Cruise Time!

This Christmas I surprised Kim with a cruise over her Spring Break and we just got back. We headed down to Ft Lauderdale on Saturday morning so we wouldn't have to rush around and hope for on time flights on Sunday. It was a good thing too, there were some people that had cruises leaving Saturday that didn't check in in time and couldn't get on a plane. Since it was Spring Break there weren't anymore leaving until Monday. Oops.

We got to Florida and got to the hotel, Kim took a nap and I went for a run. We got a call that Kim's brother forgot some clothes so we went to Bass Pro Shop. There was this awesome shark that we had to take a picture of.

Later on my parents and friends got in and we went down to a nice seafood restaurant. A nice dinner and it was time for bed. I woke up early the next morning and went for a nice 5 mile run and then we headed down to the big boat. The Emerald Princess is a huge boat, a lot bigger than the first one we went on. As the sun was setting we headed out to sea.



The first day of the cruise was supposed to be a stop at Princess Cays but the sea was a little too rough to do the tender boats in so we had to skip it and it was just a day at sea. It was a nice day for sitting by the pool and reading a book so that is exactly what we did. The second day we were at sea again so there was more time laying out and reading. It was also formal night in the dining room so we got all dressed up in suits and dresses (well Kim...) and had a nice night.



Day 3 was a stop in St Maarten.



Kim and I went on a kyaking excursion with my mom and her brother. We started on the french side and took a boat over to one of the beaches (I need one of these).





paddled through to the Dutch side and had a little talk about some of the wild life and them came back. It was pretty fun to watch Kim and I weave all over the place. We were not synced up at all but it was a fun time. I could use a couple of these boats too.



After the tour one of the guides was saying they have a triathlon just about every weekend. I think I might have a place to head back to :) The hills would be pretty fun though.




The next day was a stop in St Thomas USVI. This is yet another place I could move to in a heartbeat. We took a ride out on a boat called the Dancing Dolphin out to Turtle Cove. We did a little snorkeling and saw some really cool sea turtles and sting rays.



The water was amazing. It was clear and warm and just wonderful to be in. I wish more pictures came out but the turtles were just right in front of us. The ride back was pretty fun too. I think Kim's favorite part were the drinks that they kept shoving in her hands.





The next day was a stop at Grand Turk.



A quick stop at Margaritaville and Ron Jon for some souvenirs for everyone.




Next up, we were on yet another boat to see some sting days. The day was overcast and a little cold so it was tough to get in the water, but it wasn't bad once you got in. One of the guides corralled one of the female stingrays and had us give kisses. It was pretty fun to see everyone do that.






As soon as we got back to the dock, it started pouring down rain. We made a B-Line to the shops to wait it out. We made it back on the boat not too much later and got ready for another formal night.

The next day was our last day at sea on our way back to reality. It was tough to just sit out in the sun and read all day ;)

Before we knew it we were back in the states in the airport headed back home. It was a ton of fun to get away and be with family like that. I can't wait until the next one.

Skiing

A few weeks ago Kim and I went up to Keystone with some friends to go skiing. It was the first time we had gone since we were in college so we were pretty excited. We left Friday right after work and drove straight through. Driving through western Kansas in the middle of the night isn't nearly as exciting as it sounds...We got into Keystone at about 3am and caught some sleep in the parking lot of a McDonalds. I was sure glad we took an extra comforter because it was cold. A lot colder than I thought it would be, about 4F. We woke up a few hours later grab some breakfast (and warmed up) and got to the slopes.

We got our skis and I headed up the lift with one of the other people in our group and we started hitting some of the blues right away. I was amazed at how fast it came back to me. It was almost like I had never left CO. The weather was great, no lines and I wasn't falling. Not bad. After lunch I took off on my own and hit some of the peaks out back. Man I wore myself out. We only had two days there and I wasn't going to waste any time. Sooner than I wished it was the end of the day and I headed back to the condo to relax a little and get some dinner.

That night I slept like a rock. I may not have moved at all I was so wiped out from an all night drive and lots of skiing.

The next morning came and we headed up to the slopes again. We got a couple runs in and then met of with the rest of the group and went with the kids and Kim down a nice long blue/green.



That afternoon we went to another park, Arapaho Basin, which is a little higher and off the beaten path. There aren't a lot of runs but they are a little tougher and almost all are above timber line so the air gets sucked out of your lungs a little easier. Then the snow just started coming down. Big fat flakes everywhere. It was awesome. But again the day ended too soon and we had to head back. We turned in our skis in and it was over.



Time for some food at a Mexican place where we saw a Napoleon Dynamite look alike (the voice was on the money) and some games back at the condo. Another great nights sleep and a long drive back home and it was all over.

Some day I'll have a place up in the mountains where we can go skiing all the time. I can't wait to get back.