wonderful day

Today the Kelly girls decided to venture to our local water park, Paradise Cove. Even though we thought it was going to be over crowded as this has been one of the first rain free days of the summer, we were sufficiently bored enough to give it a go anyway. The crowds weren't that bad and we were able to spend a few hours floating down the lazy river and trying out the various water slides. Hannah had a blast in the "under 5" area and alternated between the green and orange slides all by herself as big kids weren't allowed. (actually one big kid stood watch at the bottom of the slide while mom got her in line at the top) We finally convinced her it was time to go and headed back to the car. While I was strapping her into her car seat she sighed and said to no one in particular: "This was a wonderful day". I would have to say that made all of the getting- pushed- in -line -by -unruly -kids, and all -of- the -getting -splashed -by -the -campers -who -always -seem -to -have -to -have -a pushing -match -right -next -to -you, worth it.

Day on the Deck

Day on the Deck is a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish to raise money for wishes. It is a seven-day cruise that you don’t really go on but you get to see an ice skating show and you get to bid in an auction.
First, we got on the cruise ship and we were so jealous because we couldn’t stay on the ship. You would forget you were on a ship. The ship looked like a mall. When we got on the elevator to get to the ice skating rink (cool right) we were with some people who were staying on the cruise. They said we were so lucky that we didn’t have luggage. I was thinking in my head yah but you actually get to stay on the seven-day mall cruise. When we were in the elevator there was a block bolted into the floor that had the day of the week in case you forgot what day it was.
When we got to the ice-skating rink they were doing a auction for a float out of the new ship called the Oasis. You wouldn’t think you were on a cruise ship, you wouldn’t think you were in a mall, but you would think you were in a town. No kidding. They were also auctioning a kid’s birthday party which two lucky kids ended up with $3000.00 parties on a ship.
After the show we went to the fanciest lunch you would ever see or eat at. There was one floor with about ten tables on it and ten rows on each side. On the second floor there wasn’t middle, just ten tables on each side. It was the same on the third row. We sat on the first floor and where you would go up the fancy stairs to the second and third row, there was a big space where three violinists and a pianist played classical music. The ladies were in really fancy dresses. Then it was time to leave but we couldn’t find the exit. So we asked a worker and he asked our mom if she really wanted to leave. She said she had to not that she really wanted to. We found the exit and left. Meaghan and I still to this day say oh those people are still on that seven day mall cruise and are probably waking up or eating dinner in the three story dining room with the brownie madness which we had with our lunch. The end

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, The Best! - Alyssa

Have you been on a Royal Caribbean ship? Well if you have or haven’t there is a special ship called Majesty of the Seas .It has fun for everyone including the kids with a room for 3 to 11 year olds. For the teens they have a room for the 12-to17 year olds. Don’t worry about the Adults they have a casino, a Jacuzzi, and a bingo that you can win a lot of money. When our family went we were three numbers away from winning $1,400 in cash. We had so much fun and laughs like the chocolate martini and something called Jimmy’s top ten, which was hilarious! Jimmy’s top ten was his funniest questions he got asked on the cruise like ‘is the island surrounded by water?” and “If the pictures in the photo gallery aren’t marked how do we know which ones are ours?” and “If we are married can we still go to the singles party?” also “Is the toilet bowl water fresh water or salt water?” and “How small does your face have to be for a mini facial?” another funny one was “Do the elevators go to the front of the ship?” Another one was “Have you seen my husband?” That is all I can remember.
The most fancy place on the cruise is the dining room. You come to your table and the waiters pull out your chair for you and they put your napkin on your lap. Then they give you bread and a menu.
When we made our first stop we made it to Coco Cay. Coco Cay is an island that is currently owned by Royal Caribbean and they are leasing it from the Bahamas. Coco Cay was so much fun. We went to go to the water and we saw crabs! Then we played tag in the water and that was probably the most fun thing ever on that beach.
Then we went to Nassau and we stayed on the cruise ship because we had already been there and it wasn’t much fun. Luckily everyone else aboard went to Nassau because they had never been there before. We got to go in the whirlpool, which is usually crowded by rude people that wouldn’t get out. We got there on a good day at a good time. So if I have any advice for you it is: when you get to where you are going and you have already been there (such as we were with Nassau) get to the Jacuzzi early in the morning when mostly everyone has left.
I would like to thank our dad for taking on this cruise because we had a blast there. My favorite part of the cruise was spending time with my family.

Summertime, its finally here, but with a little twist-Alyssa

Summertime is finally here and to start it off we went on a cruise. We did a lot of cool stuff but one beats them all and that was the “Chocolate Martini”. My little sister, Hannah, ordered chocolate milk at a cocktail party. When it finally came Hannah was playing with a little new friend she had made on the ship, so she didn’t drink it. We thought it was strange when they gave it to her in a martini glass. We thought they just poured chocolate milk in there. The ship was rocking and the chocolate milk was about to spill so Meaghan took a sip. She said it tasted funny so she told our Mom about it and she took a sip. That’s when we found out the chocolate milk wasn’t really chocolate milk it was just a chocolate martini. Now Meaghan is scarred for life.

