The Fab 4 From Washington: November 2011

Mackenzie's First Job & First Paycheck!

About a month ago Mackenzie applied for and got her first ever "real" job! She is working 2 days a week for 4 hours each shift at a local swimming pool.

She is the cashier at the center. Her job includes answering the phones, taking money/payment from customers, signing up kids for swim lessons, taking attendance during swim classes, organizing, cleaning and cashing out the register at the end of the night by counting the money and making the deposit slip for the bank.

Here is a picture of Mackenzie in her official "Everett Parks & Recreation" t-shirt standing behind the counter answering the phone. Doesn't she look so official?

Last week she got her first pay check. She was so excited.

Our baby girl is growing up! Nice job getting a job Kenz!

Thanksgiving 2011 - Cruising the Mexican Riviera

We just spent 7 beautiful days cruising the Mexican Rivera with my family over Thanksgiving week. Everyone in my family came except for 3 of the great-grandchildren. We have so many fun pictures to share we decided to do separate blog entries for each day. Hang on - nothing like looking at someone else's vacation pictures... :)

Friday afternoon we flew to Long Beach, California. When we arrived my brother Gregg picked us up from the airport and took us to one of our favorite restaurants - "Me & Ed's Pizza". It was a favorite of ours when we lived down there.

Friday night we stayed at a Marriott Hotel in Long Beach. Saturday morning after Mackenzie and Brooklyn got ready they started goofing off in our room. Here they are being silly and climbing in and out the window in our room!

Here we are getting ready to haul all our suitcases down to the cars.

Mackenzie and Brooklyn waiting for everyone to meet in our hotel lobby so we could go out to breakfast before we headed over to board the ship.

Check out how big the ship is! Quite a jump from Steve's kayaks... Wow!

Getting ready to leave San Pedro harbor.

We each purchased an ultimate drink card which allowed us all the soda, juice, hot chocolate, milk shakes, pina colada's, strawberry daiquiris any fruity non- alcoholic drinks we wanted. Mackenzie and Brooklyn were in heaven!

Check out these yummy desserts we ordered at dinner our first night.

Saturday night a bunch of us went and did Karaoke. Here is Mackenzie singing to "Call Me" by Blondie.

Some of the cousins doing Karaoke. They sang, "We are the Champions" by Queen.

Thanksgiving 2011 - Cruising the Mexican Riviera - Day 2

Our first port was Ensenada, Mexico.

We took a bus tour out to "La Bufadora" to see this famous blow hole. The tide was low that day so we didn't see much, but the tour guide on the bus was fun and it was sure beautiful.

Pretty view of the ocean in La Bufadora.

Look at these 3 Amigo's that I saw while shopping for souvenirs!

We stopped off at a local taco shack for some authentic Mexican food. It was fun to watch them make our tacos. Wish they were just down the street - sounds good right now.

Steve enjoying his authentic Mexican taco.

Once we got back onto the ship we hurried to grab some lunch. They had homemade thin cruist pizza everyday and it was delicious.

One of the cousins tables in the dinning room at dinner.

That night after dinner we went to a show. They had this family comedian, Carlos Oscar - he was really, really funny.

After the show we headed upstairs to play come cards and of course hit the late night buffet.

This is what our cute little cabin looked like. Really tiny but we managed to fit.

Thanksgiving 2011 - Cruising the Mexican Riviera - Day 3

On day 3 we were at sea. Here is Steve and Mackenzie ordering pina coladas.

Me and Mackenzie relaxing on our lounge chairs by the pool.

That evening was our first formal night. It was fun dressing up for dinner. Here is Mackenzie helping Steve tie his bow tie! He looked so sharp.

Formal pictures.

Formal picture outside on the deck.

After dinner some of the cousins decided to be funny and pose in front of a store front on the promenade as models. They were doing a pretty good job and people walking by were cracking up.

Brooklyn with her cousin Matthew. Such good looking kids.

After dinner we went to a fun game show and competed in it. The cruise directors running the game asked for a volunteer to come up and show everyone how to the dance to "Foot Loose" and before we knew it Mackenzie was running down onto the dance floor. Way to go Kenz!

This is what our room service looked like that was delivered to our room at midnight! How embarrassing! But just like all the other food on the cruise even room service was included in our price so we had to indulge!

Brooklyn and Steve's favorite thing to order off the room service menu was this chocolate cake. Here is a picture of Brooklyn with a piece!

Thanksgiving 2011 - Cruising the Mexican Riviera - Day 4

On day 4 we were in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We took a small boat ride from the ship over to Cabo for the day.

After dickering with the locals we took took a water taxi to "Lover's Beach" and to the famous Arch.

On the water taxi from Cabo to the beach.

We did some snorkeling, soaked in the warm sun and Brooklyn even tried a little cliff jumping with her cousins - off the top of the rock in the background on the left.

Mackenzie worked on her negotiating skills and purchased her poncho jacket. Hola ponchita!

That night on the ship we got together as a family and took turns sharing the many ways that Grandma and Grandpa have blessed our lives. We had some serious thoughts and then our family put in our "Bill Bob Teeth" and sang a silly song. Quite the dignified family, eh? :)

Thanksgiving 2011 - Cruising the Mexican Riviera - Day 5

On day 5 we had another fun day in Cabo. Each morning we would gather on our floor near the elevators. Here are some of the cousins waiting for the rest of the family.