Grand Cayman- Stingrays, Turtles, Fish...OH MY!

View our video Here: 

We had a great time in Grand Cayman!  We did the excursion Stingray City and had a pretty good time.  I am not a swimmer and not super comfortable in the water, so when I read that it was good for all ages and that the water depth was about 3 feet I was thrilled.  

We booked through www.discountexcursions.com and they were great to deal with.  We had a nearly private shuttle which took us to the turtle farm (More on that in our next blog post) and then from the turtle farm our driver took us to the dock where we hopped on a small boat to go to the sand bar.  

The boat tour was through www.rowanwatersports.com

So the first thing was the boat we were in was having a difficult time getting a spot near the Sand Bar and we circled around several times before he attempted to back in the boat.  We started to get extremely close to the boat next to us and he came close to hitting it.  Once he realized he was so close he punched the gas and we circled around to another location, which then he hit the boat next to us.  That was pretty nerve wrecking, especially since I am not a strong swimmer.  I started to doubt their expertise and wasn't sure if they were aware of what they were doing.  Once we parked everything seemed to calm down a bit and he assured us that it happens from time to time.  

Everyone starts to get off the boat and we realize that the area we parked in was really deep water (6 ft or so)  I already knew that I wasn't a good swimmer, and my youngest does swim but isn't strong enough to swim for a long period and could not touch the bottom.  So some of us put life jackets on.  Once we got to the sandbar the water was around 3-4 feet, but very rocky.

The staff was very friendly and helpful.  They took photos, they made us laugh, and even filled us in on some History of the Cayman Islands.   My son and I had to go back to the boat and they helped get us to the boat and on the boat.  They rinse everyone off with clean water to get all of the salt off the skin and hair.  And they have water and punch on the boat to drink free of charge.  

Overall these are the things I would keep in mind while booking a Stingray City Tour (Especially if you go through Rowan Water Sports or Discount Excursions)

1. Water Depth may vary and may not be suitable for younger children or those who are not strong swimmers or those who do not feel comfortable in the water

2. Through this company we were allowed to take our own photos, or bring the GoPro off the boat.  I have several people tell me that they weren't able to bring their camera to take their own photos through other suppliers. 

3.  They also take photos of your experience and allow you to purchase through them.  Cash & Cards are both accepted. 

4. Bring a towel 

5. Bring seasick meds, and a small snack.  This is a long excursion and it is tiring.

6. Bring shoes that are easy to get on and off, NO SHOES on the boat.  

My older kids (13yr old & 16yr old) loved it.  They loved the Stingrays and they loved the snorkel experience.  My youngest wasn't a fan and it seemed in our group that most of the little kids under 10 wasn't really enjoying themselves. 

Carnival Breeze Sea Day Fun

When we booked our cruise several months ago the only thought I had in my head was how much I wanted to have a nice RELAXING vacation. NO cooking, NO cleaning, NO laundry, NO chasing my kids a thousand different ways, AND absolutely NO being over scheduled.   We have been all over the place with our kids and each time I find myself coming back and wishing I had another vacation from my vacation just to relax.  Between taking care of the kids, to planning out the entire fun trip, to meals, and all of the other craziness that comes with traveling with kids & family.
Disney is a madhouse each time running around, getting up early, trying to get on all the rides at all the parks.  Anyone who has gone to Disneyland OR DisneyWorld knows just how busy and crazy it can be...ESPECIALLY with 3 kiddos.  Same thing when we go to NYC, or even to the beach.  I am always trying to find ways to keep the kids busy, fed, taken care of, and clean (hahaha).

We disembarked (fancy word for left from) Galveston Texas and spent 2 whole days at sea.  Getting on the Carnival Breeze was literally such a breeze.  We arrived to the port around 1:00, parked our car and unloaded the crap load of stuff that I packed.  YEP, I am one of those over packing people.  And I was so amazingly thankful for the Ship porter that came down to help us and check our luggage. I originally thought we would carry on our bags, but after hauling it just from the shuttle to where the ship port met us, I was so thankful we didn't have to lug that stuff all the way through the ship and to our room.  When we walked up to board the ship it was roughly 1:30 and the line moved through so super fast.  Every.Single. Carnival worker smiled and welcomed us it felt so heart warming to be greeted upon our arrival.  They checked our travel documents really quick and we were on the ship, and they even had our room ready!  We walked right up and to our room set our stuff down, looked around where we would be spending the next 7 days.  We booked a balcony stateroom that connected to another balcony stateroom.  The kids were in one, and we were in the other.  The conjoining door was awesome.  And the room was cozy.  I decorated our door super duper quick and we were off to grab some lunch and meet with my Facebook group.  Everyone of us chose Guys Burgers and it was delicious!  I think we all ate at least one a day the entire trip.  

