beach vacay

So we finally decided that it was time to take our first vacation with just us as a family and not actually visiting family...so we decided on a trip to the beach--Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  P. & E. have never seen the beach, and N. has only experienced a Texas beach when he was 2. We've all been looking forward to it the whole summer!

On the drive there, we stopped at the visitor's center of Mississippi to eat some lunch while overlooking the Mississippi river. I was really nervous about the 10 1/2 hour drive, but honestly the kids did great...E. was way better than I thought he would be--took his normal naps, ate lots of goldfish and cheerios and ended with tons of snacks in his seat and even in his clothes, but hardly any tears.  The boys stayed busy reading, playing the ipad or phone, and watching movies on a portable tv/dvd player thing that we borrowed from parents. I got some reading in, did some crosswords, and did lots of music listening with the hubby!

 

We arrived at our condo about 8 in the evening and as we got P. out of the car (he had fallen asleep), we realized all the water he drank for dinner decided to come out in the form of pee all over his carseat and the car--not really the way we wanted to start out, but whatever. After we got the kids settled in, S. ran to good old Walmart for a grocery run! Here's the view from our balcony

The next day was Sunday, so we headed to the local church, then headed back to the condo for E.'s nap, then went to explore a local trail/boardwalk that was over a creek--we tried to find an alligator, but just found a turtle instead!

Later that evening, we finally went out to the beach--here's P. experiencing beautiful white sand for the first time!

Monday morning...we hit up the beach, then the pool, then back to the condo for lunch, nap for E (and I actually got one it too), then we headed back out to the beach and pool, followed by a delish dinner at a local seafood shanty--I got fried shrimp which N. decided to try and loved them--he is still asking me for fried shrimp!

I'm happy to say there were no sunburns the entire trip..thanks to rash guards, hats, and lots of sunscreen!

Yes, his tools came to the beach...

S. and N. spent most of their beach time in the water riding the boogie board...while I spent time in the sand with P. & E.

We buried dad in the sand...

then P...

then me...

and then N.

E. lounged in the chairs a lot and ate snacks and probably some sand...

The condo had bunk beds in the hallway for the boys and in each of them they had their own tv--they were in heaven...they watched lots of Full house because that's the only sort of kid show on in the evening as well as ratatouille and despicable me...

Tuesday...we headed to Pensacola to the Naval air station for a Blue Angels practice session and naval air museum...It was truly fascinating the kinds of tricks they could do, the speed, and how close together they flew. However weather conditions were HOT, it was noon, and there was no shade. We each had a water bottle, but drank those quickly, so after about 45 minutes of showtime(but we had been out there a bit earler), we decided to head to the museum, but as we were walking, I briefly had S. man the stroller through some sand, and I was holding P. and N.'s hand, when N. started saying he didn't feel so good, his stomach hurt, and he started walking weird--so I had S. grab N--he almost passed out...we found some shade under an airplane wing. S. told me to take the other 2 and head to the museum, while he stayed with N. I was worried sick...but after some gatorade, shade, and being carried by dad to the museum, he was doing all better...

The boys loved the museum--in fact, I and E. were ready to go home after about 3 hours, and they still didn't want to go...

S.'s grandpa helped design this airplane...

This one looked like Skipper from Planes...

Don't ya love all of P.'s crazy faces...

P. loved the little models...

P. also kept trying to move the airplanes...he was highly determined

The kid can find tools anywhere...

Freedom from the stroller...

Wednesday...The condo had a belgin waffle maker, so we bought some mix, strawberries, and whipped cream--it was delicious...we also enjoyed little chocolate donuts--it's vacation after all!

More beach time...this time I buried P., but. E. kept trying to sit on him...

E. really started walking on our trip...he loved to walk carrying this rake or a shovel...

P. plopped down on the pile of sand that S. was scooping out, so he kept putting more sand on P.

 

We half-buried E.--he was sitting and then we gave him a mermaid tail--he liked it for a bit, but then tried to destroy his tail!

After we spent time at the beach, we rinsed off the sand, then headed to the pool for some swimming. N. really started swimming thanks to dad's help and actually having the time to be in the pool a lot. P. was braver and jumped in without help and was floating around talking and chatting up some new friends.

Thursday...So I woke up to these boys sitting on the patio, just talking to each other...I love that they love each other...

When he realized, I was taking a picture, he got a bit mad at me...

E. loved playing with the remotes...

He also loved chocolate donuts...

We went to an aquarium type place called the Gulfarium...we watched a dolphin and sea lion show, saw sharks, gators, starfish, turtles, seals, sting-rays, fish, and penguins...

P. loved this BIG tank---he kept going on and on about how big it was...

Holding a starfish...

He was all tuckered out...

The shark moat...

Since it was my birthday, we of course, had to pick up some cupcakes! It was the cutest little bakery--called a cupcakery by the sea. They were really, really yummy!

The boys went to the pool, while E. had a little nap, and I ate a cupcake and watched a little HGTV! When he woke up, I took this sweet picture--I sure do love this little guy!

He loved the sand toys on and off the beach...

We went for a after dinner walk on the beach and watched a guy catch 2 sharks at the same time...

I wanted a pic with my boys on my birthday, but they weren't too cooperative;)

Friday morning, we headed over to Destin for a pirate ship adventure--this is them waiting on the docks with their pirate swords...

This was about 5 seconds before he fell, busted his nose, and got blood all over me and him...

The pirate adventure was really well done--they kept the kids engaged the whole time with fun pirate stuff--their favorite being shooting water cannons at the enemy pirate until he surrendered...

N. hoisting up the black team's flag...

Looking at the treasure map...

Getting some loot at the end after they had found all the keys from the enemy pirates...

 

After our pirate fun, we headed to lunch at The Back Porch--my Uncle Jimmy who was stationed at Fort Walton Beach used to go here all the time, and whenever he is in the area (they live in Ohio now), makes the trip to eat here, so we decided we needed to check it out.  The views were amazing...

 

E. fell alseep on the short 10-15 min drive there...

S. eating some oysters

N. in this massive chair outside the restaurant...

 

one last outing to the beach...

P. was over the sand at this point and just wanted to go to the pool, so I gave him a tootsie roll pop to give us some time in the sand, but a few minutes later, E. spotted the lollipop, and grabbed it with his sandy hands...and I couldn't get the sand off

Once we got the boys tucked in the for the night, I wanted one last walk in the beautiful sand...it seriously is sooo soft. I miss the sand, I miss the beach view and the light coming in the condo (our home is kinda dark), I miss having so much time with the hubby, but I'm grateful for this time together, that everything went well, that we were safe and healthy (I have this fear of my kids getting sick and us missing something), and that we have lots of fun memories!