Surprise!!!

OK, so if you're my "friend" on Facebook, then you already know what the surprise is.  But for those Facebook holdouts, last weekend was one of the greatest surprises in our family in a very long time.  No, we're not adopting again nor moving to FL (although I'd welcome either/both opportunities!).

Dad turned 75 last weekend and we weren't going to let him ring it in quietly.  He was under the impression that he was going on a romantic 3-night cruise to the Bahamas with mom...alone.  SURPRISE!  Not only did dad's sister, Sadie, and her husband, Bob, show up at dad's doorstep an hour before leaving for the ship, but then Jim and Erin, Jimmy and Andrew, my cousin Denise and her husband, Mike, and daughters Jill and Kristen show up.  Dad was thrilled and shocked.  But then the last knock on the door floored dad.  Kristina stood there ready to give Poppy big happy birthday hugs!  When dad saw Kristina, Jon and me -- I saw a glimmer of a tear in his eyes.  So much for romance...15 of us would be hanging out together for the next 3 1/2 days!

Kristina's sleep cycle was completely disrupted thanks to a red-eye flight, the excitement of hanging out with her cousins, and her overall propensity to have to be in-the-know about everything and not wanting to sleep for fear of missing something. Over the weekend, she started sucking her thumb again for the first time in about 2 months. Not worried...she was probably overly tired...but we "painted our nails" with Mavala when we came home and wha-la! No more thumb-sucking. :)

I'll let the photos do the talking but I will go on record to say that we had a fabulous time. It went way too fast but the quality of time outweighed the quantity!  Lots of precious moments, eh Poppy??

Happy Birthday, Poppy!!! 

Right out of the bath and ready to leave for the airplane with light-up Princess suitcase in hand!

Upon arriving at Auntie Erin's and Uncle Jim's, Kristina got a gift.  A magic wand from Nana Jo, purchased earlier this year before she passed.  We miss you, Nana Jo!



I'm working on only 10 hours of sleep in 4 days...but thrilled to see cousin Denise and sis-in-law, Erin!



This is the moment after Poppy opened the door.  SURPRISE!

Kristina in front of our ship, the Norwegian Sky.

It didn't take long for the Cassidy's to find the first Bar onboard!

Leaving the Port of Miami...in daddy's arms.

Kristina checking out all the Miami shipyards.

Heading out to sea!

Even the steel drum music was a tad too much for our little one's ears...

If anyone has bought Russian Chocolate bars...here's the girl on the wrapper!

Ah - ha!  I found the chocolate!!!

Hanging out with cousin, Jill.  Kristina received this scarf as a gift from Auntie Erin and Uncle Jim and styled it a la Kristina.

A few moments after arriving on the private island of Stirrup Cay, we run into Grammy and Poppy!  Grammy needed the "beach wheelchair" and used it as a walker due to her bad knee....(more on this to come...)

On the island with our ship out at sea in the background.

Our little beach bum...lathered in lots of sunscreen!

Posing on the upper bunk.  On the first night, Kristina fell off right onto our bed between Jon and me -- and never woke up!

Uncle Jim and Auntie Erin getting their Kristina fix.

The Cassidy Clan in the Library playing a mean game of Bananagrams.

Cousins Jill and Kristen -- awesome babysitters!!!

Poppy playing the slots...and winning!

Thanks to Kristen babysitting, Jon got some casino time while I got to have coffee on the Pool Deck with mom and dad.  Since it was midnight, we rang in the beginning of dad's birthday together!

Kristen keeping Kristina busy...or maybe it was the other way around!

As we had breakfast onboard in the Bahamas, we had our first and only few minutes of rain.
Atlantis Hotel and Resort is in the background.

Poppy's Birthday Dinner at Cagney's Restaurant.  Kristina had her usual:  buttered noodles with lots of grated parmesean cheese!

Poppy's sister, Aunt Sadie and Bob...before the eating commenced!

Michael and Denise...can't tell here but Denise is battling 1st degree burns on her legs and couldn't walk, sit, etc.  Next time, Kristina puts her sunscreen on Aunt Denise!

Uncle Jim and Auntie Erin awaiting their yummy dinner.

It's wild to go out and not have a child climb into our lap...the cousins kept her busy!

One of Poppy's birthday gifts!

Grammy and her "older man"

Poppy and the kiddles:  Kristen, Andrew, Jimmy, Jill and Kristina

Kristina pretending to be on the phone with Kristen and Jill...shortly afterwards, I got the call a babysitter was enroute!



Jon got hooked on this Quarter Drop game...but he did win $22 and a "Bottle of Bubbly."



Kristina's pj's couldn't have said it better...Jill and Kristen were much more fun than going to sleep!

Kissing Grammy night-night.

Kristina deciding what to have for breakfast before disembarkation.  Pancakes was the choice!

Moments after breakfast, our party animal was asleep on my lap...with thumb in mouth.

The party's over...heading into Customs where we had to show Kristina's Certificate of Citizenship.  Otherwise, we only have her Russian Passport...which won't grant her re-entry!

The guys saying goodbye...and this is without drinks in hand!

Grammy, Poppy, Aunt Sadie and Bob

Daddy left for Los Angeles the day we got back into port since he had to get back to work right away...

...but we went back to Auntie Erin's to get our nails done!!!

The next day we were leaving at night...but still had time to get an hour of swimming and sun!

Uncle Jim came to visit on his lunch break to say "see you later!"

We always take a quick trip to "The Girl's Strawberry Patch" to see the animals and get some ice cream!

Saying goodbye to Sugar.

A kiss on the head when saying goodbye to Erin's brother, Uncle Scott.

Kristina loves her FL cousins, Andrew and Jimmy.

Until next month, Grammy and Poppy!!  (Yep, we're flying back to FL the first week of November for our "regularly scheduled family fix".  This trip was an added bonus!)

I didn't cry this time knowing we would be back next month...so Kristina focused on the remote control for the TV set (LOVE Virgin America!).

NOTE:  For those of you who made it all the way to the end of this post...thanks!  Now I ask a favor.  Today, mom (Grammy) is having knee surgery.  If you have a moment to say a prayer or think a good thought, it would be most appreciated!!!  We love you, Grammy!