Toes in the Sand...Life is Good Today

We headed to Destin last Friday on July 4th.  We stopped in Birmingham for the night which was a lot of fun.  This was our first time to stay in a hotel room.  It was a success.  All the swimming at the pool, jumping on the bed, and no naps probably helped.  Saturday we headed to Destin and couldn't wait to get there.  Nonny and Pappy were meeting us and we thought we would arrive around the same time.  However, Nonny and Pappy were about 10 miles from our condo and it took 1 1/2 hours to get to it.   After arriving, we ate a quick dinner and headed to the beach!  We had a great first evening.  Each day would would wake up and go out to the balcony to have breakfast.  Then we would head down to the beach and pool for the morning.  We would have lunch on the balcony and then either swim or nap/rest.  In the evening we did a couple different things each night...fly kites, swim at the pool, look for hermit crabs and went to dinner one night.  After the kids were in bed, we headed back to the balcony to visit, watch everyone below, and just enjoy the sound of the ocean....it never gets old.  Every day was perfect and every day special memories were made.  It was an amazing vacation!  My parents loved it and were able to relax and enjoy their time with the grandkids.  We were very sad to see the week end and would have loved a few more days.  Zack and I keep talking about our favorite parts of the trip and I love looking at ALL 600 pictures I took.  Yes, it is extreme and NO, I won't put them all on here.  Our theme song or a few words of a song we kept singing were, "We have our toes in the sand...life is good today!"  It wasn't just good.  It was amazing!  I loved every minute of my time with my hubby, kids, and parents! (Also, the pictures aren't in order like I would like for them to be but it's the best I can do since pictures came from my camera and phone.)

Happy 4th of July

I am not seeing "A FIRECRACKER" type personality.  However, she sure does SPARKLE!  Her smile and laugh make her shine.

The kids probably went down the slide 50 times.  After dinner, it was cooler so Zack and I just sat on the edge of the pool and watched them laugh and giggle.  Weston still talks about that slide and that "I big enough" to ride it because our pool where we swim doesn't allow him to based on size.  He loved crashing into Macie.  Macie told me, "This girls said I will go so fast if I go on my knees"  So she went on her knees.

After the drive to Destin which seemed to take forever, we arrived and the fun continued.

Surprises from Nonnie...

Here's a girl who doesn't nap but she sure did take a few naps on our trip.  To me that equals lots of fun in the sun!

Beach Jammies

One of my favorite memories was at night Pappy would tell stories which were about the kids but they would be pigs, princess/princess, or something else.  They loved it!  The last night I planned on letting stay up pretty late.  They were out on the balcony and Pappy was telling his "famous stories" while we were loading up the car and the kids drifted off to sleep.

Nonnie and Weston made a big hole.  Macie supervised and encouraged.  Every other minute Weston would say, "This is hard work."

Pappy called dibs.  This was Kinsley's favorite sleeping spot.  By the end of the week, she was spoiled and even waking up in the night because she was wanting to be held.  Pappy said that he loved when she would wake up and just look up at him and lay her head down and then look up at him again.  

Soaking up the sun on the rafts...this was relaxing and fun.

As soon as we told Weston Pappy was coming to the beach with us he started talking about golfing.  We brought his clubs and he was super excited to go golfing with Pappy!  The golfers just finished breakfast and showing off their golfing muscles.

..and stretching.

Another favorite moment...sitting outside, listening to the ways and music, and talking.

My friend gave us the great idea to buy a little pool to put Kinsley in to help keep her out of the sand.  It was a great idea; however, Kinsley loved feeling the sand and eating it.

The world's largest sand trap.

That sand is from Weston's shot.

The orange raft was another favorite for the whole family.  We spent about two hours on it three days (rented it).  The kids loved it.  The first day we rented it the raves were a bit rough.  It worked out perfectly because my friends' kids were there.  They loved it.  We all tried surfing on it and could hardly stand.  The kids could just hop right up on it.  Weston wasn't a fan the first day but ended up loving it.  We played pirates and he would say "Yo Ho, let's go."  He and Macie would jump off of it.  Zack, Mom and I would fall off and get back on!  IT WAS GREAT!

Some Nonnie Macie time

Mom, Kinsley and I also were able to spend one morning together on the beach while Weston and Pappy golfed and Macie and Daddy hung out at the pool.  It was a lot of fun.

We were on the 10th floor.

Pappy caught this tiny fish and Weston loved it. He ended up covering it with sand.  This was the smallest type fish we saw and we also saw several other sizes of fish.

The fish is somewhere in there.

Thursday night we went to dinner (our only time to leave the condo) and went to dinner.  Then we came back for pictures.  I love pictures...that is all I can say.  I love how pictures capture the moment.  I hope as my kids grow they can look back and remember.  Macie often retells stories just based on pictures she has seen and the stories I tell her.

This was actually our first night to feel the sand on our feet.

Buried Alive

Nonnie only got one day of napping with Kinsley but I think she loved it.  Pappy, Nonnie, and Kinsley took full advantage of napping on the beach.

Toes in the sand...life is good today

(ONE  OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES)

One of Macie's vacation surprises from me was Old Maid princess style.  She loved beating us...

Nonnie lost...she ended with Ursula 

Way back when(before kids), Mom and I would sit and read books forever.  It was one of those things we always managed to do.  After kids reading for hours or more than 10 minutes isn't very likely and I am not complaining.  Both of us would rather enjoy the kids; however, this was a flashback and we both loved it.

This was a good reading chair (and Weston does have on undies).

One of my oldest friends (since 4th grade) lives in Destin.  She and her 4 precious kids were able to come and spend a day with us.  Our kids enjoyed one another and I loved catching up with her.

Maybe I am a little sleepy...maybe I just like to suck my thumb...or maybe I just like the taste of sand.

For some reason, Weston loves to cover his body with stickers.

Nonnie said Weston was a picture perfect image of Zack here.  We just washed off our feet and Weston ended up washing his face, clothes, and everyone around him.

These were our favorite waves.  

Nonnie is riding a wave, Pappy is on the verge of being taken out by it, and Macie looks like she is saying, "BRING IT ON."

One of Weston's favorite places was the pool.  He isn't a big fan of waves knocking him over.  Plus, he is starting to get the hang of swimming...starting.  He thinks he is much better than he is.  He runs and jumps in even if no one is around.  Weston really enjoyed running and jumping in with someone.  (These are three of my most favorite men...I hope Weston grows up to be like both of them)!

A couple of girls found hermit crabs in the water.  Macie and Weston liked sitting with them and playing with them.  However, Weston decided he needed his own.  Pappy set to work and found him some.  Macie loved searching for crabs with the girls.

This is what one week of vacation does for them!  Our trip home was awesome.  I am so thankful all three of my kids are troupers and help the car ride be so successful.

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