Two slow weekends.

Smallest bowling shoes there fit Jia, aren't they soooo cute.

Here you go Dad.

Jia was too scared to throw the ball but Lili figured out on frame 9 that if she put the ball down Jia would push it down the lane.  It took forever for them to reach the end but they did and some of them knocked down pins!

Kids have been coughing since we've been home.  We haven't had any playdates for two weekends in a row, not wanting to pass it around.  This past Saturday night I suggested we get them out of the house and bowling was the choice.  

It wasn't Jia's first time going to the bowling alley, but her first time getting to bowl.  She opted out.  She was happy to get balls for us and walk around our lane and swing around a post right by us.  Then at the end, chips and pop for everyone and she was really thrilled about that. 

Everyone is feeling better and we're all getting back to normal. 

Ensenada

The water sprays up every 7 seconds.

Jia was oohing and ahhing at the bubbles.

There was even great music being played for us there!

Happy Birthday Miss Fei Fei!!  Two nine year olds, how fun!

We have no idea what the monkey and banana are all about but our guide told us all the kids want their picture taken on the banana.

Fei was serenaded in Spanish and in English.

Loved, loved, loved our day in Ensenada!  We got off the boat, took a shuttle bus to town and once were there we met a woman from the tourism center and she told us about a tour to see La Bufadora.  I had read on-line about it and we all agreed to go.  Price was great, $15 for adults, $12 for kids, Jia was free.  We went on a tour bus to the 'Natural wonder of Ensenada'.  It was across the bay and took about 40mins to get there.  There was a 180 stall market which was the perfect taste of Mexico.  At the end of the market was la bufadora, which is a blow hole in the ocean.  There are three in the world so it was pretty cool to see.  It's also where the baby lions were :)  We made it back to the boat just in time for our dinner seating.  It was a mad rush to get dressed for Fei's Birthday celebration but the day was totally worth it.  What an amazing 9th Birthday our Fei Fei had!

Camp Carnival

Youtube Video

http://youtu.be/zVToM0RfVLg

We were pretty busy on the ship and the girls had their friends with them so we didn't use the Camp Carnival until the last day at sea.  The four big girls went to a magic show and then had a towel animal folding class.  I told Eric to get them at 3 because the next class was a break dancing class and I didn't think they'd want to do that.  I had no idea that when he got there they wanted to stay.  I had a nap and played on my new tablet and I assumed they were exploring with Eric.  Imagine my surprise when we went to the atrium after dinner and the girls starting doing a breakdancing routine.  The dancers who were going to perform saw them, came and got them to the center stage and had them dance a pre-show!  I was soooooo completely shocked.  Thankfully I had my camera in hand!!  The best part...Jia did the show with them!  I've watched the video about 20 times and I laugh harder each time I see it. 

Ship pictures

Fei's 9th Birthday dinner.  The table staff danced for us and Fei leaped up to join them.

They brought her a Chocolate Melting cake with a candle and sang to her.  Great fun.

The kids all had fun coming down the grand staircase doing royal princess waves to everyone.

Couldn't let Jia sleep up there but she did watch some cartoons with Fei.

Crazy how small that room was!

The first night with Eric so sick, he took the top bunk and Fei, Jia and I slept in the big bed (two twins shoved together).  The second night Jia kicked Eric one time to many and he ordered a crib.  I thought there would be serious melt downs about sleeping in a crib but she seemed to like it.  Layed down and crashed for the next three nights.

Looking out at Catelina Island.

Towel folding class.

This one is an elephant.  They also learned how to make a bulldog.

Music with Brian.  They had so much fun.

Lido deck.

They chose macaroni and fries for their first meal.  I assure you, they ate much better after that first meal :)

Where is Jia?

Oh, it just never grows old.  Where is Jia?