Chocolate Milk in a Martini Glass: Part I by Meaghan

Last year the whole Kelly team went on a Carnival Cruise, and this year we sailed on Royal Caribbean. Surprisingly, Royal Caribbean was not so different from Carnival. They both had fabulous dining rooms, and fun things to do around the ship. While Royal Caribbean made more stops, Carnival had more shows, bingo opportunities, and fun things to do around the ship.
Getting on our ship, Majesty of the Seas, was no problem. We were usually at the head of the line, and luckily the lines just kept on moving. By the time we got on the ship, it was lunchtime. Everyone was so excited to finally be on the ship, since we go on it every year and it is always a blast. We ate lunch in the Windjammer Marketplace, the Majesty’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet. There were all sorts of pasta, salads, pizza, you name it. There was even a Deli and a Johnny Rockets onboard!
After lunch, we went to an informational shopping show. I don’t know about the rest of the family, but I just went to enter the raffle and get my free charm bracelet (which you only got a coupon for so you could buy other stuff in the store.). All I can say about the show was that the whole ship LOVED Diamonds International. You couldn’t go 5 seconds without hearing the words “Diamonds International” at least 2 times.
After that, we went back to our cabins to put our stuff down. This time we had 2 cabins instead of 1. We were expecting it to be A LOT bigger than it actually was. One cabin, the one for me, my dad, and my sister Hannah, had 2 beds on the floor and 2 bunks. The other cabin, the one for my mom and my sister, Alyssa, only had 2 beds, had a porthole, and was bigger than the other cabin. After we figured out the keys, we went to go freshen up for the cocktail party.
Since the cruise was a business trip for the Make-A-Wish staff & board, we had to go to a cocktail party every day. The first day the party was in a lounge overlooking the pool. The second day it was in the Boleros lounge, and the third day it was in the Schooner bar. After the party, we went in the Moonlight Dining Room. Since we had dropped Hannah off at the kids club previously, there was only one seat left next to my dad, which my mom took. My sister and I sat at a table all by ourselves. At the end, one of my dad’s friends complimented us on how well we ordered, and how we didn’t order dessert for every course. The next 2 days, that was the only table big enough for all 5 of us, since Hannah didn’t go to the kids club anymore. Our waiter, Calin, was fabulous and so was the assistant waiter. He showed us a magic trick with toothpicks that was very cool.
The next day we went to the beach on Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay, and we checked out the straw market. When we stopped in Nassau, instead of getting off the ship (we already saw Nassau last year) went in the pool and hot tub. We saw a show called “Boogie Wonderland” that brought you back to the 70s. Hannah fell asleep in the middle, and when she woke up the show was over. She started screaming her head off. We finally had to drag her outside and have my dad calm her down. The one experience I will never forget, though, is the second cocktail party, the whole story behind the title of this Blog, and the reason why I’m scarred for life.
One thing you should know about Hannah is that it is all about the chocolate milk. Occasionally she will drink water, but usually she wont rest until she has her precious chocolate milk. While we were sitting down, my mom asked the waiter for chocolate milk. The waiter came back with what we thought was chocolate milk in a martini glass.
While Hannah was playing with a new friend, I was watching the chocolate milk. It looked like it was about to spill, so I took a big gulp of it. Little did I know that it was actually a chocolate martini! My mom and I rushed down to the Windjammer to get a cookie and some regular chocolate milk. I will never drink again in my lifetime, even when I am of age. I still, to this day, have the chocolate martini taste in my mouth!
Getting off the ship was just as smooth as getting on, but with a lot less excitement. We are excited to go on the next cruise, even though it is in a very long time. It’s never too early to start counting down!

Its Sum, Sum, Summertime!

Wow! We accomplished so much this school year. One question away from a perfect FCAT. Learning to sound out simple words before the age of 3. Two dance shows, accolades for highest test score in math and an editorial worthy of publishing. 12 credits toward a Masters in OT (only 24 more to go!). First soccer season and a place on the all-star team. Gymnastics every week times 3!

Now its time to take it a little easier. Emphasis on a little. We had to print out a calendar of June, July and August to keep track of all that we plan on doing this summer. Swimming lessons, more gymnastics, soccer camp, culinary classes. Oh and we can't forget the gym. At least 5 days a week for me and a class called Cardio Kids for the big girls.

This blog is going to serve three purposes. One is to journal our adventures this summer. Another is to share those adventures with all of you. The third is to give two talented writers an outlet for their gifts.

Check back often! We hope to have lots to share!