days 3-4: the big boat and Sea World

get ready for a serious understatement: cruise ships are really big. REALLY BIG. this was confusing to the wombat who remained convinced that we were at the hotel, and when were we going to get on THE BIG BOAT for crying out loud? fortunately, the other boats in the harbor were very entertaining and distracting until we were moving and Romney realized that we were on the big boat after all! saved!
what a happy discovery for the kids to find a port-a-crib AND a bunk bed all ready to go in our very own room - and such a tiny bathroom and shower! this was a highlight for our little toothpicky kids, not so much for us. hanging out in gigantic life jackets in ridiculous lines with the sun in our eyes at the muster station, on the other hand, not a highlight.

another mega-bonus on the cruise: FOOD! very delicious and plenty of it (just ask my bro-in-law who ordered three entrees at one time), and waiters who don't flinch when your kids say, "macaroni and cheese, no cheese" and then proceed to make a big mess of the 18 pieces of silverware they give you, spread their very plain noodles all over the place, and then practically fall asleep at the table. it was a big day...

next day, 1st exotic stop: SAN DIEGO! the comedian on the cruise ship made fun of us for taking a giant and expensive cruise ship to san diego and catalina (there are cheaper ways to visit, it's true...) but we had fun anyway. highlights of sea world:

we all loved feeding and petting dolphins (the little girl at the dolphin show announced that they feel like hot dogs - ever noticed that?)
the incredibly high jumping dolphin, Duncan, was a hit (Laine was devastated that she did not get splashed, despite sitting in the splash zone and made me move up with her, hoping to get drenched by those crazy dolphins, but no luck.)

what's not to love about a place with so much water to splash in, especially when that water is full of bat rays and starfish to touch, flamingos to feed, sharks to stare at, and on and on. we're converted - sea world is awesome, and being there with all the fam made it even better!