So I typed this blog post way back on June 2nd, and apparently I forgot to ever hit "post." Clearly my mind was still on vacation. So here it is, finally!
We just got back from an AWESOME vacation! On Friday, May 23rd John and I loaded the kids (and what seemed like everything we owned!) in the van and drove to Clanton, AL where we spent the night. The next morning we got up and completed the drive to SEACREST BEACH, FLORIDA! John's parents (Nana and Grandad), Emily, Eric, Drew, and Hailey all met us there! We stayed in a perfect house to accommodate all ELEVEN of us! There were plenty of beds, bedrooms, baths, etc. It was spread out over three levels which was perfect so that the sleeping little ones never got woken up during naps or early bedtimes! This area was like something out of a storybook-everyone rides their bicycles around. In fact, John and I commented that the area is WAAAY more bicycle and pedestrian friendly than car friendly. There were little shops, restuarants, candy shops, ice cream stores, etc within walking distance. There was an awesome pool that went on and on and on that the kids LOVED. The beach was beautiful with white, white sand! I don't think I've ever stayed anywhere that was SO family oriented! Everyone there seemed to have young kids!
We were very fortunate to get to spend a lot of time with family while we were there! It was so nice to have all the helping hands with Dawson, Carter, and Nora Kate. Dawson had so much fun getting to play with Hailey ALL week! We usually got up and went straight to the beach (golf carts would pick you up in front of your house and drive you to and from the beach-this was a highlight for Dawson and Carter!!) and stayed at the beach until naptime. Then we would ride the golf carts back to our house, bath the kids, get them a little bit more lunch (they ate a picnic lunch on the beach but were starving again by the time we got back to the house everyday!), then put the kids in bed for nap. Many afternoons others helped listen for our napping kids so John and I could enjoy some more time in the sun and sand or by the pool! After the kids got up we took them to the pools to play until dinner. Nana cooked delicious food for us every night! There was a local fish market where we got fresh seafood like red snapper, crab, and shrimp, and she cooked it for us! It was SO good! One evening we left the kids, and John and I had a date night at a nearby restaurant where we enjoyed seafood! Usually after dinner we would take the kids back to the pool or back to the beach. Then back to the house and got them in bed. After the kids were settled, we played rook! It was SUCH a fun, fun week! We were so sad to leave!
Leaving our house to head to the beach!
Nora Kate is ready to get to the beach!
Beach baby!
Dawson and Grandad loved "riding the waves" and "getting washed up" (as Dawson referred to it)!
Carter and Hailey
This vacation was Nora Kate's first time at the beach!
BEAUTIFUL
One day we were out in the ocean and John caught a crab!!!
We were at the beach for Memorial Day! Here we are in our red, white, and blue in front of our beach house!
John's swim trunks matched Nora Kate's swim suit!
On our way home from the beach we decided to break up the drive by stopping for several hours at Zoo Atlanta! The kids LOVED it! here are the boys riding the train at the zoo!
Mommy and Nora Kate on the train!
This zoo had kangaroos!
Our future farmer loved the petting zoo, of course!
Carter liked to look the goats right in the eye! SO funny!
The highlight of this zoo visit was that Zoo Atlanta has pandas!!!
These pandas were the boys favorites!
Daddy and the three at the zoo!
The boys got the special privilege of getting to give this big bird a new toy. They got to pick the toy and help the zoo keeper lower it by a pulley into the bird's cage!
Mommy and the three!
