Towel Animals

Last week we went on a wonderful cruise to the Bahamas with Travis, Jonda, Carissa, Raymond, and Cassandra. This is the second cruise we have been on with Carissa. We were on one with her a little over a year and a half ago, and she wasn't too interested in Kid's Camp. She would go a little, but didn't stay long. Wow what a difference time makes. She loved Kid's Camp this time.

I will probably leave some of the fun stuff out, but she had a schedule every day just like the adults did of things going on. She came in one night growling with her face all painted up like a lion or a tiger. One night she was painted like a pirate. There was a scavenger hunt that was a family affair where her, Jonda, and Travis worked as a team. They won first place taking away a genuine gold plastic ship on a stick. Carissa was very proud of her trophy, as she should be beating out children older than her. There were tee shirts to paint, cookies to decorate, and a dog to build. I think she also painted a back pack, but Grammy missed seeing that. She had pajama parties, played hide and seek with flash lights, and ate pizza. We can't forget the wonderful 24 hour available ice cream machine that was only one floor up from our rooms that Carissa and I would have to visit in the afternoon.

The first night we ate dinner, Carissa finished her pasta early since that was her only course. The rest of us had many courses. A little too many courses. I didn't need or want to dessert, so her and I headed back to the room for a game of crazy eights while the rest of our group indulged in their wonderful desserts. On the first day, Carissa started calling our room the hotel room. When we got to the hotel room, there was a towel walrus waiting for us on the bed along with wonderful chocolates. Carissa is picky about some snacks, but she loved these chocolates. She had to be limited to how many chocolates she was allowed that late at night, so I think she brought enough extras home for another week.

Every day when mine and Carissa's path would cross, we would have a discussion as to what kind of towel animal we thought we would find in our bed that night. I am partial to the hanging monkey that I got on other cruises, but we didn't find him hanging out until the last day of the cruise. We had a towel dog, elephant, and crab that were also cute. I lined them along the back of the sofa.

Travis had to fly out to Kentucky Sunday afternoon on the day we got back from our cruise. As he was getting ready to leave, Carissa told him not to forget to send her a picture of his towel animal every night in his hotel room. Thursday night, I received four pictures of the towel animals that my son created in his hotel room every night. It is heart warming to know that as tired as my son was from being gone and working out of town that he loved his daughter enough to take the time to create an animal for her each night. It is also good to know in this ever decreasing economy that he seems to have a talent for another line of work...creating towel animals.

I am so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful, caring family and extended family.

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