Sunshine!

In January we went on a much needed trip with my family to the Southern Caribbean. I hate winter so it was nice to go somewhere nice and warm. The cruise was on Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas. We traveled all day on the 16th of January and arrived late in the night in Puerto Rico. It was almost midnight but the temp was still in the low 80's. Perfect!

On our way! The next day before we got on the ship we toured a little bit of San Juan. We had a lot of fun running around Castillo San Cristobal. It was especially fun when it started pouring rain (no sarcasm- it really was a blast)! It poured for a while and we were completely soaked!

Kaylee and Addi

Kaylee up on top of the fort

Addi in a window up top

January 18th was a day at sea. We had fun swimming at the pool and eating lots of soft-serve ice cream. That night was also formal night on the ship. We played a little shuffle board after dinner.

Addi, Jayme, and Kaylee all dressed up!

Addi planning her next move

On the 19th we arrived in Barbados. We went to a place called The Boatyard. It was a little bit crazy with all the college students from England, but was still a really nice day to go to the beach.

Addi snackin' and relaxin'

Kaylee at The Boatyard with "Flat Sara" Kaylee took her school project with us on our trip. It's like the book "Flat Stanley", but she was a girl. When she got back she had to report to her class about the places Sara went. For some reason we got a kick out of Sara doing different things. Guess you had to be there..

Sara made a sand castle Sara buried in the sand Sara drinking her favorite beverage-Malta

 On January 20th we arrived in St. Lucia. We went to Trim's Stables and went horseback riding. We rode through town and to a beach. We were able to ride bareback in the ocean with the horses. Addi cried the whole way to the beach because she rode with Zebby, one of the guides. Stranger danger! Zebby even sang her songs but she wasn't having it! She was happy on the way back because they let her ride with me. It was pretty fun, especially for Mindy's friend Jessica. HaHa Her horse tried to get rid of her multiple times...

Kaylee and Mindy before the ride Kaylee getting the 411 on how to ride (which she did all by herself..) She was a little nervous but did awesome! She's a natural. At the beach. Don't you love our helmets? Pretty sweet! Getting ready to "swim" in the ocean. You would also make this face if you sat on this horse's VERY bony backbone.. Mindy on left, Addi and Meisha on right Jayme and Kaylee went together and got clear out there. Then they started falling off because they were in too deep. They're the ones on the far left. The horse's head is barely out of the water. Addi was very happy to ride back to the stables with me. Kaylee's new hairdo Jessica Foust, Mindy, Zebby, and Kaylee 

 That night on the ship we went to an ice skating show. I thought it was pretty fun watching people skate on ice while the cruise was sailing. On the 21st we went to a place in Antigua called Dickinson's Bay. We played on the beach and had a good time. A storm even passed through while we were there so we got to swim in the pouring rain.

Jessica, Kaylee and Addi

The water was really pretty, but you can't tell too much from this picture 

 On the 22nd we arrived in St Maarten. Jayme and I decided we wanted to go para-sailing in the morning. We found out that Kaylee could also go. Kaylee is always brave and willing to try new things. We went up 800 ft. (the highest rope they had). Because it wasn't that crowded yet, the whole family got to go out on the boat. Mindy and Jessica also went up on the para-sail.

Can you see us? Going in for a dunk The last day of our trip was to St Croix. I think this was probably my favorite stop. We ordered some sandwiches and hopped on big sailboat to go snorkeling. The snorkeling trip was through a smaller company called the Jolly Roger. Captain Mike and his crew were amazing. They did an awesome job...especially with Addi and Kaylee. Kaylee did awesome for her first time. Again, she was a natural. The pirate that was just off the ship in St Croix. Can't believe Addi was so cozy next to him.

St Croix is so pretty!

Meisha, Jayme, Addi and Kaylee on the sailboat

Kaylee and Cora (part of the crew) looking at a fish book after snorkeling. Kaylee really warmed up to her. She sat with her and followed her around on the way back to land.

Cute Kaylee sailing (and Capt. Mike on the right) Our last night at dinner we got a picture with our waiters. The only person missing was Kaylee. She already went to the kids club on the ship. What a bummer.

I want to document that the trip was awesome, except for at night when we were all cramped in the cabin together. Kaylee does NOT do well sleeping with others in her room. She kept complaining about Addi and everyone else making any kind of noise. We can laugh about it now, but not on the trip when she would throw tantrums in the tiny cabin. We heard ALOT of "QUIT BREATHING!" Funny now, not then... We had a really good time on the trip and were glad that we got to go!