Merry Christmas Done Wooten Style

My side of the family decided to Cruise for our Christmas season.  Along the way we stopped at Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Roatan, Honduras; and Costa Maya, Mexico.  

 Every night on the cruise there was either a Broadway-style variety show or a comedy show.  Conveniently, Carnival offered both family-friendly viewings and adult-only viewings.

 My mom entertaining Ezra while we wait for the show to begin.  He hopped from seat to seat for a while, but once the shows did begin we loved the music, dancing, and lights.

 Family photo op in Cozumel!  Court and I were in the same spot four and a half years ago!

 Court got her fair share of sling work.  Now, I have to say something about this sling.  I was certainly skeptical about its claim to carry up to 35 pounds, but here you see my itty bitty sister carrying a 32 pound kid.  I love it.
Ezra is showing off the flower Aunt CoCo gave him to match the sling.

(Jason here) Food done the Mexican way.  The chicken was OK, but the guacamole was very good and the bean dip was excellent.  The presentation was very nice, too.  This picture is after I'd already taken a couple of bites.

 Housekeeping created towel friends every night to keep Ezra's Christmas bear and Monkey company.  We got to find them every night after the show.

 So... Belize was an interesting place...  if by interesting I mean I have no desire to go back.  We had a fine time walking around the compound gated off for cruisers that measure about three city blocks.  However, by the gates were men with guns who looked less than friendly.  We brightened the day with a mango smoothie and then headed back to the ship.

 Roatan was our favorite day.  We spent it taking advantage of nerdy photo ops and lounging on the beach.

 "What's wrong with socks and sandals?"

 Pathway to the Mahogany Bay beach.  The island was so lush and green right up until you hit sand.  We got to see some neat plants that would close when touched and only reopen after a few minutes had passed.  Interestly to me, they only closed when touched by something living;  the rain did not make them close up.

(Jason here) Ezra and I spent a lot of time out in the water.  At one point when I wasn't paying enough attention to the incoming waves, a big one hit us both right in the face!  I asked Ezra, "Did that wave smash us right in the face?"  "Yeah... smash face!"  A minute later, Ezra told me "I want smash... face!"  So I held him at just the right height until another big wave came and smashed him in the face.  "Did that wave smash you in the face?"  "Yeah!"  "Was that fun Ezra?" "Yeah!" (Surprised Daddy) "Do you want to do that again?"  "NO!"

 Ezra and Jason had so much fun playing in the waves that Ezra was completely worn out by lunch time.

 But don't confuse that for too worn out for lunch time.  He and CoCo shared mozzarella sticks on the beach.  The waiters actually come to you on the beach with menus.

 Teaching good nerd habits at a young age.

 More towel friends.  This one was a crab.  Ezra enjoyed all the animals, but mostly he enjoyed the eyes.  He would take them off and proudly proclaim, "Frog Eyes!" and then put them back.  Or put them on Jason's glasses, declaring, "Daddy Eyes!"

 The ladies in Costa Maya.  It was the shortest day and the rainiest day.  It was also a compound much like Belize, so we decided the comfort of our ship was more enticing.

 Ezra was very dapper for "Elegant Night" dinners.  Also pictured is "Monkey," the stuffed gorilla that Ezra took everywhere with him on the cruise.  Monkey even had his own seat at Showtime.

 The favorite towel animal was a monkey that hung from above our mirror.

The ladies with our servers, Lalu and Wayan, after our last dinner. These guys spoiled us rotten with amazing food, great service, and constant smiles.  They particularly loved our charming kiddo-  they danced with him and constantly brought him chocolate milk.