02 Oct

Day 4 – It’s a BIG Day! HUGE!

 

It’s a big day today! You’ll see why! Not to oversell, but it could be the best day in any of my trip reports ever!  

I woke up at 5:30, and then went back to sleep at 8.

We met for breakfast in Royal Court!

Royal Court is Ally’s favorite breakfast, but she didn’t make it up in time! Sleep won.

After breakfast, we were off for a Pub Quiz!

We didn’t do that well, these questions were insanely hard! I think we got like a 14 out of 25?

But we won!! By a lot if I remember correctly!

Woohoo!

Carter had been in an animation class –

We stayed for sports trivia next, to which I contributed exactly one answer. We did not win that.

Next up was a matinee with Ricky Kalmon. Hypnotists are not my favorite. It just seems too fake. But it was funny!

Then it was time to eat again!

Stephen and Brian were content to sit here all day and talk. Clearly I could not hold my phone still, but this picture still makes me laugh.

Next we went up to deck 4 for some shuffleboard and relaxing.

This afternoon we had planned a surprise anniversary reception! We had worked out a plan to get Dad and Mom upstairs. I was going to go up to Outlook and make sure everything was set, then I was going to text everyone and tell them they had to come see something.

We’re so sneaky. lol

It was ready!

Bonnie came up too.

And there they were! The Pneumonia was so surprised! I think her exact words were, “Stop surprising me!!”

#sorrynotsorry

As many of you know, we are a family of teetotalers, so we had a smoothie bar!

Cutting the cake!

As you have seen, we are also a family of game players, so we played a game of Wizard before they kicked us out!

Finally our time was up and we said goodbye and thank you, and they gave us all of our food. Because we needed more food!

We fit!

Still can’t hold my phone still for a selfie!

I forget what we did for the next couple of hours, but we all agreed to meet at 5 for pictures. If you follow me on social media, you know what is coming next!

Oh I know what Chase and I did! We walked all over the ship looking for the perfect place for “pictures”.

He looks totally calm doesn’t he?

It was formal night, so we got all spiffied up, and headed upstairs.

My heart was racing like a crazy person in the elevator. Stephen, Ally and I knew what was coming, but the rest of the family didn’t! I asked Chase if he was nervous and he laughed and said, “Nope!”

How?! I was about to die!

Okay, breathe.

We met outside Meridian behind Palo.

Aren’t they handsome?

I think Olivia was asking what all these stood for:

She’s so be-u-ti-ful! Even with that look she’s giving me!

My sister was questioning my judgement when she arrived at some point and stepped outside into the wind. I told her to go with it!

Uh yeah, it was windy!

He looks like he’s paying complete attention, right?

The happy couple!

The girls!

A very windy family picture!

Yep. Windy.

Sorry!

So why were we out in the wind? Why had we searched all afternoon for the perfect, somewhat private picture spot?

These two right here –

Because something was about to happen.

Notice his hand in his pocket?

My dad noticed! And he said later that he grabbed my mom’s knee to make sure she was looking!

Because look what happened next!!

Here’s the money shot. Even the wind knew it.

The whole family cheered! *Sniff sniff cry cry*

Isn’t it so sweet?!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 She said yes of course!

And just like that, our family grew!

Everyone was crying! Ally videoed on her phone, Stephen took phone pictures, and everyone else just cried and cheered. Thank the heavens I remembered to push the shutter button while I cried!

Just engaged selfie!

It still makes me tear up a little.

When Chase realized Olivia could come on the cruise, and started making plans, he was a bit worried he was stealing the anniversary couple’s thunder. I told him that they were going to be so happy they were there, they wouldn’t care one bit. And it was true. We were so lucky we got to see it!

We had thought ahead that the two of them would probably like some time alone after spending their engagement with us, so we had booked Palo for just the two of them that night.

We all hugged and the rest of us were off to Enchanted Garden.

Here’s the newly engaged couple at Palo!

Our dinner!

It was a little chilly in there. Haha!

Our room was right outside Enchanted Garden, so I ran my camera back to the room between courses and started the upload. I knew we were going to be wanting those pictures soon!

My standard appetizer!

Dinner!

Stephen’s!

Ally had a Mickey bar!

While she was posing someone dropped a tray of dishes. Ack!

We went to see Aladdin after dinner and then back to the room and I photoshopped for a little while.

Towel animal!

Olivia and Chase came in after their dinner and called her parents.

They brought this!

They had a great dinner, and said their server was wonderful. I knew he would be our server for our other two meals there, so I was excited!

I was trying to send her a picture to send her family, but I had a horrible signal in the room, so I ended up sitting outside Enchanted Garden with my laptop.
Olivia came to login and send the picture and I remembered I hadn’t even taken a picture of her ring!

So ring pic! I never did get one with my real camera! The diamond in the middle was from my grandmother’s engagement ring. So it has a lot of sentimental value as well.

Well that was an incredibly exciting day! Wouldn’t you agree?

 

7-Night Eastern Caribbean Anniversary Cruise – A Celebration of all Couples – But Mostly the Pneumonias December 17-24, 2017
Day 1 – Travel Day and Candlelight Processional at Epcot
Day 2 – Kennedy Space Center
Day 3 – Boarding Day in Matching T-shirts!
Day 4 – It’s a Big Day! HUGE!
Day 5 – Sea Day with an Anniversary Celebration!
Day 6 – Beaching in Tortola 
Day 7 – SkyRide in St. Thomas
Day 8 – Sea Day – Ginger Bread Houses and Palo Brunch
Day 9 – Jet Skis in Castaway Cay