Bermuda Cruise: From New York to The Sea

Ahoy! 

 We are back on American soil after last week's cruise, and it was so much fun!  I have always been adamant that I would never go on a cruise - partly because I was afraid of getting seasick, partly because I have watched documentaries where terrible things have happened on cruise ships, and partly because I have a *touch* of claustrophobia/agoraphobia where being stuck on a ship makes me very anxious. 

But!  

Since I began working at my current job, I have a coworker who cruises multiple times a year and has slowly assuaged all of my fears through her experiences and tips.  

Also!  

Everytime I try to plan a vacation, even though it's great to get away, I have to assume the role (with Phil's help) of Entertainment Director, Head Chef, House Cleaner...which is not so much of a vacation for the parents.  An all-inclusive vacation was sounding better and better, my anxieties have only gotten better through prayer and exposure therapy, and we decided to use my supplemental income from this semester (teaching online courses) to splurge on a big family vacation.  

We had originally thought we would go next year for our 25th anniversary, but then realized that Maggie would be in college and wouldn't be able to go (we can only go on vacations during our school breaks, not the college breaks and not in the summer because of The Cottage) and we wanted to include her if we could, so we made it happen for this spring break.  I am so glad we did!

We booked a Norwegian cruise from New york to Bermuda on their one-year old ship, the Aqua.  Phil and I had a balcony room, and the kids shared an interior room, which was tight but we really only slept in the rooms so it was fine.  Phil and I woke up on Saturday morning, went to an early spin class at the gym, showered and grabbed everybody to head out to New York.  We had mostly packed the car the night before, and needed to drop off Lucy at the doggy daycare on the way.

We definitely overpacked because the weather looked cool

Lucy seemed to do great at the boarding place (a first for us!) and they posted daily photos on Facebook that we could check on her each day.

Is Lucy the alpha?

She hung out with this cute dog a lot

We arrived in Manhattan around 2pm, parked at our reserved spot at the pier, and headed out to explore the city on foot for a couple hours...

When we had been looking up cruise itineraries, we kept NOT choosing a particular cruise because we realized that we wouldn't be able to attend Mass on Sunday (typically a day at sea).  God provided this perfect cruise that was from Saturday to Saturday of our school vacation week AND it didn't leave port until 10pm at night, which seems unheard of in the cruising world, when ships leave port around 4pm typically.  This gave us time to go to a Saturday Vigil Mass in Manhattan and then catch an uber to the ship and board around 5:30pm.  There were no lines at all going through boarding, which I mentioned to one of the agents who replied "You came at just the right time!  It was chaos in here earlier."  It was a nice little God-wink that we did the right thing :)

Shrine of the Holy Innocents

The 16 minute Uber ride in NY was one of the scariest rides of our lives.  He was a great driver, but dang that New York traffic and people all over the place, with all the honking and aggressive driving was a real NY experience!  We may just walk next time.  

Week in Review: A Piano Competition, A Running Race and A Confirmation in Christ

Happy Friday!  

Last Saturday was a busy day for the Martins.  Brendan had his annual piano competition up near Boston, to which Phil brought him.  He played his song to his best ability in the Non-Classical 9 & 10 year old group...

... and he won FIRST PLACE!  We are still waiting for his trophy because it was a two-day event and the award ceremony didn't take place until the next day.  We will get it somehow!

While Phil and Brendan were piano-ing, the rest of us were either running or volunteering at the school's first 5k race:

Runner, Volunteer, Volunteer, Runner

The Ice Cream Cottage was a sponsor, so we showed up in full force :)

JP's Guatemala Fundraiser

JP has been chosen as a Walk it Forward Scholar and will participate in a mission to Guatemala in September 2026!  

We are so proud of him, as it was a competitive process to be selected, and he will be on a team that will help so many people in need.  The planned surgical schedule is as follows:

63 patients total - the biggest number in the program's history

87 hip and knee replacement surgeries, including:

15 bi-lateral knee replacements

32 unilateral knee replacements

9 bi-lateral hip replacements

7 unilateral hip replacements

JP needs to raise $1000 towards the cost of the mission trip.  

If you are able, you can click on this link to donate and please be sure to include JP Martin's name as the Scholar you are supporting.  He also very much appreciates if you can share the link and especially for your prayers for a safe and successful trip.  

Thank you!

