Cruisin' to the Eastern Caribbean

Once August began it was time for Riles to prepare for and look forward to her next adventure - a 7 night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean! Once she was packed and ready, it was time to get on the plane to Orlando. Before leaving on the "big boat" though, she had the special treat of a dinner out with some family members she hadn't had the chance to meet yet - her great aunts Frankie & Gina, and her Great Grandma Yancey! She had a nice long dinner with them, making sure to fit in some quality time with each of them before they said their goodbyes.

Next up was the cruise. Sunday morning she breezed through the whole boarding process and went straight to the dining room to grab some lunch. (Over the next week, Riles became quite used to a solid three meals a day - eating eggs & potatoes for breakfast, and pizza, mashed potatoes, fruit, and pasta for lunch and dinner!) She had a blast exploring the boat and even grew to love the water while splashing around in the baby pool. She did very well during mealtimes, and was treated like a princess by the staff. She even cut her first tooth while she was on board the ship! She spent a few nights in the babysitting room with Levi while Mom and Dad went out for a bit. Overall, she was a hit with the guests and employees on the boat (we even got a few babysitting offers from other guests, which were politely declined). The boat stopped first at Cococay, where she joined the Kletz/Hobbs crew in a cabana and enjoyed the water as well. Then in St. Thomas, she got to go on a boat tour that took her island hopping to a few places. The final stop before heading back was St. Martin, where a van tour took Riley around to see all the sites. The beaches were gorgeous, and the weather couldn't have been better!

The excitement didn't stop after she arrived home, because soon afterward her Nana, Aunt Lizard and UC (Uncle Colin) came to visit! She had a blast spending time with all of them while they were here. At Busch Gardens, Mom and Aunt Lizard took her on the merry-go-round. After she left the park, she headed back for an overnight with Nana, Lizard and UC while Mom and Dad spent the night in Williamsburg for their anniversary. She got to stay at a condo at the beach for the night, and went to the pool with Nana (where she ended up getting kicked out because it was adult time only...oops!). One night, Riles got dressed up in her brand new Pirates outfit to surprise Dad! He loved it, and unfortunately now wants her to wear it every day :-) Another night she stayed with Lizard and UC while the rest of the gang went out for some drinks. She also cut her second tooth while the family was here (little girl is growing up!!) All in all, she had a fantastic visit with them and was sad to see them go.

On Friday Riles joined Mom and her friend out for lunch, where she got to hang with Finn, who is just 2 weeks younger than she is. They are so cute together! She also went to the doc due to a nasty cough she's been having, but the doc confirmed it's a cold and we'll just have to wait it out. Her time on Labor Day weekend was spent shopping, hanging out on the beach, cleaning the house, and going to a pool party. Now this week it's back to school, back to school...until next time, here are a ton of pictures to capture the last month or so of Riley's life!