Alaska Part One

So the trip was great and there are tons and tons of pictures to post, being the main photographer of the group.  So it'll be in parts.  Part one starts in Seattle and goes through our 2nd night on the boat, concluding with the formal dinner.

 Taking a ride on the luggage cart at the hotel.

 Riding the tram around Seattle before the cruise Friday morning.

 Liam taking a walk with his Daddy and Chunkle. Yes that is Bapa riding the moving mechanical horse on the right as Sierra rides the car. :)

 Waiting outside the hotel with all of our luggage for the shuttle to take us to the cruise.

What is a trip with a large family without a few things going wrong, right?!  Above on the left is Jonathan pointing at the tire.  Yep a flat tire on the interstate in the full shuttle.  Thankfully another one came by pretty quickly and we were on our way.  On the left above, Sami waiting to see if she could board the ship.  You were to bring a passport or a birth certificate and driver's license.  She forgot her birth certificate.  So here she is waiting to figure it all out.  Thanks to her father-in-law who faxed her birth certificate she got on the boat.  

Below is everyone walking to board the ship.  On the right is our first view of the Ms. Amsterdam.

 One of the few sunny days in Seattle.  Beautiful view of it from the deck of the ship.  Soo soo pretty and perfect 70 day to ship off.

Had to take some shots while the weather was so beautiful.

 Below is us taking off...trail of waves in the water.

The main pool...it thankfully closed off during the cruise since it was cold everywhere else, but warm so all our days we were in the pool.  Sierra playing basketball on the outside court.

 Sierra and Ben in grandparents room.  This window provided hours and hours of entertainment for the little ones.  They loved it.

First night of 4 course dinner.  Appetizer, soup/salad, main course, and dessert.  2 hour plus process each night.

 Liam enjoying some fruit.

 All the kids playing on Mimi and Bapa's bed.  Spent a lot of time there.

Below is breakfast the second morning in the Lido on the 8th floor.  We usually picked a cubby corner oval table because the kids could roam easier.  There were windows for them to view too.

Those little ones loved the windows.  Kept them busy.

 Eric, Brian, Jonathan, Dad, and Jena participate in a trivia game and won first place!  Free coasters from Holland America for everyone. 

 High tea the second afternoon.  Yummy!

Cousins on the top left enjoying bath time.  Aunt Jena keeping her tradition of paining her nieces toe nails. 

 First formal night...look at those handsome boys above. :)  Below are the 4 grandkids with Mimi in their good looking outfits.  The girls are wearing their dresses Mimi made them for their birthdays.

Sisters...

 The McLaughlin kids with their kids and spouses, minus mine. :(  Sadly he didn't get to come.

Maggie, Brian, Rachel, Ben, Eric, Jena, Mariah, Sierra, Jonathan, Liam, and Sami.

Formal dinner....

My good looking parents who graciously gave this trip to us all.

Windows kept the entertainment going as well as lollipops seen at the top right.

Part II coming soon....