Easter 2026

Good Friday in my house growing up meant we could not talk from 12-3, but EWTN was allowed to play on the tv.  In our house now, Good Fridays are spent cleaning walls and cabinets from 12-2ish before we get ready to go to the 3pm service at our church.  It's a much needed chore that everyone hates, so it's a perfect Good Friday event!  They put on smiles for the pictures, but just imagine lots of grumblings and whining while I kept reminding everyone that JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS AND THIS IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO in a very mindful, very demure way of course.

Phil was still in painting mode:

Maggie had some friends over on Friday night to watch the Passion of the Christ movie, and I felt weird not serving snacks because being hospitable is in my Irish DNA, but there's not much to serve on a fast day.  They were up really late which meant I was up really late, and that was a perfect last few hours of suffering for Lent WHICH IS THE LEAST I COULD DO SINCE JESUS DIED FOR ALL MY SINS, I kept reminding myself.  

I don't know what we did on Holy Saturday, besides a long run and a last piano lesson before this weekend's competition.  We picked out Easter outfits for the next day because we attended 8am Mass at our beautiful church:

Nobody liked how they looked, but we can't exactly go back and recreate it.

Maggie saw all of the pretty flowers and whispered "this is how I want the church to look on my wedding day" to which my money-saving brain replied "then you should get married right after Easter".

12 on Holy Thursday

Declan Kolbe turned 12 years old on Holy Thursday this year, which was much better than the Good Friday birthdays he's had in the past!  

#6 turns #12

He woke up, told me he felt a little taller, and found some nice gifts from his siblings.  Siblings love to buy each other candy:

We stopped for donuts on the way to school, and Declan said he was "feeling a plain glazed donut" so that's what the birthday boy received.  On their birthday, the kids get to dress down at school, which is much appreciated by uniform wearers.  We gave Declan a new shirt of his favorite soccer player to wear, and he wanted to pose like Messi:

He served at Stations of the Cross at school:

And chose chicken parm for dinner, which Phil and I were happy to make:

Birthday tulips for me :)

Time for presents!  Gammy got Declan some cool soccer crocs...

...which we realized fit her feet as well!

We bought him an Owala water bottle that he wanted:

Then sent him on a scavenger hunt with 12 clues to find his big gift:

(Video courtesy of Maggie)

Cake time!  the birthday boy wanted a vanilla sheet cake with chocolate frosting, and what the birthday boy wants, the birthday boy gets!  Especially when he is the sweetest, most grateful, kindest little guy I know.

Xander was feeling sick and had to miss the party, but Declan still had some siblings to celebrate with in person and on facetime with his big brothers, who promised a gift is coming in the mail!

Nana and Gramps also sent a gift in the mail, a silver crucifix necklace that Declan was super excited to get.  The bonus was that Deacon Gramps blessed it already!  

Declan, we love you so much!  When we went around the table at dinner, each saying "one nice thing" about you as is our birthday tradition, we had to stop ourselves from saying ten things each.  You are a joy.  You have been the so easy and so adorable since you were born.  I would (and still could) stare at your cute face all day.  You share so nicely with all and are a great friend to your buddies, always putting others first.  You were thrilled to lose your last baby tooth so that you can get braces soon.  You love all things sports and outdoors, and we cannot get you to gain weight because you are always on the go!  You love to play catch with Dad and come on dog walks with us so you can talk our ears off without anyone else interrupting.  You are certainly a yapper at home, though those who don't have the privilege of knowing you think you are shy.  You are growing in confidence and getting less anxious as you do.  You have had to struggle with misophonia but I can see how hard you try to not react as you mature each year.  You love our faith and always try to do the right thing so you can get to Heaven one day.  You thank us a million times for any small gift or favor you receive, and are the first to jump up and help when we ask.  Declan means "full of goodness" and "man of prayer" and you were certainly named perfectly.  It is an honor to know you and grow you and we thank God for you everyday.  Happy birthday Declan Kolbe!!

Week in Review: One Thing Leads to Another & Kentucky Concerts & Answered Prayers

Happy Friday!

April Fool's ;)

It's only Wednesday but I figured I better get this week's post written out before the Holy Week activities start.

Last Friday night, Declan and Brendan participated in the Living Stations at our church.  There was one scene that had both Joseph (Declan) and Simeon (Brendan):

The next day we went to the Palm Sunday vigil, and I thought our church looked so nice and tastefully decorated:

Remember how Phil has been painting the baseboards and trim in our house?  Welp, as these things go, once that job was done, the doors looked a little dull and dingy, so those were his next project.  Luckily we still have a couple of kids he can Tom Sawyer into helping: