An Amazing Thanksgiving Out At Sea!

As Thanksgiving each year for the Lum/Straub household is a major event, this year we got a special treat. (No, it wasn't like the past few years of Black Friday by shopping thru the night to find the best deals!) Tricia, Kylie and I were joined by Grandma and Grandpa Straub, along with Cousin Shawn and Jeff Straub and their daughter Zoe to cruise on the newest Royal Caribbean ship Oasis of the Seas! From the rock climbing wall, to the zip line, to the ice skating rank, to the food, the amazing list goes on and on. Here are some moments and pictures these past few days.

"Oasis of The Seas"

The Solarium - one of the most relaxing places on the ship!

Kylie checking out the views from the Solarium

Yes, this is "the" children's pool at night!!!

Kylie in her baby beach chair by the pool

"Can I get any cooler!"

Who said that "the bathrooms on cruise ship are too small for a bath"! Kylie loved it.

The ice skating show was definitely one of Kylie's favorites as she laughed and threw her arms up in the air to celebrate the performance! Kylie and Zoe both caught in a stare.

Yes, a full size merry-go-round on the cruise ship!

Just one another one of Kylie and Zoe's favorite activities!

Walking in for formal night dinner! Kylie and Zoe, best of pals! (Any day now we feel that Kylie will be up and running on her own!)

The amazing water show at night!

I just want to take a minute express my thoughts and hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving with friends and family. In the fast pace world we live in, we often over look all the things we should be thankful for. We worry when we watch the nightly news, our daily professions, the traffic on the road, etc..Take a moment to be thankful of all your surroundings, the friends and family that care so much for each other, but not always expressed as much as we would always like to. Again, hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Fantasy of Lights

As Tricia has been on Oasis of the Seas, we have been keeping Kylie pretty busy (or has she been keeping us busy?!). Last night we were at the Tradewind Park's Fantasy of Lights. It is event where usually the city puts it on for cars to drive thru a little up park with holiday ornaments and figurines, but they open it up for one night as a 5k run/walk. Unfortunately, Kylie just wasn't ready to keep up with the running group where even the over-60 age group finished in under 18 minutes. Kylie again enjoyed the fact of seeing so many people and just watched everyone. Here are some pics and a video of the night...

All Ready for the Race...

Here is a video of Kylie warming up...

Here is a picture of the walkers and lights (Yes, I probably should have taken a better one showing more holiday ornaments!)

The funniest thing we realized the next day was that I had given Kylie my phone during the race and she kept on holding the phone right to her ears and blabbing. Grandma and I thought it was funny, but it was truly funnier after hearing that Kylie actually dialed Gung Gung and Po Po and was speaking to them with out us knowing.

Finish Line! All done and completely zonked out!

Moving on forward...

Well another big day for Kylie this weekend, as we switched out her rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat. She absolutely loved the fact that now she didn't have to just stare at the roof or just hear mom and dad talking, but she could now actually see mom and dad in the front seat and look out the windows. Plus, with the recent cool weather (yes, 70 degrees! smirk!) we were able to open up the windows and let her hair blow in the wind.


This weekend we also were able to celebrate two of her classmates birthday party. Not only did she get to see her friends over the weekend, but she was able to have a blast at the party place, Busy Bee.

This was the gigantic bouce house they had. Kylie loves crawling all around in them and then when big kids come in and bounce around, she really thinks it is fun!

Playing in the ball pit with her friends!

Driving like mommy (on a non-stressful day)!

Cooking with my friend, Bianca!

And finally the day is over! She was zonked out, yet still holding her balloon!

Sweet Like Candy

Around 9:30am today my caller-id at work flashes daycare. Not sure about you but when it does that my heart starts palpitating. Does she have a fever, is she sick..I have so much work, can I leave.. what is wrong??

The conversation started off bad too, Tricia well it is not good down here. I start to freak and she says, Kylie has been bitten. I kind of shrug it off it is part of childhood I suppose. She tells me that while she was eating her breakfast, the perpetrator came over and took a bite out of her cheek. Guess he thought she was breakfast? Poor baby took awhile for her to calm down and when I went down I wasn't expecting it to look like this...



She is completely fine and happy just part of childhood...

Hair All Fixed

Today when I went to pick-up Kylie from school all her friends (girls) had pigtails including Kylie. Her teacher spent the time to put them in for everyone! Super cute!

Week with Grandma...

Well as Tricia has been on a cruise ship down in Mexico for the week. We were fortunate to have Grandma fly down from Atlanta to help with Kylie. As Kylie's daycare is at Tricia's work place down in Miami, Grandma was able to still take her to school a couple days this week so that she does not get out of routine and still can be with her friends. But on the other days, Kylie stayed home with Grandma, she definitely was well taken care of. From baking pumpkin square desserts to going to A Latte Fun (a kids indoor play cafe/play place), to just monkeying around the house, I know they had a blast. Even Mac got was able to take advantage of Grandma too, by eating 2 out of the 4 pieces of meatloaf that she had baked. Here are just some of the shots from this week.

Grandma made pumpkin pancakes for breakfast!

At "A Latte Fun" playing the piano and clapping her hands!

Not walking yet, but Kylie sure knows how to push the shopping cart!

Lunch time, this is the sign to say "I love my broccoli!"

Eating breakfast at Panera's with Grandma

Playing the piano the 2nd day Grandma took to A Latte Fun! I think both grandpa's would enjoy the music she is playing.

"I saw Grandma cook, so now I want to cook!"

"After a week of watching, now I can cook!"

Thanks for everything Grandma...Mac thanks you too! And Brian as well!!!

Balloons from a sea...

As mommy is traveling out at sea this week for work, Grandma Straub is here helping me take care of Kylie. They did venture out of the house to do some shopping, but the biggest surprise came when balloons showed up. She has always liked balloons from the moment she saw them at her birthday party. As I got home from work her face did light up, but as I brought her closer to the balloons she only got happier. So, yes, even though you are cruising out at sea far away, you still put a smile her face!

Thank you mommy, I love you!