Malicious gave me an F

Today's blog has been brought you by Malicious. the number 10 and the letter "f". (for all you Sesame Street fans)

This is how it works. I was given the letter "f" by Malia. I must come up with 10 words that start with said letter and write an explanation for it. You may play this game if you so choose...just let me know and I will hit ya with a letter!


Fabulous--what the Disney cruise was! My life is also this way!

Freak--what I tend to call people...for lack of a better word! Also known as "freakin'" when used as an adjective!

Fun--what the Sergio 4 has when we are together!

Family--where would you be without family? I have a great family! You can't choose your family but they end up teaching you alot!

Friends--I have some of THE best friends in the world! They are gifts from God. Also one of my all time favorite t.v. shows!

Favorite--hello! This word just makes me happy, 'cause it encompasses all the things that make me happy!

Frenzy--what our life is most of the time! Crew, Basketball, Volleyball, Bunco, work, school, plays, auditions, band concerts, church, youth activities, regattas....need I say more? It is what my work life has been since we got a new server and NOTHING, no NOTHING works!! Haven't been able to do my job for over a week now! Normally people would find that nice...it jsut stresses me out!

Fast--my kids are growing up this way! Sometimes I cherish it...other times...it Freaks me out!

Fresh Fruit--I love fresh fruit! There is this place called Edible Arrangements and you can get bouquets of chocolate covered strawberries!!! hint-hint---cough-cough Mother's Day--cough cough

Flying--I don't like to do this but it sure beats driving!!!


I know, I know..I have to catch you up on our cruise. My life has been a freakously, frenzied, fast and flying event for the past week! I will try to finish...tonight.

Mickey showed up to the Character breakfast!

Goofy was there too!

They made hats from our napkins for the kids! One little boy at another table had a hat with goofy ears!

There's a stingray!

Jay and the kids getting ready for their adventure...look at that water!

Day at sea and Grand Caymans

Sorry, for the delay but it took me 2 1/2hrs. to upload the 245 pictures from our memory card to COSTCO so that we can get our pictures...I was too tired last night to blog.


So after Key West, we spent a day at sea. That morning we had a character breakfast in the restaurant Parrot Cay. Now you may not know how to pronounce C-A-Y. There has been much debate about this among our group of seafaring travellers. All the Disney employees pronounce it "key". I do believe it is a word with British origins. Anyhoo.....Character breakfast! Fun! Fun! fun!

I am trying to add pictures as I type and it is not allowing me so...I will post pictures of the Character breakfast and Grand Caymans tomorrow. For tomorrow is another day! That is for you Malicious!

Anyway, we spent a wonderfully rested and relaxed day on the ship! We saw the movie Eight Below. There was this latino boy sitting behind us who was speaking spanish loudly but completely enjoying the movie! So Chelsea would translate for us what the young boy was saying! His father was not doing much to keep him speaking at at whisper. It was actually pretty cute. The seats in the Buena Vista theatre....so NOT comfortable!

The next day we anchored off shore of Grand Cayman. We tendered in and met up with our excursion group! We catamaraned out about 45 minutes from shore to go to Stingray City! We swam with stingrays! The kids had a quicky lesson in snorkeling and they were great! We were in about 10-15 ft. of some of the clearest water in the world! We could see stingrays on the bottom of the ocean swimming along waiting for us to feed them their daily dose of squid. WE all jumped into the ocean and snorkeled for about 45 mintues! It was glorious! Just such a great way to see more of God's creation! When we were done we sailed back into shore! My WORD it was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo relaxing!!!!!

The thought crosses my mind..."Thank you Lord! We were allowed to experience a part of your making! My children were able to experience you in a different way today! We are truly blessed. Thank you for allowing this to happen!"

I was just so content and happy! It has been a long while since I truly felt that way.

oops--left out

I forgot about the best Key Lime Pie....we found a great Key Lime place called The Blonde Giraffee. They have Key Lime Pie by the slice OR dipped in chocolate on a stick! After sampling the merengue, the whipped and the chocolate on a stick...the votes are in and Key Lime Pie dipped in chocolate and put on a stick is THE best way to eat Key Lime!!! Sorry no pictures of the Key Lime on a stick...should of thought about that!

Anyway, next time you are in Key West...go to the Blonde Giraffee...you'll find it--no worries! Oh yea, get the key lime on a stick!

Key West, Trolley rides and The best Key Lime Pie

Our 1st port was Key West. We disembarked at the dock and find a trolley ride to take us around Key West. We wind our way in and out of the tiny streets of Key West learning all kind of historical things. We stop at one point and get out for a short break. We load back on the trolley and do another 1/2 hour of info trolley ride. Now if you have ever been to Key West...you know it is not that big...so an hr and 1/2 of trolley ride is a bit much. BUT we went to the souther most point of the U.S. and we got to see mile zero of route 1 that runs from Key West to like Maine or Vermont or something!

