Next day was the girls All around competition. They had a great time and both qualified in all four events the following day. We spent the time before the event finals in downtown with Water's and Donlon's. Rocky Steps, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, then Reading Terminal for food. Full of history and good food. The Event finals went great, the Champion level that the girls competed got first place team award, both girls got titled All American for being in the top 8 All around of their division. We celebrated with an ice cream party with all teammates in the hotel lobby! Off to NY!
We definitely made the most out of our time on the East Coast with help from others that have been there since it was our first time. We got there Mon. evening and walked to Central Park, met up with gym friends, got halfway through and came back to hotel in Manhattan with view of Time Square, then all went to Juniors for dinner for the best Cheesecake. Ventured Time Square for a Messi birthday parade and some break dancing. Ended at the M&M factory before bed and a big next day.
Subway to Stanton Island Ferry for view of Statue of Liberty, walk to World Trade Center via Wall Street with Water's and had lunch at Stage Door Pizza, World Trade Center guided Tour! Highly recommended. Subway back up to Empire States Building all the way up to the 102nd floor. Saw Maddison Square Garden, cruised through Rockefeller Center, and Radio City, then happen to catch a Broadway show "Wicked" a hop skip and a jump from our hotel! It was beautifully done and so much fun. Ended the evening with Time Square and ice cream at Carvels before heading back to Philadelphia to catch a plane ride home. Was fun to have the Water's with us on the first half of the flight.
Home for a day, love on the puppies, and lots of laundry. Kaylee also somehow got her nails redone. While Cienna was embarking on a full year of Spanish in one month of summer school during all that was to come. Back to LGB heading to Texas this time. We were all super excited to see Auntie Bridget who brought us to a delicious dinner, then to her Houston home, and the NASA Space Center the next day getting to witness and explore exciting space history before heading out to her other property/home in San Leon. There, we were greeted by Cousin Lexi and Rene. Luckily they were vacationing as well and we all got to hang out together for the evening which we cruised the cute little town in Bridget's' golf cart and tour via Troy.
Next morning we were off to Port of Galveston for our departure on The Harmony of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruise with Poppa and the Marty's for another 8 days of incredible adventure! We got a little sidetracked from the plan, so no Honduras due to hurricane Beryl. Headed straight to Cozumel. After meeting up with the fam, an incredible Ice performance, and late night welcome party. We had an unexpected party at an upstairs restaurant overlooking the ocean, before the excursion, but there were margaritas for Poppa and we got to walk down and see iguanas. The Glass Bottom boat excursion was incredible! Star fish, fun, and snorkeling! Finishing with the boys at Senior Frogs.
Can't explain how many things happened. Volley Ball, Pickle Ball, Zip Lining, Rock Climbing, 8 story dry slide, water slides, more incredible shows such as Greece musical, slack line aquatics show with tight rope. Family time at dinner was a big highlight as well! It was great being all together. The servers were super personal and even did magic tricks.
Continuing through the adventure, we then went to Costa Maya and learned a lot about the Mayan Ruins. Great tour guide and experience. More on the boat was Flow Rider Wake boarding, dancing, parades, celebrating, a silent dance party was a first for most of us, astonishing performances every night, chilling by the pool, belly flop contests, and exercise classes. We entered in a scavenger pool hunt as a family and won! We'll keep that trophy for sure. We earned it and had the other passengers on board to help.
Back in Galveston we docked in the morning and got picked up by Auntie Bridget. It was a beautiful day we cruise around San Leon again and had delicious Tex Mex while deciding whether to stay there or head back to Houston since our flight the next morning was delayed due to Hurricane Beryl. It was the calm before the storm for sure. Apparently we didn't have enough excitement over the month. We all had a first experience of a full blown hurricane! Thanks to Bridget, we were all safe and headed back to the airport in the evening.
After all the unforgettable experiences we were ready for a little time at home. Due to the weather, there were a few more complications before getting back home such as boarding and de-boarding and re-boarding because of one thing or another, but then we got back to LBG, walked home and got a little sleep.
We were all happy to get to have Lula the next week, and of course the girls scheduled a sleepover with the Water's that weekend. Week following Cienna got her cartilage pierced, and Kaylee got her second phase of braces. Dad went to a Galaxy game with the Bakx, mom looked at stars with a huge telescope at work and the last week the girls got to go to Acting Out camp for the 8th year in a row!
Exhausted....
Lots of great pictures and thanks to all for helping with such an incredible month!
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