Well, as noted previously, we had a weird Christmas. Poor Brad has no idea what a normal Cramer Christmas is like, cause we have not had one since we have been married. The first christmas spent with my family, my aunt had recently had a baby so the whole family took a red-eye flight to CT on Christmas. Needless to say, that Christmas was a little rushed and then we were in Connecticut and NYC.
Then, last year, we were all down in So Cal at my grandparents for Christmas. So a very full house. And why did we go to So Cal? Because grandma ordered a real tree...which looked like a bush.
Finally, this year my grandparents paid to take the whole family on a cruise, for Christmas of course. I've always wanted to go the caribbean. It was pretty, and warm, and humid. I can't say it was my favorite Christmas though because it didn't feel like christmas.
Everyone mailed presents to each other, so we didn't have to take them with us. So Brad and I opened all our presents before christmas. Then we flew to Florida on the 22-23rd of December. Spent a day in Ft. Lauderdale. On Christmas Eve we boarded the boat, ate, wandered the boat, and finally left the dock at 6pm.
Christmas day, we rescued Cubans. How do I know they were Cubans? Well, we were a lot closer to Cuba then to America, and who else crams 12 people onto a little dingy, that is taking on water, and floating in the middle of the ocean? Oh yeah, Cubans! Needless to say, it is international law that boats must rescue stranded people. So we got to wait for hours for the US Coast Guard to come and pick up these Cubans, as we could not go to Grand Cayman with them.
My family panicked that we would miss our excursion as we would get to Grand Cayman 4 hours later than we originally were supposed to. We went to a Christmas on Ice show (yes, there was an ice skating rink on the boat). Other than that, we all sat on a deck (some laid out in the sun and got fried, the rest of us hid in the shade) and read books. Christmas dinner, all 18 of us sat at two different tables right next to each other (cause there is no table big enough for 18 people) . My mom did make stocking things for each room, so we did find gifts/candy in these stockings each day.
Monday, we were in Grand Cayman. We went to string ray city, and I now find sting rays to be freaky animals. We also went snorkeling by the reef, which was cool.
Tuesday, we were in Jamaica. We went ziplining in the rain. Then we hiked Dunns Falls. I liked zip linning, I hated climbing the water fall. A) It was boxing day, which is a big holiday to anyone related to England, so it was crazy b) I don't like big crowds, especially when you are trying to fight through all these people to climb up a water fall and not lose your group, fall in the water, or slip and C) I was wearing my pump (cause i didn't trust leaving it) and I have had a pump break in the water before. But Jamaica was pretty, while also a little scary. We did see a sign for city saying the cops were not allowed.
Wednesday we were in Labadee, Haiti, which is Royal Caribbean's private area. It was nice, we snorkeled, went on the alpine coaster, and introduced my family to the joys of street vendors.
Thursday we sailed back to America. Friday we got off the boat and flew back. I was really ready to come home. The caribbean is nice, but I just want to be home for christmas. Have a normal christmas at home with family, and hopefully enjoy a holiday without someone in the family yelling/lecturing, etc. So we had fun, but I can't say I ever want to do it again.
Granted, at this point in time I never want to fly again. One day, Brad will have a christmas with my family where we are at my parents home, can walk the street and see all the lights, and relax. One day, maybe in 20 years.
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