We did ok on the Carnival cruise.  I was told by many it was a party boat.  Didn't see that at all.   Still mostly older folks.  Didn't see one person having a 'party'.  They did seem to play the music too loud on the lido deck.  Perhaps Carnival 'wants' to be a party boat?  There weren't that many kids, perhaps because school is still in.  I wasn't at all impressed with the check in and check out procedures.  We were yelled at several times.  WTH?  I'm not sure if that is a Carnival issue or a port issue.  I will write and complain because it was pretty awful.  We had to book a special room that accomodated five people and paid more for that.  When we got in our room, I turned around and tried to push past Eric saying 'lets get off this boat while we have a chance!'.  He wouldn't let me leave.  Seriously, the room was beyond horrid.  Bunks over our head and feet, no where for Jia to sleep.  We were never able to get five towels, faceclothes or chocolates.  It's like they refused to believe there were five of us.  How we survived that tiny space is beyond me.  The bathroom was like a 70's rv all in one with a vibrant blue floor, it was raised so had a stupid lip for all of us to trip on.  No bathtub for Jia.  Only one temperature for showers.  So tiny only one person could go in there at a time.  Oh and the color scheme of the room...ug...red and orange!  I won't be scanning Carnival ads any time soon I tell ya'!  We enjoyed our friends company, the food was pretty good and certainly plentiful :)  There was some fun entertainment and the price was really great.

Catelina Island

Tendering in.

The whole bay was paved with pavers.  No cars.  Golf carts and bikes only.

We did see cars a couple blocks back though.

I was so excited to see Catelina Island until I read that it was the most poluted beach in North America, of course I read that after we'd booked.  I can't fathom that is true though, it was simply pristine there.

She was quite happy to ride in her $10 Wal-Mart stroller.

Lili and I were pretty sick in Disneyland, it hit Eric hard on the first night of the cruise.  I've never actually seen him sick from a flu before.  Anyways...he was way too sick to come to shore so he missed out.  It was very beautiful there.  A bit like going to Saltspring.  Seems like a great idea, you get all hyped about going and then wander around wondering why you bothered.  Looked like great shopping if you were interested in shopping.   We had a great walk, watched a wedding on the beach, walked the whole bay.  I wish we'd taken the time to rent bikes but it seemed daunting without Eric there.  There were bikes with baby seats, but I didn't see any kids bikes for Lili and Fei.  There were double seaters that they could have gone on but we didn't have enough adults.  It was a very relaxing and calm place to spend a morning.  We went back to the boat for a late lunch and nap.

Ferries and Airplanes

Jia had lots to say on the ferry.  She loves the big boat.  The rest of us...not so thrilled with having to always take that darn ferry to get anywhere!

Hillarious.

Totally cool about travel these two.  Settled right in and weren't too interested in looking out the windows :) 

Ok, made it to LAX, now lets get to that hotel and rest up for Disneyland!

Ok, we seriously doubted that Jia would manage this trip.  She amazed all of us and did just so wonderful the whole trip.  She was delighted with each new adventure and actually stayed with her family.  We were so scared about her wandering and she didn't wander at all.  Go figure.  She was so excited about the airplane, totally understood what was happening and talked about everything.  I love watching developmental growth on holidays, they just soak up all the new experiences and grow and learn before your very eyes.  So cool.  My photos from the tablet didn't work out and I have to re-do all of the Disney pictures plus have way more to add.  I'm all out of order now, Lili wanted the lion pictures up, so I'll just group the photos together in seperate entries.  No one really cares about the order do they?  I've stayed at work late today just to get the lion pictures up.  The rest will have to wait until I catch up at work a bit.  Sue is away this week, so between catching up my own stuff and figuring out her stuff my desk is a bit loaded.

Malonna the African Lion Cub

Picture didn't turn out, but it's the only one we have of Fei holding Malonna.

Seriously, moment of a lifetime.  It was Fei's Birthday, we were in Ensenada and we got a chance to hold a four month old Lion Cub!!  Wow, oh wow.  Not sure who was more excited me or the girls!  She was very sweet.  Heavy, very heavy.  Coarse fur and she smelled like a big dog.  She'll move back to the lion reserve when she is six months old.  What an amazing opportunity.