Beach Part 1/3

We had a much-needed Destin, Florida vacation... It had been 4 years since our last vacation (granted it was to the Bahamas but still 4 LONG years) and boy was it time for some sun & surf! The following is more for my memory; I know most of you will be skipping to the next two posts (pictures of the girls). Let me say it was a collaborative effort for us to take this vacation and I thank everyone from my Mom who graciously kept 19-year old Corkie for 9 days, one of which my Mom's birthday; to Brittany for taking care of Whiskey; to Marrianne for watching our house; to Kara for covering for me at work; to Dad for the condo recommendation & driving directions; to Joe & Virginia for taking care of Oma so Patti could go with us; and of course to Patti (a.k.a Granny) for being our nanny on the trip. It was so nice to have a third pair of hands. Are you sure you don't want to move closer???

We left our house on July 21st headed to Jacksonville, AR. We spent the night and headed out the next morning, destination Jackson, MS (roughly half-way point). We spent the 22nd at the Hampton Inn in Jackson. Car trip was good. The girls did well & the Mississippi short-cut was fabulous! We swore we would never be those parents... we would never let our girls watch DVDs in the car...well let's just say they might have watched Elmo & Oscar ten or twenty times...to our credit the DVD system was a gift. Got up Saturday the 23rd & headed to Destin. Made the mistake of taking the scenic highway on the ocean instead of the interstate which added at least 2 hours to our trip due to traffic. Everyone in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, & Texas was checking into a Gulf side hotel that day. Finally checked in to our Cabana Club condo around 4:30 p.m. I am SO thankful that I booked a ground floor condo! We were so close to the van and considering all the things we had to move in it was so convenient. That night we were so tired we didn't even introduce the girls to the ocean, just headed out to eat & crashed. The next morning, I woke up at 6:30 ready to go but everyone else was still asleep so I headed out to the Publix grocery store. What a nice shopping experience!! Bought groceries for the week, got "home" and woke everyone up for breakfast. Then it was time to hit the beach! The weather was perfect...Sunday & Monday at least. More on that later.

Our condo...

Back view. Ours was ground floor, 4th from left.


We stepped outside our door, turned to the left, walked a few feet and this is what we saw...Welcome to paradise...
Why can't I be independently wealthy & see this every morning?
Please?
Sailboats are so peaceful...
And of course palm trees are magnificent...
Beautiful waves at the "emerald coast"...
So Sunday & Monday were perfect. Swimming in the ocean & laying in the sand from breakfast until lunch. Girls napping at 1:00 while mommy snuck out for some alone time reading in her chair. Yes, I actually read something other than a Parents magazine! Girls up at 3:30, off to the swimming pool. Then seafood dinner out...there was crab, lobster, shrimp. Who needs to take pictures of the girls, we have all week for that...

Tuesday we catch word of a tropical storm, although not heading to Florida, it would be affecting us. Some overcast skies with some showers on Tuesday. A total washout on Wednesday with HUGE waves, lightning (headed to the outlet mall) & RED flag warnings by Thursday; swimming not advised due to rough seas. Of course everything back to normal by checkout on Friday morning.

Here is what we saw most of the week. The lifeguard warning everyone of conditions...
Note: This is the same lifeguard who was called by onlookers to check on Patrick one day while he was taking a nap in the sand. It was so embarrassing. I guess they thought he was passed out or a dead body washed ashore. The four-wheeler woke him up! And I denied knowing him.
Where is everyone? At the outlet mall!

So all of our pictures were taken on Thursday, not the most optimal conditions & all on the sand because we were not allowed in the water. The girls were not in the best of moods because they did not understand why they couldn't go swimming. But we got a few good shots.







Changed into our dress up clothes for a photo shoot...
But they were more interested in picking out rocks from the flower bed (Geneva) & watching for airplanes (Lexa).
Ever wonder why the Smith's do not have a family of four picture? Not one? Because it is IMPOSSIBLE with these two. So this is our attempt. Lexa was not having any part of this.
As you can see, she is Miss Independent.
All in all, it was a great trip!! Granny kept the girls two nights so Patrick & I could go to dinner alone! One meal was at Joe's Crab shack & the other at a fondue restaurant where you make your food at the table. Dessert was a POT OF CHOCOLATE & a plate of everything good (oreo covered marshmallows, brownies, strawberries, rice krispie treats, pound cake & graham crackers) that you dipped into the chocolate. Patrick's stomach hurt so bad afterwards! The best part of the trip was of course watching the girls experience their first vacation. They really blossomed over the week. I am so proud of them for traveling 13+ hours, adapting to the condo, staying on schedule, & really having fun. They still ask about the "condo" and the "beach". Lexa randomly says "bye-bye condo!"

I look forward to our annual family vacations. Where next? Patrick & I are still thinking cruises are the way to go...