We got back on the ship and we celebrated Lisa's birthday by the adults going to eat at Palo's. The food was absolutley AMAZING!!!! Our waiter, Kristian from Croatia, was superb!!!! There was THE most beautiful sunset that night! The kids ate at our next restaurant in the rotation--Animator's Palate. The wait staff was excellent with our kids! The walls start out black and white and then change to color during the course of the meal!!!!

It was just great!!!!

Vacation--Ahoy!

I have never cruised before. In fact, I have been quite nervous about it because I don't really like boats. I know a cruise ship that holds 2700 passengers and over 1000 crew members isn't a boat but you know what I mean....anyway, we load onto an official Disney bus and away we go to Port Canaveral! While we are on the bus a great little info video comes on to tell you all how to get checked onto the boat. Exact details of what will happen once you get on the boat! The excitement builds on the bus full of people heading to what is known to be THE best cruise in the world. I think we have done our kids a disservice because if you talk to people who have been on a cruise with another company they will even tell you that Disney is the cadillac of cruises! Everything is of course done in Disney fashion and it is superb!!!

So as we arrive to the port. This is our ship! The Disney Magic!!!! It is beautiful! A HUGE Goofy is hanging off the back of the ship and looks like he is finishing up painting the word MAGIC!!! We go through all the check points and checking in and then we walk the plank to board!!! My word!!! They ask your name as you and your family walk in the door and they announce it over the loud speaker--The Sergio Family! Welcome aboard the Disney Magic!!! This is the awesome chandelier hanging in the main foyer!!

We go eat up on deck 9 at the buffett! Then we head off to find our stateroom. Our room is a great size and we ahve a huge window! No joke! We drop our stuff off and head to deck 10 for the Bon Voyage Celebration!



Yes Mickey and the gang come out and sing songs. We set sail!!! We all ordered virgin Bon Voyage drinks (1/2 pina colada, 1/2 strawberry daquiri)!!! The wind blows in our hair and away we go!!! The coolest thing is that when the captain blows the ships horn it plays "When you wish upon a star". It is enough to make you weep!!! So much fun!!!!

We eat at Lumiere's restaurant that night and meet our awesome wait staff that follow us all week long for dinner! We take in a Broadway quality show about setting sail on the Magic! The music and dancing is great!!!

None of us got seasick! We were gently rocked to sleep by the boat! AHhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I like cruising...tomorrow...Key West!

Vacation--day1

We land in Florida, thursday night and head by Disney shuttle bus to Pop Century resort! It took like an hour and 1/2!!! So we check in to one of Disney's newest resorts at like 10:30 p.m. Drop our stuff off in our rooms and head to eat!!! The resort is really really cool. It has several buildings, each one with it's own decade theme! WE stayed in the 90's. It was decorated with huge cd's and the pool was shaped as a laptop and floppy disks.

Chelsea took this picture of the 80's building.

Friday we all got up. 7 of us went to Epcot and 4 went to MGM. I went to EPCOT!!! I conquered a fear! I rode Mission Space!!! For those of you who don't know....it simulates space flight...from take off to landing....yes...you are in a centerfuge and you pull some serious G's. I apparently have some sinus problems because HELLO! I felt them! The most relaxing and fun ride was Soaring! What a GREAT ride!!!!

We ate lunch in England with some fish and chips. WE had dessert in France! The big hit with the teens was that they say the cast from Disney's massive hit t.v. movie--High School Musical!

We went back to the resort and went to bed. The next day the REAL fun started! The Disney cruise!!!!

for my day of birth

My birthday started on friday by Alex and Jay detailing my van! IT was great!!! As the mom of a teen and a preteen...the van was NASTY! Car was washed, waxed, armoraled, windows washed and carpets vacuumed AND cleaned! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!

Sat. Chelsea and I took Gillian to Chickfila, Build a bear, and cold stone creamery!!! Then Chelsea and I went to Kohl's to shop for the cruise! We got tons of stuff for very little money!! Gotta love a sale AND a coupon!

Today, Alex gave me flowers and Chelsea gave me "Walk the Line" dvd. Lisa gave a sweet bracelet watch. Tanya et al gave me a very cute bracelet! My other friend Lisa, who's son's b-day is also today...went by Starbucks and got be a grande marble mocha macchiato! That beat the fact that NONE of my kid's worship people showed up today on time or at all and that my computer is missing ALL of the things that make children's ministry run!

For that is to worry about tomorrow becuase tomorrow is another day! Until after the cruise! Buh bye!

presenting....

This wall will have shelves on them as soon as we get wall anchors!










Chelsea's room
A Mimi original