We didn’t travel far for this trip, but unfortunately we don’t get to the beach too often so this short trip is definitely worthy of a Traveling Tuesday post! Jonathan and I headed about an hour east to Cocoa Beach and spent the day surfing. The trip started out rainy, gloomy and overcast. I spent the first hour or so sitting in the truck waiting for the rain to dissipate so that I could walk out to the beach with my camera. Not only did the rain go away; the sun came out and it turned into an amazingly beautiful Florida day. Jonathan surfed and I took pictures and enjoyed both the serenity and excitement of the beach-the perfect duality of worlds for me.

Both times I have been to Jamaica have been interesting experiences. The second time we went my husband informed me that some crew members from the ship told him about this off-the-beaten path place to go where there is an amazing waterfall and beach area…so, of course, off we headed. It was just Jonathan, Cody and I. We took a cab and were dropped off on the side of the rode. We then hiked down a hill to a deserted beach area where we ran into a beach-dwelling, dreadlock wearing, pipe-smoking local. We continued our journey to this mysterious place and after a little bit of a walk found the elusive waterfall. It was beautiful, it was secluded and we thought we were alone. As we enjoyed the waterfall I saw something coming from the woods-it was an entire Jamaican family and they were coming to take their showers-they brought their soap and shampoo and they did their thing. We were then joined by a Jamaican couple enjoying their daily swim and smoke and we kindly took their picture for them when she handed me her camera. Both times I have ventured to Jamaica we have never done the tourist thing and it has always been an adventure. Needless to say I do not take my camera into Jamaica (my husband will tell you stories about when he had to duck and cover due to gun fire!) So, I brought a disposable camera with me and took a few shots. I think the quality would have been better had I not forgotten about the camera for over a year and finally got the film developed, but regardless they are our memories and here are a few I wanted to share.

One of the Jamaican’s that decided to join us.And there is our ship…

I love the snow and have lived in the southern United States all of my adult life. So as I think of the cold weather blanketing the United States as I sit in 70 degree Florida I am reminded of the times I have traveled to beautiful snowy places. In the spring of 2006 a great opportunity came to travel to one of those places and to go skiing. I had not skied since December 2000 when we spent Christmas at my sister’s in Utah and got to ski at Sundance so this was an especially exciting trip. My husband and his juggling teammate of Team Rootberry were invited to the Monkey Business Ski & Juggling Festival in northern Michigan. It was a short 3-day weekend trip: we flew in-skied/snowboarded-Jonathan competed and won 1st place in the snowboarding and juggling competition-Team Rootberry performed-we skied/snowboarded a little more-and then we headed home. We did not take a ton of pictures; actually most of the pictures taken were of me attempting to get down the mountain, on my skis, without falling (I figured I would spare you of those!)

This was part of the festivities of the weekend…skiers would attempt to ski down the hill and jump over the water (hardly any made it!)Jonathan with his first place medal for snowboarding and juggling (there’s a video of that somewhere…)

A summer cruise to Alaska on the Serenade of the Seas was where we found ourselves in July 2008. I was so excited I could barely stand it. I got to go on a ship I had never been on, I got to go to Canada since that was where the ship sailed out of and I got to go to Alaska! The trip actually started out a little sketchy-my luggage did not arrive at the airport when I did! I was so upset and could not stop thinking what would happen if I had to get on the ship in the morning without my luggage. Jonathan was absolutely wonderful-promising to take me shopping if that happened, but for some odd reason this was not cheering me up. The bonus was that I did get to go to the Roots Store and get a few things for the evening and morning and all was happy in the world when the airline delivered my luggage the next morning. We then sailed away to Alaska with stops in Icy Strait Point (or Hoonah), Skagway, Hubbard Glacier and Juneau. The highlight of the trip without a doubt was Hubbard Glacier. Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier on the North American continent and I could have stayed there and watched the glacier the entire time. When ice broke off of the glacier it was a site and sound like no other. We also got to witness what is called a “shooter”-this is when a piece of ice breaks off the glacier that is under the water and then shoots to the surface. And to top it all off…I actually got to wear a jacket in July!

Me on our nature walk in HoonahJonathan doing his own nature walk in HoonahThe spectacular Hubbard GlacierThe shooter we feel so fortunate to have witnessed (when it was first coming out of the water you would have sworn it was a whale!)Just for a little perspective-this is on the 12th deck of a 13 deck shipOur ship parked in SkagwayOn another nature walk in SkagwayAnd oh some Alaskan salmon

Back in April I hopped on a cruise to the Bahamas with my husband-he was working so I tagged along. I was having a bad month so it was a much needed and appreciated cruise and trip. I had been to Royal Caribbean cruise line’s private island of CocoCay in the Bahamas but this was my first time to Nassau. It was one of those ‘we’re not going to do anything but relax cruises’ and that is just what we did…ahhhh!