The one thing I have to say I loved about this trip was the FOOD...and sitting on the balcony everyday enjoying the beauty in front of me.  (No not my husband hehehe, he's a hottie too though), but the sun, clouds, sky, etc)  AND the kids clubs.  OMG my kids woke up in the morning and was like Peace.  We are going to the kids club or hanging out around the ship with the groups from their kids clubs.  My youngest asked every day when the kids club was opening because he wanted to bounce.  WHO am I kidding...I LOVED EVERYTHING about this vacation.  I was in hog heaven eating, drinking, watching shows, seeing my kids and husband having a great time, and just being on the water was nice and relaxing.  I fully planned to enjoy the spa but I didn't get around to it, which was fine because I had absolutely no plans of being over scheduled.  

The ship was so beautiful.  The art was so pretty, it was clean, and the shows were super amazing.  We saw 88 Keys, but missed the Motown show.  It was pretty spectacular, the stage moved, they had fog, and also sparks.  We all loved the Carnival Hub app, which allowed us to stay in contact with one another, and was really helpful when looking for activities to do.  There was also a map on the app, I never had a clue where I was going and I even got lost on the ship and couldn't find my room.  I am direction-ally challenged.  And the app also had a way to view all the photos that we had taken with a photographer throughout the week.  

 The musicians and activity squad were great!  We always had things to do.  From playing in a Corn hole tournament, to the super fun Carnival Waterworks waterpark, to the Dodgeball game,  to the evening movies by the pool..which I could never stay awake during.  And dinners and gourmet desserts, Tea time and LOTS of Ice cream!!!  We had so much fun!
Plus I just adored our Stateroom steward Deranee.  I really wanted to bring her home with me!  Everyday she took care of us like we were part of her family.  She cleaned our rooms, and made sure we had everything we needed, she greeted us and told us goodnight, and every evening our room and the kids room had a new towel animal special for us.  I was so sad to leave.

Can't wait til our next Family Cruise!

Until the next time...

Preschool

Preschool Info...Coming Soon

Our Carnival Cruise Character Breakfast *Cat in The Hat and Friends*

And don't forget to check out our video from Green Eggs & Ham breakfast with Cat in the Hat & Friends. For Video-Click Here

We just returned from our 7 day Family cruise on the Carnival Breeze and we had a blast!  I don't know why I decided to start the blog off with our Character Breakfast, but eh..  

We had planned on doing the Green Eggs & Ham breakfast even before we left for our trip.  And we weren't disappointed!  The food was delicious, the entertainment was fun, and even though our kids originally acted a little irritated and stuffy, they all were smiling in minutes.  I do wish I would have got some cute Seuss outfits for our family, because so many people went all out and dressed up.  Of course I didn't think of it until we got there and then I was like Dang we should've dressed all cute.  But it didn't stop us from having a great time.  

We had to wake up super early (vacation standards).  You could book a 8:30am or a 9:45am and we chose the later one.  The dining room was all decorated in cute Cat & The hat themed decorations, and the music was pumping.  (kid version of course) 

The wait staff was absolutely fantastic.  The entire duration of our trip all the staff was so amazing.  As a mom it was nice to let someone else take care of me and our family, as it is usually me doing it all.  

The one thing I was a little bummed about was the Characters didn't really come to the tables and interact with the guests.  If you are used to Character breakfast or any Character meals you may be a little put off by the lack of interaction.  But for $5 a person it wasn't a big deal.  We got amazing food, and great service, and a bit of cute, cheesy entertainment.  This will definitely be a part of our cruise tradition! 

Stay tuned for more fun stories from our trip!
And don't forget to check out our video from Green Eggs & Ham breakfast with Cat in the Hat & Friends. For Video-Click Here

Christmas in NYC

Here it is JUNE and I am sitting here thinking about Christmas in NYC.  We had such a fabulous time last year for our destination Christmas trip and I never actually got around to blogging about it.  So as I sit here reminiscing about all the fun memories we made with our children last year, this one surely tops my list!

Although we have gone to New York City with our family many times we have never been during the Christmas holiday.  So as we planned out our Destination Christmas Trip we sat down and made the official decision to go to the big apple to experience Christmas in NYC.

Here are the fun things we did while we were out in the big city, and if you are going during the Christmas Holiday or considering a trip maybe you can use some of the fun ideas I am posting below.  

