We started on a successful note: got to cruise ship on time, suitcases packed before we went out the previous evening (though the handfuls of "little things" that are always around still get me, there were no fights, etc... and the drive was mostly uneventful. Uncle Matthew got some good cuddle and great discussion time, sat between the kids in the back of the caravan and I finished the last chapter of the main book I was reading, so I got to leave in it the car. We followed that with a fascinating and unexpected biblical discussion with Matt that everyone chipped in to. I really enjoy talking with Matt and wish I could've spent more time with him. It was great to be able to sit Hank while Matt and Erin dealt with the nightmare of having to get a new car because their's had died unexpectedly. Fortunating the timing worked in the end as they got 4.5k for their barely drivable car in a Govt incentive that closes Monday.
Grumpy brought out matching tie dye shirts for all of us to wear today.
It was great for keeping together and a conversation starter to boot - at dinner a stranger walked by saying, "So that's the Tie Dye Gang!"
Even Geoff, vampire in hiding, was cheerfully wearing an explosion of colours and agreeing that it was a good way to start the trip. Though I must say that when he put on Ruth's Tie dye hat I was stuck with shock, worry and felt slightly ill at the vision of his cheerful face framed by swirls of colour below his neck and very bright splotches of bright Yellow, lime green and pink above his eyes. I was relieved when he added his shades to dull the overall look some. It could grow on me though. 8¬}
The kids love the cruise ship and had an adventure with Daddy, exploring the ship while I napped in the cabin. I even slept through the evacuation drill and while I was aware of every single announcement I was too fatigued to care. R. was reprtedly well behaved, though the string of late nights is clearly showing with increased whinning and agruing. "I'm NOT going to ... (do what she's been told to do)" has been shouted a lot lately. David, unfortunately, argued to the point of hitting Daddy during the drill and continued to roll in the consequenses for the next hour or so but was accepting authority by the end. My desperate plan of letting him hit/push a hand (after getting permission) is working loads better than I expected or even hoped, but I'm still looking forward to a positive parenting class for better ways of helping him deal with his anger.
After a nice dinner, David was sent to bed with Daddy watching and I took Ruth out for a bit of dancing. We found Grandma at the craps table and ended her winning streak then found a nearly empty room with a band playing something like jazz and we had a great time dancing while grandma watched. We moved to a karoke room when they closed and got a dance to better music and I ended it with myself singing the movie version of "Dancing Queen" while the karoke machine played the normal version. I dedicated it to Ruth and announced that she was going to bed immediately afterwards. It was fun, even though I was bad; the bonus being that I got to watch Ruth and Grandma dancing and couldn't hear myself singing. ;) Ruth said I was
fabulous, Grandma said I had great personality. I'm looking forward to the rest of the cruise.
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