Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Florida 2011

I always call it Destin, but really we stay past Destin and play in Seaside. We just got home from another amazing trip to Florida. We LOVE Florida. We always wish we had another week when we leave. It went by too fast. This year we went with the Dale Family and like usual, we had a blast.

We left at 4am on Saturday morning....


The kids did NOT go back to sleep...but we made it to Destin right at 2pm. What can I say..I am married to a wanna be race car driver.

We pulled into the same house we rented last year that is right on the ocean.
It has windows all across the top and bottom floor...always a fantastic view. And I love sleeping to the sound of the ocean.

Here is the view from our back porch:

It is Heaven on Earth. Too us anyway.

Here are a few (or a lot of) pictures of what we did all week...



We got dressed for dinner every night. We ate WELL....

Can't go to Seaside and not get Frost Bite Snow Cones....

And you have to run around Seaside Park.


The girls met a new friend on the Beach. Emma Lael. Ellie has still not stopped talking about her. Her mom has a blog and I am now following it. Their family is amazing and I loved talking to her mom who adopted Emma Lael from China this last year.

We ate Ice Cream...

And had more than a few of these...

Football...


Got Buried...and then requested some shade...

Looked for fish and sea creatures to catch in our nets.

Played Cards most nights. We taught the Dales how to play 31...pretty sure they are addicted.

Loved on this little guy who we cracked jokes about all weekend because he is seriously the best baby on the planet. Frank kept telling him to stop being so loud. Half the trip we forgot he was with us. But when he was around, he was all smiles.... We loved snuggling a little baby again.

Boogie boarding and tubing the ocean...

Kayaking. We would go out FAR. WE would go to the DARK blue and watch the 4 foot sharks and sting rays swim under us. It was awesome. I wish I had a picture of when I practically forced Allison out. She was making excuses for us to go back in left and right. I thought she'd be happy to face her fears...but no. Sorry Allison!!

More playing in the sand. More relaxing. More loving Florida. It was just FABULOUS!!!

And a road trip wouldn't be complete without this scene. Yes, I am standing out of the sunroof taking the picture. After 11 hours in the car...30 minutes from home we get pulled over. Welcome home and hello defensive driving.

It was a wonderful trip. Family beach pictures to come.....

10 comments:

Team Dale said...

WHAT and UNFORGETTABLE vacation!

I feel that WE LAUGHED harder that trip than we have in YEARS! I can not believe the MEMORIES that were made!

I have been thinking of you all NON STOP this week...

We LOVED everything.

..from EATING a TON everynight! To FROST bites, TO SEASIDE, TO anything you showed us on 30-A....to the OUTLETS, to the DONUT hole...to the KAYAKing (not!) to the CARD games...to the PICTURE taking...to FIRE CRACKER FIRE CRACKER...to MASS AMOUNT OF CHIPS consumed...

Really I could go on and on...(16 and prego and PINK EYE)..

but know this~
We will ALWAYS cherish the moments shared! Thanks for having us!
Love,
TEAM DALE

The Guess Family said...

I am laughing at the ticket....might as well budget those in to roadtrips!! I have to sleep with one eye open when we travel, to keep Tommy under 90mph. And, when I drive, it makes him nuts!!! He gains minutes on the GPS arrival time and I loose them. :)

stacy said...

Oh how we missed this vacation. Can't wait until next summer. So glad y'all had another great year.

Our Life Together said...

Looks like a blast! I am soooooo jealous. Glad you guys made so many memories.The pictures are GREAT!

parsonsfamily said...

That is so awesome!!! We need a family vacation, and how fun to do it with friends! I love the last picture!!

Courtney said...

Looks like a fabulous time! Great pictures. The water and sand is just gorgeous.
The kids are so cute in their coordinating clothes, and Hadley's hair is so blonde!!!

Kristyn said...

Oh it looks like so much fun!!!! The girls are getting so big and just so beautiful! And G, what a handsome man!!! He's just growing into a young little man :) Glad it was a great trip...minus the ticket. Oh those stinky cops! :)

MKHKKH said...

Looks like a fabulous vacation! The water is so clear! The kids look like they loved it! Happy summer time! Well, all but the ticket. But isn't that how it always goes?

Greg and Joy Ryan said...

so fun!you kids are soo adorable!!! glad you had a great time!

Cathy Hengst Photography said...

This place looks beautiful!!! I am a friend of Nichole Peterson and Carla Greenlee. I would love the info on where you stayed if you dont mind. We want to go to Destin area but I am to afraid to just pick somewhere to stay and hope it is nice. My email is chengst@consolidated.net

Thanks!!

CAthy