They are all mine

This time around, we not only had more adult children, but two married couples. While I very much enjoy seeing the world through the eyes of a children, it was also great fun to experience this trip with children who've grown up and are successfully doing life on their own. I enjoyed mixing up our dinner seating so we could chat with different people each meal and spending time with them just walking or talking or enjoying an onboard class or activity together.

And they found out that there is a perk to being a young adult without children on a Disney cruise - the Adults Only locations are virtually empty! Who knew? (Certainly not me!) For what it lacked in children, it made up in wildlife.

But perhaps the greatest pleasure for me is seeing our children mix and interact, no matter the age (or level of kindness, as the case may be), the physical distance that usually separates them, or the variety of interests and gifts.

The older ones are role models for the younger ones.

They know how to get along with anyone and they've had a lot of practice. Some of them took Victor for an hour or two here and there. Some of them allowed their younger siblings to tag along when they could have insisted on being alone. And they all enjoyed their time together.

And I couldn't be prouder.

He came

I'll be honest. I wasn't sure it was the best idea to take him along.

He's loud. He's wearying and mean. He struggles to obey. What would we do about the deck? He can't see and can't fully comprehend what it means to be on Deck 10 with the water down below...

What would we do with all his stimming? What would we do if he started spinning and spitting? Because once he starts...and no one likes spit (except Victor)!

And he doesn't really know the Disney characters except Lightning McQueen but what were the odds of finding a race car on board?

But there he was -

A Cars themed kids' meal and lunch at Flo's Cafe

made him very happy

In the end, I was the one dissenting vote. So he came. He struggled at times. Other times he was his engaging, endearing self.

Our waiters loved him

His siblings loved on him (and some even took turns

watching him for an hour or two).

Even the captain and cruise director took a liking to him.

And when he said he wanted to pose...

...maybe even I was convinced it was the right thing to do.

Encountering a dolphin

Oh yes, something else did happen. Victor got to experience dolphins up close and personal.

My brother and I took his youngest daughter and Victor to Blue Lagoon Island (Bahamas) for their Dolphin Encounters. The Good Doctor came along to take photos.

Victor was a little unsure at first but quickly warmed up to the idea. We did have to tell him that the dolphins don't poop in the water here, but in the designated area over there, far from where we'd be in the water with them.  It worked and he agreed to descend into the water.

On one condition, no dolphin kissing. He would dance, he would hug, he would feed a slimy fish section to the dolphin, but no kissing.

I had to do the kissing.

The dolphin's underbelly may feel like a hot dog but kissing a dolphin is like kissing a rock.

He may not fully appreciate the rarity of his experience, but he will forever remember the day he got to interact with a dolphin

Operation Tinkerbell

With a throw-back to her Peter Pan days, Operation-Help-Jake-Propose became more creatively code-named Operation Tinkerbell.

Normally not one to have difficulty keeping secrets, this was quite possibly the longest almost-a-month in the history of Cindy. But I'm pretty sure my excitement didn't in any way compare to the excitement and nervousness of Jake, beginning with his meeting with us. He said he wanted to meet. We knew what this had to be about. We suggested breakfast. He said our home would do. He later told us he was afraid he wouldn't be able to eat. Even on an empty stomach, however, he did great. Right down to, "Can I Mari-Ana?" Get it? Good job, Jake.

Who knew, way back when, that this is where we'd be in 2019?

So he said he wanted to pop the question on the boat. He also said it needed to be the first day because his stomach wouldn't last any longer than that. He momentarily switched it to fireworks night. Until we told him we thought those might be the last night, or even the second to last night.  He quickly returned to the first night.

The grand staircase in the main lobby became the target location. A plan was concocted by which we would say we were taking a huge family photo before dinner. While we waited for the cruise photographer (who was never going to show because there was never any photo planned), Jake would find an excuse to get Mariana onto the steps. There he would ask her to marry him.

Then he realized that he didn't have a place to hide the ring; his pockets were too small. A quick addendum to the original plan placed the ring in my backpack (no pressure there) to be handed off to Eden who would suddenly appear next to Jake at just the right moment.

The center diamond came from Jake's mother's engagement ring

We sent Jesse and Megan to the top of the steps to keep random strangers from descending at an in-opportune time. Their pronouncement that there would soon be an announcement kept some of those random strangers poised along the railing to watch the scene unfold.

The time came. Jake asked Mariana if she'd be willing to let Andrew take their photo while we waited, they moved to the steps, he moved into place, neither can remember what he said, Eden showed up with the ring...

...and just like that it was over. The crowd along the railing cheered. We cheered. Photos were taken. T-shirts were handed out. Daisy Duck entered from somewhere and hugs were given. Daisy looked at Ana's finger to admire the ring...

The ring...

They forgot the ring.

No problem. The ring was placed and all was well. Jake was deemed a hero for understanding the importance of family and proposing in front of one and all and quickly became the favorite first son-in-law (and grandson-in-law), a coveted position for sure. He says he is a bit worried, however, since his mother-in-law-to-be is too good at lying - even he was convinced there were photos planned for 5:30!

Not much else happened on the cruise. I don't think it did, anyway. But I'm sure I'll think of something.