Birthday Cruise

Don and I flew to Puerto Rico on Friday, March 9.  We enjoyed the evening there before embarking on our Royal Caribbean cruise aboard the ship, Adventure of the Seas.

Day 1:  Saturday, March 10
Departing San Juan, Puerto Rico
Don and I boarded the ship about 2:30.  We located our room, 6624, on the 6th deck, a stateroom with a balcony.  The Kahlers are just down the hallway from us in room 6653.  We explored the ship and then had dinner.  We have 6:00 dinner scheduled every night in the big dining room on deck 3.
We checked out the sport court after dinner.  

Day 2:  Sunday, March 11
Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Don and I spent the day on the ship - exploring, relaxing, sunning and celebrating my birthday.  Dinner dress code was formal night so we all dressed up. 

Day 3:  Monday, March 12
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Beach Day!

Landon with his usual appetizer - escargot.

Owen with his usual entree - spaghetti

Whopping it up with the waiters dancing

Day 4:  Tuesday, March 13
St. John's Antigua

We didn't plan an excursion today but we did leave the ship to walk around Antigua and shop.
 

Fun on board the ship.

Don enjoying the quietness of our balcony

Leaving Antigua

Game room with the boys

Day 5:  Wednesday, March 14
Castries, St. Lucia
Pitons Cruise and Snorkel - The twin peaks of the Pitons tower over the island's lush mountains and rain forests.  Don and I boarded the catamaran to ride to the Pitons and then to snorkel between the two towers.

Our waiter had a trick for the boys each night.

Day 6:  Thursday, March 15
Bridgetown, Barbados
Beach Hop Island Style - We boarded an open-air jitney bus and a guide shared island tales and historic landmarks in route to three Barbados beaches. 

Day 7:  Friday, March 16
At Sea

We arrived back in San Juan, Puerto Rico Saturday morning and departed the ship about 9:30.  A 2:17 flight to Chicago and then to Colorado Springs. 

What a beautiful and relaxing cruise. All the islands were new experiences for us.  We loved time spent with the Kahlers.

February - On the Road

FLORIDA
Don and I joined Jim, Jane, Judy and dad at Coral Reef at St. Pete's Beach for a few days.  We stayed at a nearby Marriott and enjoyed eating out and relaxing with them.  Friday we headed to Sarasota as Don was asked to be at the Gatorade Summit.  We enjoyed staying at the Ritz Carlton!  
 

LA
Don worked an NBA camp for Basketball Without Borders during the NBA All Star weekend.  
 

INDY
Brent and April planned a winter get-away to Mexico so Don and I went to Indiana to baby sit February 21 - 27.   Don took Cade and Kasen to the Pacer's basktball game on Friday night.  Saturday Kasen had basketball practice and a game and then we went bowling.  Sunday after church we ate at iHop and then went to see the movie, Peter Rabbit.  The boys had school Thursday, Friday and Monday and we managed to get in lots of game nights.
 

NEW YORK CITY
 We flew to NYC late Wednesday, February 28 and stayed until early Monday, March 5.  We attended many Big Ten conference tournament games and even got to see Iowa on Thursday as they won on Wednesday.  They lost to Michigan in OT, but it was a great game.

We enjoyed two evenings at the theater - Anastasia and Come From Away.  They were both excellent and some of the best that we've attended recently.
Don worked all day Saturday at a Nike Zoom coaching clinic.
Sunday we headed to Chelsea Market and enjoyed browsing and eating lunch there before heading to the basketball final game.  Michigan won.

Madison Square Garden

Anastasia

Come From Away based on a true story of the planes that had to land in Newfoundland on 9/11

Chelsea Market

fish for lunch at the market

spices and teas

Empire State Building

Landon Turns Twelve!

TWELVE!

Owen had basketball games on Sunday so we stayed in Iowa long enough to see those.