destin vacation {first day on the beach}

We had to get to the beach as soon as we could the first day. This is all our kids talked about the entire ride to Florida - "when will we see the beach?". Our resort had a private beach - but the Sandestin resort is huge. So the beach was packed. But it was such a fun first experience at the beach.

Taylor didn't hesitate one bit.  She was ready for the water and the waves.  She didn't like the salt, but it didn't stop her the entire time, she quickly learned to keep her mouth closed.

 

Mason was much more hesitant.  He didn't really like the sand too much. It bothered him that he was covered in it, he didn't like the waves at all, and didn't really want anything to do with the water. And when his swim suit got wet, he wanted to put dry clothes on.  Oh boy buddy, this is going to be a long week if you don't get used to this.  So he stayed back with mommy for most of this first day.  He slowly got more used to the sand. 

He preferred the pool over the beach.  The pool didn't have waves.  It was perfect that there was a pool right by the beach.

After dinner on the beach, we ventured back to the water. We didn't go with the intentions of letting the kids get soaked, but it didn't take long till we just decided it was okay (knowing there wasn't too much we could do about it).

 It was pure joy just sitting there watching them take it all in.

After not loving the beach earlier that day, Mason quickly warmed up to it.  He ventured further out, the waves didn't bother him so much, and no more complaints about the sand.  That's our little guy for ya.  He has to have time to get used to something.  Taylor has NEVER needed time to get used to anything. 

And then back for baths.  I bet you can imagine how well the kids slept every night!

destin vacation {the intro}

When we found out I was pregnant, one of the first things we thought about was taking a big vacation somewhere.  Taking the kids to Michigan and then Chicago last year was a blast.  They travel so well (for being 3 and 4 years old) and we had some of the best memories.  So we wanted to take another trip as a family before we hit that baby stage again. 

I immediately thought "let's take the kids to the beach!" But we weren't sure where. So after a little bit of research and calculating miles, we chose Destin, FL.  We've heard awesome things about this place from friends that went to college in the area, and several other friends who have gotten married there. Powder-sugar sand, beautiful water, perfect weather.  It is just plain gorgeous. 

Due to limitations on lodging, we had either a week in May to choose from or a week in August.  We chose May, putting me right at 12-13 weeks pregnant, risking the chance that I'd be feeling better and not all puky and picky about food.  Not to mention an 18 hour car ride.

God gave us the PERFECT week in Destin.

It's the first week in 3 months I felt good!  I could eat. Pretty much anything!

It was the last week of their "spring" season.  Memorial weekend the crowds come and don't leave till August.  So we were getting out at the perfect time.  It was obvious as we drove out.  For an hour or so, the traffic headed to where we were coming from was crazy!!!  

And not to mention the perfect week NOT to be home.  Our eyes were glued every night to The Weather Channel and CNN.  We watched as half the country, including home, had some serious weather conditions or threats of. Rain, cooler temperatures, tornadoes.  Our hearts ached and ached for the people who lost everything. It was weird to be on vacation and be so disconnected from it all.  But we were thankful that God gave us a wonderful week, away from the severe weather.  A week in which about 50% of the country was affected at some point in some way...and we were in a place that was untouched.  (until the last night, I woke up to thunder and hard rain in the night).  The biggest stress we had (other than finding out if my parents were okay after seeing the Joplin tornado was headed straight for Springfield/Branson where they are) was trying to assure the kids that there aren't tornadoes in Florida (which I'm sure isn't accurate after everything we've just seen - who knows.)

The kids did amazingly soooo good on the trip there and home.  We split the 18 hour trip up both times, which was good for us all.  We arrived in Destin last Friday night at 9 and got to stay for 6 whole days.  We loved every minute.

Well, except for the minute that Mason held Taylor's piggy neck pillow out the window (beyond our knowledge) and then told us he dropped it.  We didn't quite understand what he was trying to tell us, and then didn't really believe him.  Until it was no where to be found in the car. 

And except for the night we stopped in Arkansas for the night, at a hotel that we thought looked pretty nice.  Room #1 had towels on the bathroom floor and hadn't been cleaned.  Room #2, the door was open when we got to it, and had no towels, and appeared also to not have been cleaned.  Room #3 was perfect but smelled like smoke.  My poor husband had to go to the front desk every time.  It was crazy, because the room was NICE, but obviously deceivingly nice.  Dave turned on the water and it was brown - out of the sink and shower.  We stayed, but I didn't use any water until Dave let it run for a long time and assured me it was safe and clean. 

And except for the minute that Dave forgot to ask what the market price for his dinner was, and we didn't find out till the bill.  More on that later.

And except for the minute Dave realized our vehicle was going to need a new starter before we got stranded somewhere.  It wasn't really too bad for the kids and I, we just got an afternoon at the pool.  But poor Dave lost half a day vacation sitting at the shop. Thank goodness for an emergency fund!

And except for the minute that we found our bucket of hermit crabs dead on our balcony, because the kids covered them in fresh water and not salt water.

But these are part of the memories.  This is part of what made our trip.  Things I don't want to forget.

