Warning: this post has 117 pictures. If you aren't already seated with your coffee (or martini or cherry coke or whatever it is you drink) in hand, you may want to go ahead and do that first. This one is long!
So, back in May, we spent the better part of a week at our beach house in Florida. While I won't go as far as to say it was the best vacation ever, it was definitely the best vacation we've had with kids in tow to date. Matt and the kids and I left after dinner on a Tuesday night and drove most of the way there. The kids slept which was great, but we had issues at the hotel and getting them transitioned and back into bed was a bit of a struggle, but we survived the night. The worst part about breaking up the trip with two kids is that you have to almost completely unpack the car just to repack it all back up a few hours later. At least we have some cute luggage. :)
The best part about breaking up the trip is that you arrive earlier in the day!
We pulled up to the house right at lunch time, unloaded a few things, and walked to one of our favorite restaurants, Wild Olives, to get some lunch. Then we put on our swimsuits for the first swim of the season and vacation!
My parents arrived at the end of our swim when we were getting to put the kids down for naps. We were glad they joined us so we'd have extra hands to help with the kids. That evening, we put the kids in the stroller and walked to La Cocina for a delicious taco dinner. The best part of the evening, though, was the ice cream we had for dessert. We let Thomas have some for the first time and he decided it was the best thing ever!
Just like on past visits, Katie Wynn loved playing in the gravel rocks from our street parking spots.
This is probably the funniest picture from the trip. Gotta make sure that booty gets clean!
We hosted some friends of my Dad's one night and attempted a family photo before our guests arrived. This was the best one.
I have about 50 outtakes that look more like this.
The kids were so well behaved on this trip. That's not to say we didn't have any problems at all (um, see above photo), but in general, they were in great spirits and so fun to be around! They were good on shopping trips and pretty good at restaurants too. I think that helped make this trip so great. We also had fantastic weather! The weather had rain in the forecast for every day we were there but we never saw a drop. It was in the 80s with a nice breeze every day.
I love these two kiddos so, so much!
My sweet little T-Man and his sweet little grin.
We went to the splash pad one night after dinner and both kids were a bit hesitant at first. I think Thomas warmed up to it before Katie Wynn did, but both eventually ended up completely soaked!
Katie-bug was more interested in running around in the huge green lot!
Poor Thomas...behind bars on the patio and trapped in the shower. That's what happens when you get into everything, buddy.
Fun times swimming with Mimi! We love having our own pool at the house - best decision ever.
My parents offered to watch the kids one night so we could go out to dinner and we didn't say no! Thanks, Mom and Dad! We hit up another of our favorites - La Crema - for tapas and the best desserts ever. I'm still thinking about those crab cakes, steak empanadas, and our layered chocolate dessert!
Now, on to the best part - the BEACH! This is one of the main reasons this vacation was so great. In the past, Katie Wynn has been terrified of the ocean and absolutely hated the sand. Our last trip to the beach resulted in me carrying her back up the stairs before my Mom and Thomas even got to join us. But this time, she stepped into the sand with no problems at all and started digging with her shovel before I even had our spot set up. I was so relieved!
We had the best wide shore and shallow water to play in, and one morning it felt like we had the beach to ourselves!
What is it about the salty air that turns on the snot faucets? Or is that just something special that only happens with my kids? Their little noses dripped non stop while we were on the beach!
We were able to take four different trips to the beach and stay for a couple hours each time. I had given Thomas a strict deadline to be walking before we left for the beach because I thought it'd be easier for him than crawling through the sand. He likes to make his mama happy so he met my deadline, but it turns out it wasn't even necessary because he didn't mind crawling through it at all!
Thomas absolutely LOVED the water. I got my workout from dragging him out of the waves and up the shore and then chasing him back down, over and over and over again. I was so pleased that he didn't mind having his hood or hat on - he never once tried to pull them off! No sunburns for any of us - a major success!
Poor T-Man's face got so red from all the sand he smeared on it when he rubbed his nose and eyes. I think he over-exfoliated his cheeks a little. :)
Probably one of my favorite photos ever. This one's definitely going in a frame. :)
My top three guys!
We were so thankful to have this ramp so we could pull the wagon to the beach! It made hauling everything there and back so much easier. Thomas didn't mind being packed in with the chairs and food. I'm pretty sure he thought he was driving the wagon. :)
Serious about sand digging.
Katie-bug loved having these shallow puddles to splash in. Won't it be great when she doesn't need that enormous swim diaper anymore?!
"It too bwight, Mama!"
I mean, can you think of a more perfect place to take a nap?? This guy passed smooth out in his daddy's arms while listening to the roar of the waves. I think he took a beach nap every time we went down there!
This is Katie Wynn's version of sitting with her toes in the water.
Oh man, can't you just hear her bossing him around with those arms going? She told him exactly how to build that sand castle.
And then she smashed it flat!
Then they got to do it all over again. :)
Thomas did a lot of sitting and watching after his naps.
We took the kids to the beach one last time on the day we left. It was a good way to get some energy out before packing them into the car for the 8 hours drive home. On our way to the beach, Katie Wynn said she wanted to build a snowman. So build a snowman we did!
After chasing Thomas in and out of the waves repeatedly, Matt dug a hole to put him in. It only kept him still for a few minutes until he figured out how to crawl out of it. Little stinker!
Katie Wynn took over the hole and loved it when a big wave would fill it with water!
My little beach bum has come a long way! It only took her two and half years to decide that the beach isn't all that bad.
None of us wanted to leave on Sunday to come home, not even my dad! It just wasn't a long enough vacation. We think we'll wait until September to go back but next time we'll be sure to go for the whole week, if not more! I'm counting down already.