Day 5&6 - Panama Canal Cruise - Los Angeles

Our 5th day was spent at sea.

Our 6th day was spent in Los Angeles, CA.  As John & I have been there before, and aren't fans of LA, we decided to stay on board the ship with Maya.  Mom & Dad joined an excursion group and saw many of the famous LA sites.  They are fairly self-explanatory... unless you've been locked up your whole life.

     

     

 

Oh #%*&, part 2...

Well, last weeks language blunder reoccured this week in a smaller scale.  This time, M was working on some art and things weren't going as planned.  When the glue smudged her art 'Crap' was the expression used.  At least it was a bit tamer this time...  (tee hee)

Oh #@&%!!!...

We got a call from M's school last week indicating that she had said a bad word at school.  

Apparently, she was wanting to come in from play-time with her buddy Lucas but someone else was called to go in with him.  Her response was 'Oh shit!'  The teacher immediately looked at her and M broke down and cried, knowing that she'd done something wrong.  No discipline was taken but it was reinforced to M that this language is not acceptable at school....

The 20-something teacher telling me this on the phone was doing so in a calm and mature manner.  I, on the other hand, was giggling away.  I fully admit that she likely learned that word from me as that is my expression of choice when I drop something.  Every parent goes through a time when their child curses and I consider us lucky that she's almost 5 before we had to deal with this.  I have a strong suspicion that it won't be the last...

Day 3&4 - Panama Canal Cruise - San Francisco

Our 3rd day on the ship was an 'at sea' day.  These days are a bit more relaxing as there are no schedules to meet but our own.  Time at the gym, cocktails in the lounge, meals whenever we want, Maya playing in the kids club decorating cupcakes, riding motorcycles and general lazyness is the order of the day.  Sillyness often follows...

   

 

  

Our 4th day was spent in San Francisco, CA.

John & I have been there many times before and LOVE this city.  So, knowing our way around, we decided to take Maya in the stroller & just walk for the day.  Mom & Dad, never having been here before, chose the bus excursion option and got the opportunity to see some of the key sight-seeing stops of the city.  Shorelines, cable cars, china town, playgrounds, Sea Lions, Alcatraz and more.  Unfortunately, the famous SF fog prevented proper views of the bridge...

  

   

   

     

Dinner chats...

M: Mommy, do you remember last Christmas when Santa left me the trick-or-treat bag?
Me: Sweetie, Santa doesn't bring Trick-or-Treat bags.  You get that at Halloween.
M: Yes he does... and then he hides chocolate eggs all over the house for me to find!
Me: (giggling) The Easter Bunny hides chocolate eggs in the house, Santa puts presents under the Christmas tree and Halloween is when you wear a costume and go from house to house Trick-or-Treating for candy or toys...
M: oh...

(I think we need to help her sort out her fables...)

Day 2 - Panama Canal Cruise - Astoria, OR

Day 2 - Panama Canal Cruise - Astoria, OR
We arrived early the next day to Astoria, Oregon.  It was rainy when we arrived but cleared by the afternoon.  We weren't really sure WHY we were in Astoria, we just were. 
Astoria is a very small town with little to see or do and, as it was less than 24 hours since we boarded, we decided to stay on board and relax with M.  My parents went in to town and saw the local farmers market, antique vehicles & rode the cable car.  Of course, due to health & disease issues, you are never allowed to remove or bring on food to a ship so they weren't able to buy anything but lunch at the farmers market.

       

Day 1 - Panama Canal Cruise - Vancouver

Panama Canal - Day 1 - Sept 22
...Sit right back and we'll tell a tale.....
On Sept 22, we boarded the Norwegian Cruise ship JEWEL in Vancouver with my parents.  Although it was a rainy day, the rains stopped long enough for us to enjoy the departure party. 
....on a 3-hour tour la-la (oops, 3 week tour)....
Bon Voyage!



    

NCL Jewel                               M and Grampa   

  

Chillin                                     M and Gramma

  

Going under the Lions Gate Bridge                        Cheers!