Florida 2011 - WARNING...Major Picture Overload

Seriously, this is a really long post with tons of pictures.  I wanted to make sure I captured all of the wonderful moments on our vacation.

We were gone an entire week and it could have been longer.  My friend Tanysha was able to fly in from Atlanta (on Vision Airlines for $19 each way!) and stay with us for a few days.  I didn't get a chance to see my Joanna because her girls were sick :(

Overall this was the best time we've ever had in Destin and can't wait to return.  Here's a recap:

We had a ton of stuff...can you see Jamison?

We stayed overnight in Brentwood, TN and it was SO nice to finally see blue skies.

I am fascinated by the red dirt down south.

Driving over the bridge into Destin.

View from our balcony the evening we arrived.  I sat out there for quite a while.

Our view in the morning.

Our first day at the beach.  It was really windy and the waves were kickin' up...but it didn't stop us from having fun :)

Do you think we had enough stuff?  Ross, the lifeguard behind us, was really helpful.

I love the sandy little feet.

There were quite a few down moments...playing DS (I love when Caleb sits like this), napping, watching movies, playing Uno, and just enjoying the view.

Sweet Makayla had a few relaxing moments.

Jamison was thrilled to help out with breakfast one morning...she cracked all of the eggs.

There was a little time for homework...Jamison is writing a book on squirrels.

Many times we had the pool all to ourselves...nice:

There were quite a few water fights:

Tanysha and Makayla...the baby had a fun time in the water.

The kids showing of their "tricks":

I love this picture...it shows my mom with her beautiful genuine smile and a classic Jamison face.

Movie Star!

Best meal...Chez Wanda

We had an early dinner here...the food was amazing, the view was stunning, and the service was great.

This girl thoroughly enjoyed her meal...popcorn shrimp and lump crab.

Makayla even got a taste of the yummy mashed potatoes...she looks excited about that doesn't she?

We took some group pictures outside of the restaurant by the beach:

It rained this same evening and made the most stunning rainbow right over the Gulf.  God's creations are just amazing.

We drove to the other end of Destin...so beautiful.

We squeezed in some time for frozen custard:

I want her eyes.

On our last day we headed back to the beach.  This was the most beautiful day by far:

Can you see how clear the water is?

And this is what is looks like when you pull into home after midnight.

You still with me?  Anybody...Bueller?

miscellany monday

I thought I'd share with you some random things I learned on vacation:

Jamison talks a lot.

Caleb think he's king and we now know we need to bring him down a notch.

Mommy and Rondell are SO much alike (this is not new news) and I realized just how special it is for them to have that kind of relationship.

I love Tanysha more and more as we get older realizing how deep our friendship goes.  We are truly sisters and not in the fighting kind of way, but in the I-can-finish-your-sentences/I'm-thinking-what-you're-saying kind of way.

Sticky buns are a great thing to make on vacation.  We had to buy a bundt pan while we were there to make it and we left it in the condo with the recipe for the next person :)

Priceline is awesome...our hotel was great with a great price attached.  If you're ever in Brentwood, TN I'd highly recommend the Marriott Residence Inn...great staff, lovely rooms and free breakfast.

Brentwood, TN is full of nice people...well at least the staff of hotel.  I mean they were super nice...I must write a thank you.

I love the feel of sand between my toes.

The Crab Trap has an amazing view of the beach...and the service was wonderful.

There's more to Destin than the beach and the pool...Rondell opened our eyes.  Next time we have a few new places we'll have to check out.

Brownie bits and frozen custard go well together.

I really need to pack lighter next time.

Bringing home clean clothes because the condo has a washer/dryer is awesome! 

We really need to start saving for a king size bed...all of that space was just lovely.

The seafood dinner that my mom makes is still my favorite meal while we're there.

Bring more toilet paper next time.

Taking a lot of pictures is great (editing them all...takes a bit of time...I hope to have the picture post up by Wednesday).

