure to take a few of his toys and small board books from home with us. I keep them in a Ziploc freezer bag, so I can throw them all in a bag or underneath the stroller when we are on the move. They are lifesavers for when we are waiting in line or hanging out in the hotel room with nothing to do. Also, bath toys are important for your child to enjoy their bath in a new place. We even bought some new bath toys while in WDW because we found a package of Cars ones and Jax LOVED them. He still does.

For a toddler to stay happy, I've learned that you have to keep their bellies full and their bodies rested. So, I made sure to take a snack pod everywhere and two or more pouches, just in case he won't eat the food we buy him at a restaurant. The snacks I bring for my little man are Goldfish, toddler cheese curls, Cheerios and puffs. I also make sure to have at least two sippy cups while out and about, one with a water/juice mixture and one empty to be filled with a new, cold water/juice mixture or cold whole milk, depending on the time of day. Having sippy cups means having to clean them. In some resorts, they supply dish soap, but on the cruise, I brought the bottle brush and a Ziploc of dish soap so I could wash the cups every night.

To each destination, we bring one of our little guy's strollers. He is able to nap whenever he gets tired and we have pockets for everything he needs in the day. We also can strap a fan, a bag or a cooler to it and it makes it so much easier to transport everything. A stroller also adds some shade to the hot, steamy summer days, thankfully. However, at WDW they make you park your stroller outside of every ride, so if your child falls asleep in his or her stroller, it is a good idea to take a baby carrier. When we got on line for the Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom, Jax was asleep. I picked him up and put him in the carrier and parked the stroller outside. He slept against me in the carrier and I didn't have to struggle with holding him as I walked through the queue. It was easier on my back and my arms to have a carrier, and he slept soundly. Unfortunately, he slept through ALL of the animals, so we will just have to go back ... Also, tie a noticeable ribbon on the stroller so you can spot it in a sea of strollers at a theme park. You would be surprised how similar they all look.

Everyone makes fun of the way I pack clothing for trips with my toddler, but I read it online once and was hooked. OK, so I put every outfit, complete with socks and an undershirt, if needed, in a labeled gallon Ziploc bag. The bag says the day and date, so it is easy for whoever is dressing Jax on that day. I make sure he has an outfit for the daytime and one for the nighttime for each day, with pajamas to sleep in. It makes it much easier to find everything when in a rush, and I am always in a rush.

If you are taking an airplane to get to your destination, it is a good idea to take your child's pacifiers, bottles or lollipops, if they are old enough. It will save your child from the ear pressure that may drive them to screaming on a plane full of strangers, and who wants that? Just bring them to be safe.

Also, to be safe, you should bring medications that you think your child might need. An infant or toddler might need teething gel or Tylenol while you are away. Wouldn't you rather have it than need it? 

I want to preface this paragraph by saying that I know it is not for everyone and I used to think negatively of child harnesses (AKA child leashes), but while we were in Walt Disney World, we wanted to give our son his freedom, but there were WAY too many people there for us to do that. So, one night, I gave in and my cousin and husband went to Walmart and got my son a child harness. They spent $10 and came back with a stuffed elephant. Honestly, it was the best $10 I've spent. He had the cute elephant strapped to his back and he was able to walk around and discover everything that Disney had to offer, but we could still keep him close to us. We've also used the harness at the mall and on the cruise. The way I see it, a harness allows him the freedom and activity that he needs without the worry of getting lost or kidnapped. I could not explain the idea of strangers, kidnapping or staying close to mommy to a one-year-old, so I will stand by my decision everyday and it works for us.

The final thing I will tell you about traveling with a toddler is that you should bring your own sheets, blankets and if your child has a favorite stuffed animal, bring that too. The hotels or resorts will supply you with sheets for the crib or pack n play that your child will be sleeping in, but they don't have the comfort of home. I found that my child slept soundly while cuddled up in a pack n play with the blankets he is accustomed to.

I wish you luck on your travels and I hope that you create hundreds of memories with your little guy or girl. Take tons of pictures and enjoy the adventure.