#1.  GULLIVER'S GATE

This was our first time to visit Gulliver's Gate which is fairly new, opening in April of 2017.  This is a itty bitty world full of landmarks from all around the entire globe.  It was simply amazing to see all the models of places, from NYC times square complete with Taxi cabs, and Fire Engines to Russia, Egypt and Niagara Falls.  The artists did a magnificent job designing down to the very smallest detail the over 300 scenes of all the different little  places.  

When you first arrive to Gulliver's Gate you are given a scavenger hunt form and a Metal Key on a lanyard.  The key can be entered into the keyholes located all around the exhibits to activate the movements of the sculptures.  The tiny cities come to life when the Key is entered and turned.  Fire Trucks race through the city, a passenger airline takes off from the airport, a bulldozer knocks down trees, Hot air balloons float in the air, and so much more.  It is absolutely amazing the tiny world that they have created inside this 49,000 square space.   

I personally thought the price was a little bit high, but almost everything is a little high in NYC in my opinion so expect to shell a little cash while visiting.  We took our entire family (including kiddos ages, 8, 12, 16) and I have to say it is very family friendly, but probably a little better for the older ones (10 & up).  My 8 year old wasn't as interested in the scavenger hunt and just wanted to run through and quickly look at the exhibits without much interaction.  I noticed this with most of the younger kids that were there.  It put a little damper on the experience for my older kids who were more interested in looking and finding the items on the scavenger list, turning each key to see what happened in the model, and taking their time going through the complex. 
Overall we gave it 2 thumbs up though!
PRICE:  ADULTS- $36     CHILDREN-$26   (Specials and discounts available online through the Gulliver's Gate website, also Groupon and other discounts sites)

#2 ROCKETTES RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR 

I have to admit, I have never been too much of a Rockettes fan but Oh.My.Goodness this show changed my entire view!!! I always thought, "oh the Rockettes..."  (Insert eyeroll)  All they do is kick up their legs in unison.  I mean how much of that can you really watch right?  But we just couldn't go to NYC during the Christmas Holiday and not see the Rockettes Christmas show.  It was SPECTACULAR!!!  During each activity we took our kiddos with us, and everyone was purely entertained during their show.  The Santas, the singing, the Carolers, the ice skaters (ON STAGE)  and so much more!  It was just amazing.  If you are in NYC during the holiday season I highly recommend seeing this show!

Ticket prices vary (check box office for info)

#3 SNOWTUBING

We had the best time driving up into the mountains of New Jersey for Snowtubing.  It was a quick 1.5 hour drive from NYC and was so incredibly cold but fun!  I was a big scary cat and I just wasn't that thrilled about the idea of going down a mountain on a fluffy inner tube.  The boys on the other hand loved every minute of it.  We went to CampGaw Mountain where they have a snowtubing hill, ski slopes, snowboarding, and a small indoor cafe.  

They do require you sign a waiver if you want to enjoy the Snowtubes and you will have to slide on your belly for safety.  Don't forget to bundle up and wear your gloves and face covering.  It is cold cold cold coming down that mountain.  Another handy tool to have is handwarmers.  I am super glad I bought some all the way from Texas because we surely needed them.  I even passed some out to several people who were upset due to ice cold fingers.  

CAMPGAW MOUNTAIN:  SNOWTUBE PRICING- $26 FOR 2 HOURS (may be higher during the holidays, call for pricing)  I recommend purchasing tickets online before you go, they only sell a certain amount of tickets per time slot and you don't want to arrive to a sold out snow hill.  They also have ski lessons and snowboard lessons!

#4 OUTDOOR ICE SKATING

We are from Texas and it is pretty hard to find a REAL outdoor ice skating rink in our area.  My kids had put this on their bucket list and we had to make it happen.  I mean that's what these trips are for, making memories and experiencing new fun things.  Although they do have a fun and BEAUTIFUL skating rink at Rockerfeller Plaza, we opted on a local Brooklyn rink, and it did not disappoint.  The ice was beautiful, the eating area was great and the attendants were very personable.  I lasted on ice skates all of 3 minutes, my youngest hated it (especially after falling without gloves on) but my older 2 loved every minute of it.  They skated for hours almost until dark.  We went on a weekday, it was clean and not too crowded.  The price was affordable also!  I would take my kids back here again.

Lafrak Center at Lakeside   (Prospect Park Brooklyn NY)        Price: $7 Entry  $7 Skate Rental 

(Possible more during holidays and weekends) 

#5 Broadway Shows!

I truly feel no trip to New York City  is complete without seeing Broadway show!!!  We went and saw the Lion King during our Christmas trip.  This was a amazing Christmas gift from my aunt and it was one of our favs by far!  I have seen many shows in NYC and this one blew me away.  As we were sitting in our seats and the show began we looked up and there were actors dressed as all types of African animals walking down the aisles.  It was breath taking.  The time and dedication that they put into this show was jaw dropping.  

