Carlile Family Pictures 2010

We had our family pictures taken (the day before Abe broke his arm - lucky timing!) and were so pleased with the results. Check out our awesome photographer here: http://www.laurasimsonphotography.blogspot.com/

I really tried to narrow down the results to something reasonable to put on the blog and I failed. I couldn't get below 46 pictures. So, I put together a slideshow. Those who want to see all 46 of my favorites can watch it. I'll post a few highlights here though. I'm telling you, it was next to impossible to decide which ones to post and which to only put in the slideshow. Enjoy my cute family!!

Happy Birthday Tyler!

After our broken arm drama, we had a wonderful birthday for Tyler. Ken's parents were here visiting and that was such a nice treat. Ken also got to take the day off, which is always nice. My sister Tami and her family also joined us. We are so lucky to have Tyler in our family and can't believe he's a year old! Happy Birthday!!His cake. It is the tools from Handy Manny. The big boy with his new sippy cup.

Eating his pizza and loving it!Getting ready to open his presents. Look how much fun "Tyler" had opening his presents. I love this picture of everyone enjoying Tyler's presents.Eating his birthday cake (we bought him a little one he could just dig into)

Getting messier....

and messier....

and I think he's finally finished. Happy Happy Birthday Tyler!

Guess how I spent my day??

Just what every mother wants to do, hold down your screaming, crying and injured 2 year old while doctors make it hurt. Then try to explain that they are making it hurt so they can figure out what is wrong and make it better. Then once again hold him down (with 2 nurses) so they can cast him. Then try to explain that no matter how many times he asks, I can't take it off and that I'm sorry. I did stop and buy him an ice cream cone. It didn't help.

Cruise: Day 6 & 7

The last 2 days of the cruise were spent sailing on the boat. We had a great time earning medals, playing games, and just enjoying the company of the best of friends.

These pictures were taken just inside the onboard casino.

I thought the floor was so cool looking.

This is in the area right outside the ice skating rink, yes there was an ice skating rink, complete with a show.

We decided to give the climbing wall a shot. They had a speed climbing contest and I took silver! (Just don't tell anyone that the three of us in the picture were the only ones who signed up for the contest!) I scaled the wall in less than a minute.

Below is one of my favorite pictures of the cruise. One of the only shots with the whole crew.

We decided there weren't enough opportunities for earning medals and convinced them to give us medals for our own competitions. Sandy won the best looking ice cream cone gold medal.

Our second formal night.

And finally, on the last day of cruising, Greg decided he wanted to drive the boat. So he tracked down the Captain and tried valiantly to persuade him. It didn't work. The captain wasn't even impressed with all our medals.

We had such a great time and made memories that will last forever.

Cruise: Day 4 & 5

Days 4 and 5 of the cruise were both port days. We first stopped in Mazatlan. First we went fishing. Besides half the people getting some seasickness, it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, we didn't catch anything, but we saw many schools of sting rays, flying fish, and dorado. To get to this front section of the boat, you had to cross this narrow section, with the ocean on one side and a sketchy wooden rail on the other. You felt like you were completing a task on the Amazing Race. We also got to feed some smaller fish to the birds. If you look close you can see the fish in the birds mouth. That night we learned to play Shuffleboard on the deck.

In Puerto Vallarta, we'd arranged for a zipline tour. Initially I was terrified, but I got over it quickly and had an awesome time. By the end I was riding with one of the workers: backwards, spinning, and upside down. I feel as though the pictures don't do it justice. Just imagine over 500 feet above the jungle. This is right before I got bit by a monkey. Yep, you read it right, I totally got bit by a monkey. It wasn't the one I was holding, but one that jumped on me. I'm still waiting for whatever disease I'm sure I caught to kick in.

This however, didn't discourage some from holding the other animals.

We had our driver drop us off at a local restaurant where we had some great Mexican food. Afterwards we got massages at "Healing Hands", which had been recommended to us by someone we sat by on the airplane, and was amazing!!

They have a bunch of random statues and things along the beachfront in Puerto Vallarta, so we couldn't let the photo ops pass us by!

This Last Supper sculpture was done completely out of sand. It was incredible!

Farewell Mexico!

Cruise: Day 2 & 3

Day 2 of the cruise was a sailing day. We found plenty to do in our time. We started off with a Scavenger Hunt and our Girl's Team won! The gold medals they gave us started a frenzy, and we spent the rest of the cruise earning as many as we possibly could!Justin the Pirate was our "mascot" for the afternoon trivia.

We had fun taking pictures in the Dragon's Lair.

That night was our first formal night at dinner.

The next day we had port in Cabo San Lucas. Greg is the master negotiator (watch out William Shatner) and got us a great deal for a boat and snorkeling. It was my first time and I loved it. Greg caught this fish with his hands!

Here I am drying off in the boat.

I had to include this final picture of Day 3, since Sandy risked her life to take it. She was literally hanging off the end of the boat on the 5th Deck. Ken made her wait there while he got the camera ready for the picture.