Fun with Riley Boy

After Craig took the dentistry job in Dallas, we haven't seen Craig and Cassie very often.  We miss them so much after having them here in Florida for four years while he went to dental school.  But especially, we have missed Riley!  Little kids change so much in the first few years of their life.  But for the past week and a half, we've had wonderful times with our Riley Boy! 

Craig and Cassie came to Florida for an eight-day cruise to the Caribbean.  They had asked if George and I would watch Riley while they were gone.  "Of course!" we said, excitedly.  Since I am still teaching, we needed someone for the hours I was gone.  That's when I called Candy Baker--the surrogate grandma of all my grandkids.  I think there are very few of our grandkids she hasn't tended over the years.  However, she has moved to Kentucky.  No problem--we just flew her here and she stayed with us the week. 

Candy took such good care of Riley each day.  I think it is a fact that she spoiled him a little--no a lot--he got to go outside anytime he wanted and do just about anything fun that he wanted. 

When she left, she had tears in her eyes as she said "Good-bye" to Riley.  She enjoyed getting to know him so much.

Let's just say there were many tears when Craig and Cassie left to go on the cruise--and I don't mean from Craig.  Cassie had only left him for one night two other times--once with me and once with her mom.  So, being gone a week was an eternity for her!  But finally Craig got her in the car and they took off for Miami!

Tending your grandkids is such a great way to get to know them.  After a week, these are the wonderful facts I now know about Riley:

He loves swinging in the porch swing . . .

loves to swing in the little rocket . . .

is a very healthy eater--at first we were giving him dainty amounts, until we found out . . .

that he had a hearty appetite and . . .

he liked to play with his plate, so no more plates!

He loves to drink water out of his sippy cup . . .

loves icing (like his mommy), but gets most of it on his face!

He is a huge animal fan--probably due to the fact that he's around his cat Mia about 24-7. 

He's not afraid of any animals--even though some he probably should be afraid of!

He loves to play with his cousin Lola . . .

Hopefully he'll tidy up the kitchen like his daddy always does. 

And he'll be a good daddy, too, someday and walk the baby. 

He likes the telephone to play with, but can't figure out when there are voices on it that sound sort of like voices from the past--perhaps his daddy and mommy who are calling from St. Thomas?

He's safer to just eat on the table than give him a plate in a restaurant . . .

And did he recognize his daddy and mommy when they returned after eight days?  He smiled a lot at them--but then wanted to jump right back to his Papa George.  After awhile, he started realizing maybe he really did know these two. 

Well, this is actually a picture when I took them to the airport at 5:00 a.m. this morning.  Craig was all dressed in his dental clothes so Cassie could drop him off at work on their way home.  Back to realty!

Bye-bye, Riley!  We had such a fun time having you!  See you soon when we visit you in Dallas!