I'll probably spend several days sharing our trip with you.  It's so hard to narrow down the pictures.  But for now, I'll share just a handful of my favorites.

More beach, sun and fun coming soon.

precious memory

It's fitting to follow up the last post with this one.

We check on the kids every night before we go to bed.

One night we find both of them in Taylor's bed.

It was precious.

They've tried to lay together before, but it never lasts.  They usually get in trouble for talking or laughing or getting out of bed.  It's just too much fun.

But this night we didn't hear a word.  I'm pretty sure Taylor was already asleep when Mason went in.

The thought of him carrying his blanket in, crawling up and under the covers and going to sleep by his sissy is such a sweet sweet memory.

I wanted to remember it forever.

no girls allowed

The other night as I tucked Mason into bed, he informed me of some very important information.

"mom, you see that note on my door?  its say no girls coming into my room."

"oh really?  but mom is a girl."

"that's okay, only ONE person" 

I feel so special to be the only girl that he'll let in.

Where in the world did he come up with this???

Oh, of course.

As he waves his flag in protest.

Let the games begin.

we got our garden

Benefit #1 of not moving....we got our garden!

The kids got a big pot and got to plant some flowers of their choice also.

Taylor dug her seeds up last year, so she's hoping this year her flowers will actually grow.

Lots of tomatoes, green peppers, yellow peppers, banana peppers, jalapenos, lettuce, cucumbers, and zuchinni.

We definitely planted a bit later than usual, but hopefully it does better than last year!

playing in the rain

I think we've all been praying for rain for the farmers.  And we finally got some. But it was more like Mother Nature just let out a sneeze and then was done.  So I'm not sure how much help it really was.

But regardless, we took advantage of it.  Well, the kids.  Not me.

This was the first time they've really played in the rain.

 Mason never left the deck. 

Man, seeing the pure joy in her face makes me think about the little things that I take advantage of and miss finding the joy and fun in.

How can a 4 year old find so much joy in getting wet by a little teeny bit of rain? 

She just took it all in and loved every second.

If she only knew how much fun it could be when it POURS!

dog visitors

We've had some dog visitors here lately.

The kids got to dog-sit Papa and Nana's dog, Zach, for the weekend while they were gone.

He was treated like royalty.

And got all the best care, love and attention.

He rotated as the guest of honor in each bedroom for the night.

Poor Anni got kicked to the curb.

The same weekend we had another dog visitor.

This one was uninvited.

He came through the gap in the fence that has been cut so we can get to the Smith's house easily.

He just mozied into the yard.

He was BIG and HAIRY.  And later found out his name was Harley.

And as much as our kids love dogs, they were backed up to the house, shaking in their skin.

Taylor said she was a little confused and thought it was Zach who had grown a whole bunch (in a matter of minutes).

His owners (who we know) found him shortly.

But before he left, he thought he needed to cool off in the kids' pool.

I'll admit, I was freaking a little.

Dog claws hitting a blow-up pool.

When he got out there were big clumps of dog hair all over.

And the next day the high was suppossed to be 100.  I knew the kids would want to swim.

I knew we'd have to dump and refill the pool eventually, but I didn't expect it to be neccessary less than 24 hours later.  And this particular pool doesn't really drain anywhere.  And when it's full, you can't move it.

So being a good mom, at 10:30 the next morning, after my kids had their swimsuits on already, I got a bucket and started scooping out all of the water.  My first attempt was to have to kids do it.  But Mason lasted one scoop.  Taylor did pretty good, although half of her buckets she poured out onto the wall of the pool and most of the water came right back in the pool. When we got near the bottom I was able to move it enough to get it dumped over the side of the deck.  I was exhausted the rest of the day.  And my legs were sore all week.  This pregnant mom can't handle that kind of extreme exercise right now.

And sitting here typing this, I now am wondering why I didn't just release enough air to be able to collapse one side of the pool down enough to let all the water drain out over the edge.  Although that would have required me to figure out the air compressor to fill it back up.  Silly me.  All that work for nothing.

Next time should be much easier.

Or hopefully Anni and her dog friends will just stay out.

cubbies

This past school year Taylor got to participate in our church's AWANA program on Wednesday nights.

She was in Cubbies.  And she LOVED it!  She memorized her verses every week and begged to do the home apple tree activities.  Not having been in preschool this year, I think this was a FABULOUS thing for her!  It has been so precious hearing her learn God's word and be so excited about it.

We got our first taste of dropping her off and seeing her become independent and thrive around others.

The smile on her face every week as she walked into church, and the same smile each night that we picked her up, was priceless.

Last week was her awards night.

Her name was the very first name called to walk across the stage.

She was told she could go hug Cubby Bear (a guy in a big bear suit) at the other end of the stage, but she chose not to.  She was the only child that didn't.  Which is surprising from our little curageous one.  But being first is tough.  I don't think she had any idea what to expect.

And there's no better way to celebrate than ice cream with friends afterwards!

Way to go Taylor! 

Your first milestone of success, your first "graduation", your first completion of an activity.

As you start to step out and experience little tastes of this world on your own (even as simple as Wednesday nights at church on your own), we pray that God will be your beginning and your end.

This is only the beginning.