(friday) favorite things :)

This week Rachel is asking us to add some Mommy-moments to our Friday Favorites...I think I can do that :)

The giggle of my children

These caramel stick buns

The smell of my husband wearing cologne

 

Late evening snuggles with Caleb...gets me every time

 

A good movie

Emails from friends

Jamison telling me the story of Abraham and Sarah

Late night talks with one of my best friends (miss you Ty)

Hearing both kids tell me I'm the best mom ever and knowing they mean it (not just that they want something)

Being greeted with big hugs as I walk in the door from work

Rubbing my feet on clean sheets

Jamison's eyes

When Caleb and Jamison play well together and show each other love

Tuesday nights with my mom

A big cup of ice water

Our Destin family vacation (I will post about it soon...right after I load all of the pictures that I took!)

We Want to Know Wednesday - Q&A

I know it's late but I've seen this over the past few Wednesdays and thought it would be fun to participate this week.  Here are the questions:

{1} If money didn't matter, where would your perfect vacation take place? Briefly describe.

Probably two weeks in Destin in May.  I love Destin...so relaxing, water is beautiful, it's becoming familiar (I like familiar), the weather is great this time of year and relaxing...oops, already said that.  I would para-sail, go on dolphin cruises, hop around to all of the restaurants that I want to try and others that have become favorites, and do some shopping at the outlet mall.

Another idea would be to rent an RV and travel west.  I'd love to see Colorado, Arizona and take the family to visit California.  I would love to see the snow-capped mountains in CO and absorb all of their sunshine (I hear they have 300 sunny days).  I want to go to an outdoor spa in AZ and visit the Grand Canyon.  CA is a place I've wanted to take Rondell and the kids for a while now.  I love San Diego and would love to take them through LA to let them see all of the sights. 

{2}What's a bad habit that you have (or had) that is/was hard to break?

I was just talking about this with one of my friends...sucking my fingers.  I sucked my middle two fingers on my left hand until I was in the 5th grade...5th grade!  My parents did pretty much everything they could to get me to stop.  Eventually I had to have a piece added to my braces on the roof of my mouth so that I would not actually be able to suck on them.  This forced me to stop.

{3} If you weren't on a diet or counting calories, what would you like to have for dinner tonight?

 Steak, lobster tail, loaded baked potato, salad, apple crisp/or brownie cheesecake for dessert and endless Coca Cola!  Ooh, and maybe a mojito...from someone who really knows how to make one.

{4} If you had the chance to interview anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what's one question that you would ask?

Either one of my grandmothers...my dad's mom, my Granita, I'd ask her for her biscuit recipe and anything else just to get to talk to her one last time.  I never got to meet my mom's mom so I'd probably just ask her all about herself...just to know who she was.

{5} Describe yourself in 6 words.

Loyal

Worrier (I'm really trying to work on this)

Sensitive

Hospitable

Homebody

Loveable

miscellany monday

 

1. May...already!  I can't believe that it's already May...time is going by so fast.  Soon school will be out, BSF is almost over, and summer is almost here.  It's almost time to get out in the yard and plant flowers (gotta call my gardener assistant...AKA my mom!).  I welcome May with open arms :)

2.  Speaking of May...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear friend Kristina!  I love this girl with all my heart and I hope she has a fabulous birthday (with plans for an upcoming trip of some kind...I live vicariously through her travels!).

3.  Don't underestimate your kids...that's what I need to keep telling myself.  I have to remember that Caleb (and Jamison) is smarter than I give him credit for.  Recently we had this conversation:

Caleb:  Mommy, when can we go back and see the real Thomas (we went there here).

Me:  Maybe in September.

Caleb:  I have an idea, I can take my trains with me so I can play with them on their tracks (they have a bunch of train tables set up for kids to play with...side note: now mind you that Caleb NEVER played with the train table we bought him).

Me:  But what if another kid takes them?

Caleb:  pause...Well I'll just put my name on them.

Me: Thinking...duh!

4.  I am determined...to learn my camera.  I recently printed off the entire manual and I plan on reading it and playing around with my camera a lot.  I love how Lemonade Making Mama and Mimi take a photo a day and how it really captures their lives.  I don't think I'll do that, but I need to pull my camera out not just when something is going on but just because...to capture the little moments.