Vacation!!!

Dear Abigail,

Here's the thing about our summers.  They are awesome.  But, they don't ever slow down!!!  It's been over a month since we've gone on vacation, but I am just now getting some time to write about it.  We went on vacation and our summer has not stopped!!!!  But, for now, here's our vacay baby!!!  

We headed out on Saturday morning, bright and earl, straight to our annual Destin beach house with the gang.  Everyone went this year minus your sis and Jakey.  Both of which were excellent decisions on the mommies (and I guess daddies) part!!  So we had a whole vacation to spend with you!  

We arrived right when the cleaning folks were wrapping up and boy were we all eager to see our house.  You kiddos had no problem making the playroom and visiting pretty much every room in the house.  We ordered pizza our first night and everyone was exhausted from the excitement from being back on vacation.  

Sunday morning everyone woke with smiles on their faces, and hunger in their bellies, so we ate and then prepared for the beach!!!  

This was the first day on the beach, and you were testing the sand out.

Then it was time to test the water out.  Now, please keep in mind, last year you did not go in the water until the very last day and then later that summer when we went back, you didn't go in it at all...

Clearly you have no worries this summer.  And man alive look at that water! It's beautiful isn't it.  It was like this all week long and we soaked up every bit of it we could!  Gorgeous week in Destin.

Mommy decided to test the water out, too!  It looks like we have the whole ocean to ourselves.  We had so much fun splashing in the waves and jumping them.

Of course there was some excellent sand castle building going on all week long...

You and Ryan and Ellie had tons of fun playing together, however, the three of you were trouble a few times.  For one, you guys CONSTANTLY said "booty".  Over and over and over and over again.  Like seriously, again and again and again.  Then we'd hear, "Mommy ______ said booty."  Thing is, we didn't care.  We tried telling y'all that we did not care, that it wasn't a bad word as long as you weren't calling someone that (and you weren't, you'd just say "booty" and laugh) but for some reason, over and over and over.  We told y'all that 'elbow' was a bad word and not to say it, so sometimes you'd say that, but 'booty' won.  Also, we'd hear "______ said they're not my best friend" over and over again.  I bet I repeated "We're all best friends" 100 times that week!!  No joke.  Over all though, you kiddos had a blast with each other.  You though, were the brave one, venturing out in the ocean all by yourself.

I think this picture is funny.  It looks like your daddies are plotting you against the other!  That was a sand bar y'all were standing on, so it looks like you are walking on water almost!!

Once again, we enjoyed our balcony rocking chairs, but, once again, were scared you were going to climb over the railing.  We all kept an extra eye on you...

Ahhh, the boat.  This, by far, was the best thing ever.  I'm not even really sure where I got the boat from, but I brought it just in case we might want to use it.  Well, did we ever!!  You kiddos LOVED the boat.  Loved riding the waves, loved just rolling along, loved loved loved it!!

Uncle Jaybee takin' his turn with holding you and Ellie Bean.

Being silly!

Oh, and Mommy caught this on camera.  Uncle Jaybee aggravated you to death!!!  

We did our usual dinners, including girls night and guys night.  On girls night, the daddies took all of you to Pompano Joe's where everyone danced and had crab legs.  You are now addicted to crab legs and ask for them all the time.  We went to Zoe's ( a little deli type place in town) and when I asked you what you wanted you said "Do they have crab legs here?"  No, no they don't...)

Another day at the beach!!

Ah, and our annual shrimp boil night!  So fun and yummy!

We enjoyed popsicles, beach side, which was pretty much a necessity, considering how messy you get eating it!!  I love the look Ellie is giving you!

Aunt Steph and Mommy really ate up the beach life and tried to drag it out each day as long as possible.  We'd stay with you girls in the afternoon until the man took our umbrella and chairs, and even then, we'd stay a little longer.  One afternoon, you girls were rinsing off the popsicles and started running from the waves, as if they were chasing you.  This led into doing it over and over again, and LOTS of giggles!  Y'all played and played, just running back and forth, sitting in it, then getting super screammy and then break out in giggles!  It was awesome watching you two play, something I'll always remember from this vacation!

Awwww, sweet cousins!

Of course, someone had to get buried!! It's not a beach vacation unless...

And while we did love the beach, we found time to spend at the pool!  

One morning (the next morning after guys night) the mommies took the kiddos to get donuts (because we're nice like that!).  You LOVED this, as well as the rest of the crew!  We love the Donut Hole, for sure!

More beach action going on...

And Mr. Jay worked hard, along with a few others, to get a water hole going for y'all.  Eventually, after some engineering tweaks, we had a hole!

Little beach babies!!!!

And yes, we had our annual night at Baytown Wharf, Mommy's fave!!  And yes, we had all the kiddos in 'coordinating' outfits, as you would call it.  You got very mad at me when I said you matched, because clearly you do not!!!!!  I asked you to smile, and well, you smiled alright...

And then when on about your business.

Finally I got you to sit still, but it just doesn't seem right, now does it.

And of course we had to get our picture of the kiddos. It took a little work, but...

Y'all sure can take a cute picture :)

There was carousel riding...

and dancing...

And singing (into a fence post thing)...

And huggin!

And finally a family pic, but we were all exhausted at that point!!!

Here's you girls in the morning.  Even at the beach Ellie was sportin' her ski socks!!!

Aunt Steph braided your hair and it's now your new favorite thing.  That, and you always tell me "Do it soft like Aunt Steph" even though Aunt Steph swears she doesn't do it soft!

And, what would be a beach vacation without a luxury restroom, beach side???

I'm sure I'm forgetting lots of little moments, but the bottom line is we had one heck of a time at the beach!  We swam and swam and swam and then swam some more.  We enjoyed the beautiful weather all week long and loved all the company we had!  A great trip to Destin beach bum!!!!