Wendy & Lilly: February 2019

PJ finally finished his Master's degree! He started the program August of 2014 right after we had finished our Bachelor's degrees and when I was about 5 months pregnant with Wendy. He took two classes that first semester as well as worked 40+ hours a week. He continued to take one class a semester, work full time and be a father to Wendy and Lilly. Last year, right before we moved to Texas, he took two classes to be able to finish the class portion before we moved and then worked on his Research and Thesis since January 2017. Little did we know when he started his degree, that Heather would eventually start her Master's degree in Nursing as well! So, when I asked PJ how he wanted to celebrate graduating, he said "I want to go some place warm with my family". Thus, the Mitchell Family Cruise was born! We were sad not everyone could go with us but we look forward to seeing everyone in the Fall!

Lilly started out the four hour drive to Galveston with a cat nap.

Wendy was too excited to sleep!

We took a pit stop in Katy, TX at a Bucees. I saw this shirt and could relate.

We finally made it to the hotel and the girls were excited about the luggage trolley. The great thing about traveling with our kiddos at this age is everything is new and exciting so it's easier to entertain them!

Setting up our suite- the pull out bed for the girls

And queen beds for us!

We could see the beach from our room.

So we of course had to go out on it.

It was so cold so we did not stay long but, the girls loved it!

The next morning after we got little to no sleep. Wendy had a cough all night which left us trying out different sleeping arrangements until about 1:00 in the morning when the medicine finally kicked in so she could sleep for a couple hours. They were surprisingly happy even though they got barely any sleep.

They were even happier when they saw Mimi and Pop!

Let breakfast begin!

And time to check out. Lilly hopped a ride on the trolley.

Riding the shuttle to the cruise terminal.

Just about to board! PJ had these shirts printed up for us. We received compliments on them all day!

Lilly playing on the stage when we got on board.

Wendy got in on the action too.

Heather and I were off to the spa but the girls watched the ship pull away from the dock from their very own balcony.

Bye tug boat!

After dinner, they found their first towel animal in their room!

The next day we went to drop them off at Camp Ocean and found out it didn't open for another hour. So, the kids played on whatever they could find. The wind was crazy!

The sun came out for just a little bit and I had to give it some praise.

Lilly being blown around by the wind.

Argh maty!

Playing chess aka building a wall with the chess pieces.

The girls loved riding the glass elevator that looked out over the atrium.

Hanging out at the sports bar.

Playing the piano at the piano bar.

After they had some fun at camp ocean and the sun came out in the afternoon, we put them in their wetsuits and jumped in the pool. It was soooo cold!

But never too cold for ice cream.

Showing off their suits to Mimi before fancy dinner.

Wendy was so excited for fancy dinner. She picked out her jewelry and loved dressing up.

It was hard to get a smile out of Lilly the whole trip.

Taking some of our own pictures after trying to get a family professional shot done.

Then Wendy took to the stairs to try to mimic my pose!

Eating dinner and watching the sun set.

Lilly thought it was too loud.

Lovely ladies!

Admiring the sunset.

Her version of admiring the sunset.

Wendy made her own table decoration.

Wendy got TWO desserts! Jello and Banana Split.

Lilly was grumpy the whole night. She kept saying she wanted ice cream with purple cherries. So she asked the waiter and they gave her... Ice Cream with purple cherries (grapes)!

There's the smile we're looking for! All it took was ice cream.

Headed back to our room after dinner

Watching the boat pull in to Cozumel the next day.

Everyone loved their Mermaid skirts.

On the Catamaran on our way to the beach.

After swimming for a little bit, Lilly got wrapped up with Mimi.

Wendy entertaining us with a dance.

She got to have Orange Soda on the Catamaran and she loved it!

Sported an orange smile the whole trip.

Getting the girl's life vests on.

They thought it was so funny!

Lilly insisted on going out in her pearls.

They loved it!

Getting back on the ship from snorkeling.

And on the beach!

Lilly passed out on our way back to the ship.

Mimi started the party off by getting everyone on their feet to dance.

Chilling on the beach!

Back in Cozumel

Great view of the ship from shore.

The next day, we stayed on the ship but were running out of things to do with the girls. So we took them up to the track and told them to run around.

We went to a night club so they could have a dance party.

And then it was time for lunch and a swim. The water was pretty cold still so we hung out in the whirl pools most of the time.

While we were swimming on the ship, Pop and Mimi took some Land Rovers to a Mayan Ruin!

The hotel where the Queen of England has stayed.

Back on board, we dried off from swimming and got the girls dressed up for fancy dinner (not formal dinner).

Hamming it up at the table.

PJ's dessert came with some caramel pop corn!

The girls sampled the molten chocolate cake.

I had this awesome Panna cotta

But all Lilly really wanted to do was watch shows.

Bye Mexico!

Our last day we attended a Dr. Seuss character breakfast.

Assuring Jeff everything is free.

Lilly got some cereal crusted french toast.

And Wendy got the green eggs and ham.

Lilly of course thought it was too loud.

And did not appreciate Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Wendy loved every second!

Hi Cat!!

Lilly finally warmed up by the time Sam I Am came out.

Doing her own pose on our way out.

After the character breakfast, we dropped the girls in Camp Ocean for the day. I brought lunch to Lilly and let her take part in the "Chocolate Extravaganza" they had on board.