We have had the opportunity to cruise with my husband on several occasions and have been fortunate enough to get to go to some amazing places. One of our favorites is Grand Cayman and one of my favorite trips to Grand Cayman was when we took a trip out to Sting Ray City. Jonathan and Cody had already been one time before so they were pro’s, but now it was my turn to play amongst these amazing creatures. On the way out to Sting Ray City we learned about the sting ray shuffle-this is where you shuffle your feet along the bottom of the ocean so that you do not accidentally step on a sting ray and upset him! This made me a little nervous and I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to feel having sting rays swimming all around me, but with my hubby and son jumping right in my nerves went away. Here is a little of our adventure. Oh, and I definitely feel that I am making a statement with that standard issue yellow safety vest!

Last year at this time Cody and I were in Oregon along with my Mom and Dad (Jonathan was working on a cruise and was in South America.) We went to Oregon to spend Christmas with our family. My Dad’s side of the family and a lot of my Mom’s side of the family both live in Oregon-mostly around the Eugene area with some in Portland. We flew into Portland on Christmas Eve. It was snowing. We taxied into the airport on a runway covered in snow-it was magnificent. I’m not sure my Dad was feeling the same way knowing he had a two hour drive south to Eugene. We stopped and had our Christmas Eve meal at the local Burger King and headed on down to Eugene. I think my Dad was having second thoughts about renting a car instead of an SUV! On our second day there at our traditional family get together at the pizza parlor our cousin Danny offered to take Cody snowboarding at Willamette Pass Ski Resort. This was Cody’s first time snowboarding and he caught on no problem. After a few runs down the bunny slope he headed up the ski lift with our cousins that have been snowboarding all their lives. I stayed in the ski lodge with my hot chocolate most of the time-with my novice skiing skills I didn’t want to slow the boys down. On our last day in Oregon, the University of Oregon Ducks were playing-my entire family are Duck fans and if you live in Eugene it is a pretty good chance you are too! Cody even caught Duck fever when we were there and came home with a Duck jacket of his own. It is always sad when we have to leave and we always look forward to going back. We actually went back this past summer-I will share that trip soon!

Have I mentioned that I love the snow and live in Florida. No? Hmmmm

That’s Cody to the right of the ski lift-looking pretty relaxed!It was pretty cold out there!
Just a few of Cody and I with our cousin Mason (the STAR of the family!) and that’s me with my most wonderful cousin Amber!This one’s for the fam in Oregon…

Last week I had a little preview of our trip to Colorado in January 2009. We went to visit our friends Carlos and Jennifer and spent most of our time in the snow (and in case you don’t know-I LOVE the snow.) We went skiing (well, I skied and the boys snowboarded) twice and then spent a day at the Rocky Mountain National Park sledding. We actually skied/snowboarded at night and it really was magical-at times when I was up on the mountain I would just stop and look out amongst the mountains, snow, stars and that big huge sky and take it all in. It was breathtaking-I really could have just stayed up there-and given how I was skiing and the size of the mountain it was definitely a thought-I think Jonathan, Cody and Carlos made it down the mountain five times in the time it took Jennifer and I to get down it once! We also ate at Rubios a lot (it’s one of our favorites and we don’t have one here in Florida.) So last week I shared a few pictures from our trip to Winter Park Ski Resort…this week I thought I would show you a shot from our drive to Winter Park (so glad I wasn’t driving-thanks for getting us there safe Carlos!) and then our day of sledding at Rocky Mountain National Park.

It has been a crazy month so far. I guess that is how December is suppose to be. So this Traveling Tuesday is going to be a preview of a future Traveling Tuesday and a glimpse of where I dream to be…

A few shots of our trip to Colorado last January-this is the Winter Park Ski Resort

We have spent a lot of time over the last few years “on a boat” so I thought I would spend this Traveling Tuesday sharing some of our time “on a boat”. Jonathan, by far, has the most acquired hours on the boat (it is his job!), followed by Cody and then myself. The Root Family has celebrated every Christmas for the past four years on a boat (well, except last year because the boat was in South America)-this will be the first Christmas that we will celebrate at home, together, as a family and to be perfectly honest it feels a little strange to not be going anywhere. We have cruised to several amazing destinations that I will share in future Traveling Tuesday posts but I wanted to show you some of our actual time on the boat. And for the record Dad…I know…it is a ship!

Climbing the rock wall…on the boatThe Roots…on several boatsTeam Rootberry working…on the boat
Cody and Jonathan playing…on the boatLots of Christmas…on the boat
A beautiful view and a little shuffleboard…on the boat …on the boat