Mother Daughter Time

As a mother of five, I tend to get very busy in the small details of day to day life: menu planning, schooling, after-school activities, cleaning, laundry, diapers, college applications, etc. So when my husband suggested I take our oldest daughter on a vacation, my jaw dropped to the floor. I wasn't even sure how to process his comment. After picking up my jaw and discussing it more, we decided to start a family tradition. The year that each child turns 18/graduates, they get to go on a vacation with mom. Just the two of us. Yay!

Our oldest turned 18 and graduated this past year, so we got to plan our trip. Given this daughter's personality, I knew going somewhere warm during the winter months (we live in Minnesota) would be a fabulous choice for her. So we started throwing around some ideas that mostly involved flying somewhere warm and renting a car and exploring. Sounds fun, right? Then Kristy suggested a cruise. Wait, what?!? I can't afford a cruise. But after looking into it, I was surprised to find that we could totally afford a cruise. They are way more reasonable than most people realize!

We decided on a Royal Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas. What an experience! This was a first for both of us, so every little thing was new. Being out on the ocean was pretty amazing and ridiculously good for the soul. The food was incredible; the beaches were beautiful; the food was delicious; exploring Nassau was breathtaking; the food was drool-worthy; the ocean was soothing...and did I mention the FOOD?

Visiting the private beach destination, CocoCay, was one of our favorite parts of the cruise. Sitting on the beach, soaking up the hot sun, drinking out of pineapples-- Paradise. Seriously. My feet miss that sand.

My daughter's highlights were seeing the beaches and all the cute Bahamian shops, along with the amazing cuisine served on the cruise by the same waiters every meal. My highlight was the food and history tour we went on while at port in Nassau. I was shocked at how much fascinating information and delicious food was packed into just a few short hours. That went above and beyond my expectations. Our tour guide, Joy, was full of interesting information and was clearly very passionate about her homeland and its rich culture and diverse cuisine.

The ship itself was filled with endless entertainment and fun things to see and do: nightly shows, comedians, pools, hot tubs, a rock wall, bungee trampolines, an arcade, shops, a spa, an orchestra, live bands, theme nights, game shows, a casino, movies on deck, dancing, restaurants, classes--the list goes on and on.

I am so glad my daughter and I were able to go on this adventure together. Making memories like this is my favorite thing to do.