Cruise Vacation ~ Day 5...

We spent day 5 in Costa Maya, Mexico...

We started our day at a water park, which the kids always LOVE... 

Cooper's smile just makes me smile...he is the happiest little kid who is typically always having a good time!!!

Now...he doesn't love to lose so he got annoyed that Matt/Anna Lauren beat him every time.  Hello...they weigh so much more than you so they are going to go faster sweet boy.

Pure joy!!!

Over in a far corner we found a slide I would go down.  I don't like tunnels but will happily sit and watch them all day long slide down whatever slides they want.

We probably should have just stayed at the water park...the kids could have cared less about the beach.  However, I wanted to see the beach so we went for a couple hours before getting back on the ship.  Anna Lauren got her hair braided while we were there.

I mean we needed to see this, right?

Quick family picture as were leaving Costa Maya...

You know...you cannot pass up an opportunity to take a picture/give someone a tip for letting you take a picture with them. 

Not a bad view as we walked down the long pier to get back on the ship...

Cruise Vacation ~ Day 6...

On day 6 we were in Cozumel, Mexico...

Washy Washy man was celebrating his birthday, which he told the adults he celebrates once a week (ha ha)...

We had been so "unplugged" that we didn't know we were in the middle of a tropical storm.  Therefore, our day is Cozumel didn't go quite as planned.  Our excursion got changed to a jeep excursion due to weather and this was our first stop...it was yucky, yucky.

Matt and the kids gave snorkeling a try...I was going to snorkel this day, but I knew the water was too rough.  I would have been sick within minutes.

Matt and Anna Lauren did it, but Cooper caught him a ride back to the shore...

And enjoyed a snack under the umbrella with his mommy...

All loaded up in the jeep headed to our next stop.  And yes, we are smiling and we laughed a whole lot.  The day didn't go quite as planned so we just had to laugh many times throughout the day...

Despite the weather, the views were still amazing...

Yep...this is how we explored Cozumel...

The rain stopped for just a little bit but it was still windy (notice my hair).  Cooper was too busy playing to take a picture with us.

Love that this kid makes friends where ever he goes...

This may be one of my favorite pictures.  It was so pretty right here...

Matt and Cooper climbed to the top of the lighthouse.   Anna Lauren and I went about 10 steps and turned around...it was hot, very tiny, and the stairs just spiraled to the top.  I couldn't do it.

From the top of the light house...

We had about an hour before we had to head back to the ship so we headed to downtown Cozumel.  We probably should have just gone there for the day, but o'well...there will likely be a next time.

He can even make friends with statues...

Just strolling in the rain...

A fun day filled with lots of memories...

A little shuffle board as we sail away...

Cooper and I tried to go to dinner, but we just couldn't make it...the boat was a rocking AGAIN :(

The rocking never stops these two...they headed to the show and then dinner.

And sadly Cooper and I missed it...Matt got picked out of the audience to be in the show and then supposedly dinner was the best of the week.  

Cruise Vacation ~ Day 7...

Our last full day on the ship was spent at sea...

A hug from Shrek on the way to the pool...

Cooper decided to do the dance exercise class on the pool deck...

If I have said it once, I have said it a million times...Cooper has no problem making friends with other kids.  This was his "crew" on the ship all week...they played at the pool and in the kids club any chance they had.

They ate lots of ice cream...

And had lots of "boy talk" while eating their ice cream...

Meanwhile these two were always planning their next adventure...

Making sure they have not missed anything...I'm telling you Matt and Anna Lauren do it all.  Cooper and I are perfectly happy doing about half of what they do...

Our last day of sailing...

We ended our last day with the parade and then the pool.  The kids were having so much fun that we opted to skip formal dinner and just let them swim/play with other kids.  Not to mention Matt and I were enjoying just sitting on the pool deck, enjoying the calm, and watching them play.  We knew it was quickly coming to an end...

Cruise Vacation ~ Day 8...

We woke up on day 8 back in Galveston and quickly realized "back to reality" was right around the corner...

Cooper had one last request before we got off the ship...play a little ping pong.  The boys played while we waited our turn to get off...

Sadly we were oh so close to being back in the "real world"...but look at my big kids that can now help carry luggage!!!

The lines were longer than usual so we were patiently waiting to go through customs...

It's kind of crazy getting on the ship and off the ship...thankfully our car was only a few blocks away so we opted to walk to our car rather than wait in line for a shuttle.  Again, thankful for big kids that can help with the luggage!!!

And last but not least we showed Anna Lauren the gas station where we stopped/called 911 in Beaumont, Texas on our way to the cruise.  Looking from the interstate was good enough for all of us. This summer she has been diagnosed with benign rolandic epilepsy.  This is best case scenario and something she should hopefully outgrow by the age 15.  For now, we can treat it by monitoring her sleep or as the doctor says by being a sleep nazi.  Yes, we are still a little nervous but so thankful it is not anything worse...this we can handle!!!