Happy Thanksgiving!

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

We got off the ship on Saturday and drove to a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. We had to wait a little while before we could check in. The hotel was pretty much on the beach so it was easy to get to. While Matt and Ashlyn took a nap, I took Rylee to the beach. Then when we went back to the hotel Ashlyn was awake so I took her while Matt and Rylee took a nap. I made Oma go with us so she could take pictures of us. The girls loved getting in the water and playing in the big waves.

Ashlyn and Grandma waiting with all the luggage outside until we could check in to the hotel.

Rylee set up her toys right when we got in our room.

We didn't wear our swimming suits the first time we went- I thought we would just walk along the beach, but we went back to get our suits on so we could get in the water.

Looking for shells.

Opa, Oma, me, Rylee, and Stephan

Rylee and I would just stand in the water and a wave came, Rylee would say if it was a baby wave, a kid, or a mommy, or a daddy. We did get a few daddies, but most were just mommies.

At first Ashlyn didn't like the waves- she said they were going to get her. But she quickly got over that and absolutely loved it!

I wasn't planning on going in too far, so I'm still wearing my dress. I didn't know Ashlyn would love it so much.

Loving the ocean with Oma.
I don't think I've ever seen her smile and giggle so much!

Cruise Day 6- At Sea

This was our last day at sea- Matt decided he was going to sleep ALL day so I just hung out with the girls- it was a long day! We went swimming and ate- like the last day at sea.

Eating ice cream and watching the water- what could be better than this?!?

This is Matt's souvenir from Jamaica. Rylee wanted to try it on!

Rylee was such a good girl so I thought I'd reward her with this lollipop. We still have it- is it possible for anyone to actually eat this whole thing?

Ashlyn finally figured out how to nap on the last day!
The poor thing was so exhausted. She slept pretty well at night and when we went to the islands she usually fell asleep in the stroller. But we were still all sleep-deprived. (Except for Matt!!)

I let Rylee bring all these toys from home- and she had a great time playing with them in our room- she would arrange them in different places- this is on top of the pullout bed.

Rylee ate with Bradley, Oma, Opa, Grandma, and Grandpa for dinner. The rest of us ate at the next table. Bradley even let Rylee play his DS sometimes. Rylee just liked watching him play.

This was our waiter- he was great. He was especially good with the kids. He made animals with napkins and made a frog out of one of the coloring books.

Cruise Day 5- Ocho Rios, Jamaica

We had to walk a little ways to get to the van for our tour. That's the tour guide on the left. This is where we wished we'd had a stroller for Rylee!

We drove through the rainforest.

Flower man- I forgot what he was actually called.

Here's the view of our ship from the tour.

Jamaica was probably the most beautiful place we went- I couldn't stop taking pictures of the scenery!

Grandpa went to Jamaica with us- Grandma didn't get off the ship at all, and Grandpa only went to Jamaica. I wish I had more pictures of them!

Swimming at the beach in Jamaica.

Family picture with our ship in the background.

A frog- can you see the excitement in Rylee's face?!?

Here's Grandma and Grandpa.

The view from the ship.

Rylee loves Jamaica now- mostly just saying it!

Rylee colored this shirt at Camp Carnival.
Great souvenir and it was free!

She even drew pictures on the back- so cute!

A bear this time.

Cruise Day 4- Grand Cayman

This day was probably the most eventful. Some of us snorkeled, swam with stingrays, and went to the beach.

This was on the boat ride to the island. We couldn't get right up to it to get off so we had to ride a boat to get there.

We ended up renting a stroller from the ship- it turned out to be such a lifesaver when we were on the islands. We didn't need it as much on the ship, but we did a little walking at each place so it was nice to have something for Ashlyn. We needed one for Rylee too!

Pirates of the Caribbean ships. Too bad we didn't see Johnny Depp!
But that's not our ship in the background.

These big guys freaked me out- they were just walking on the sidewalk everywhere by the water. We had to cross the sidewalk to get onto the boat and I thought for sure they would attack me- they were HUGE!!

Matt snorkeling.

Bradley and Rylee watching intently. They didn't go in the water here though. Only Matt, Don, Helma, and Stephan went.

Don snorkeling.

Some fish we saw from the boat- somebody gave the kids bread to feed them with and they came right to us! So beautiful!

Matt and Don

Don, Stephan, and Helma

Matt kissing a stingray.
And yes, that is me in the background- in the water with stingrays!! If you know me, you know I don't like water or animals, but I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by. I didn't touch one however- that would have been too much!
Thanks, Lucy, for taking pictures!

Getting a backrub!

Matt found a shell. He didn't get to keep this one though. He found one while snorkeling that he did get to keep though.

Our tour guide took this and the next three pictures with his camera.

Matt's kissing the stingray, but it looks like it's attacking him!

Rylee wasn't so sure about this at first, but she finally got in and touched the stingray. I asked her what it felt like and she said, "Good!"

Another one of these crazy guys- not as big, but that's a long tail!

More fun on the beach.

Ashlyn loved playing in the sand- she put it all over herself- even on her head.

Rylee wrote her name all by herself- she's getting very good at her R's.

Rylee got in the water past her shoulders all by herself.