But no matter which show it is just see a show while out in NYC!  They have a great little ticket shop that sells discounted tickets in Times Square, we scored a pair of Phantom of the Opera tickets for $51 for Orchestra, we sat in the 4th row!  Every single show I have seen has been amazing and well worth my time.  

Every trip that we take I always look back, and realize how all the little sacrifices we make have been so worth it to take our kids and family on these so super fun experience trips to make memories.  We have chosen not to buy many toys and electronics,  we don't drive super fancy cars, or have a bunch of things that we don't need.  We have each other, we have the bond that we are building with our kids, and we have the memories that they will hold on to forever and for that I am grateful.  

Memorial Day, Watermelon, and 13 Years old!

I am going to pretend like it hasn't been nearly a year since our last blog update.  This has been a crazy whirlwind last couple of weeks.  If you have been following my blog for a while you probably have noticed a slight change in the layout, and how things are set up.  I am in the process of combining all of my blogs into one.  This will allow me to have everything in one place and not have to log into several accounts to update.  

We just finished our school year, and it was a busy one!    I have had to get on my A game (AKA Pinterest Game)  I was a busy planning fool before the kids got out of school.  Because we all know once they are out, the craziness begins!  My kids go BONKERS when they are home with me.  I have to #1 have plenty of food, and #2 have plenty of activities.  So this week we did tie die shirts, it was a total FAIL, and we did a watermelon volcano with my preschool class, and of course a lot of swimming.  When I cut the watermelon in half and scooped out the middle for the watermelon volcano the kids thought it would be funny to put it on their head and be a "watermelon head"  it was hilarious!  I will have to put the video up later.  

We have been in full celebration mode at the Herrera House since school let out May 23rd!  First was Memorial Day weekend, we had a party every day that weekend.  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  We had the pleasure of seeing some super special friends and people in our life!  Friday we went to a baseball party, we are like a great big family.  The kids played and swam, and ate.  We just had a great time.  Saturday we went to a crab boil at another super special friends house.  We had such a fabulous afternoon eating, drinking, chatting, and the highlight of the day was the water balloon fight!  That was so funny!  I will post all of our videos soon, once I reformat them.

And the best thing of all the last few weeks have been celebrating the birthday of this awesome guy!  I can not believe that he is officially a teenager.  The time flew by right before my eyes, and I just wasn't ready.  But isn't that how life goes.  We blink and it flies by, if we aren't careful we will miss some truly important moments.  I try to enjoy all the little things.  For his birthday this year he had a few friends over for swimming, pizza, a homemade cookie cake, and fruit.  Then on his actual birthday we had a family party complete with confetti poppers.  

Live, Laugh, Love
~Cammy~

July 2017

Oh July, You have been so hot!  Summer in Texas can be brutal, it has been very  toasty this year. 

But we have managed to have some fun non the less.  We found a cool little toy at our local toy store (Sockmonkey Junction) they are called Boinks.  If you haven't tried them yet they are fun little toys that squish up and when you let it go it flings forward.  You can visit the site below to find out more. But we loved them! A fun non electronic toy that just keeps ya busy. 

Boinks <<<(Click Here)

We have been to Six Flags & Hurricane Harbor and let the kids ride a few rides.  Of course they go to the craziest new rides that will surely make someone my age sick.  I kept the bench warm during the last few adventures out the the amusement parks, too hot and too much spinning for me.  

We made sure we kept with tradition and went and got our Free Slurpee from 711 on 7/11.  Mainly because I like free stuff!  You can't go wrong with a free cool drink on a very hot day in Texas!

There has been lots of swimming, it's summer so we take full advantage of the pools!!!  We love having a pool walking distance from our house.

 Snapchat.  Need I say more?  If you aren't on the snapchat bandwagon, don't do it!  It is highly addictive and the kids love it.  We are usually cracking up at some of the filtered photos.

4th of July was our normal.  We met with our friends that we have done 4th of July with for 4-5 years at least.  We go and watch fireworks down the street from our house and the huge celebration that our city puts on.  Then the next day we watched the Macy's 4th on TV cuddled on the couch.

You guys know how much I love finding things to do with my kids and make family time together?  ALOT 

JC had been begging to make slime since the last week of school so we finally got out all the stuff and got to mixing.  I have been making slime for over 15 years with my preschool kiddos, and now it is this HUGE craze with all the kids.  I actually find it kind of funny that the big kids are so into it.  

But anyway, we made slime and they loved it!

July has been a great month for us!

~Cammy~