Dear Abigail,
Another successful beach trip in the books! Destin 2013 was perfect with a week long of beautiful weather and two kiddos that LOVE the beach (you and your sister!). We headed that way on Saturday and this year, we took Mimi with us. You were ever so excited and couldn't believe you were getting to stay with Mimi for a whole week (really more than that, but that's what you kept saying). The drive there was easy-peasy lemon squeezy and we even met Ellie and her crew at the Chick-fil-a that we always stop at for lunch. We stayed in a new house this year (Ryan and his family couldn't go this year with us, sniff, sniff) so we were super eager to check it out and it, too, was perfect with bunk beds for you and Ellie, and a big backyard with a swimming pool for all of us! Mommy and Aunt Steph headed to the grocery store shortly after arriving and Mimi decided to take all 4 of you kiddos to the beach. Some call it crazy - others call her Mimi :) All it did was get us super excited about the next mornings trip to the beach!!
And that's just what we did. We packed up A LOT of stuff, and headed the next morning. You immediately felt at home...
The water was just perfect and clear and very little waves. So nice. And the sand was just as white as always!
We brought the boat again this year since it was such a hit last year, and, yep, a big hit again! Aunt Meg (oh! did I mention Aunt Meg stopped in for a visit!!) and you had a BLAST playing on the boat and on the rafts. I think you wore her out, but you had so much fun with her. Mommy even took a little tour of the ocean on the boat, or at least beside it!
And Daddy, too!
And then Aunt Steph and all the kiddos!
After eating lunch on the beach, Mimi took the little kiddos to nap and we hung out a bit longer playing, building castles, etc etc etc. Eventually we made our way back to the house but only to jump in that awesome pool! You and Ellie could have swam all night long if we were to let you! Daddy grilled his burgers and we all enjoyed our first official night of vacation hanging out. Very lovely.
Monday was much like Sunday with a fun-filled day on the beach...
Uncle Jaybee built a turtle or something in the sand but the best part for you and Ellie was when he counted to three and you got to destroy it! One...
Twothree!!!!
And, of course, another fun day on the beach with Aunt Meg. You two were jumping waves like cowboys on a bucking horse. Or something similar...
More sandcastles and Aunt Meg even showed you how to make a little river that flows to the castle's moat. You loved this part and loved building it the rest of the week...
And what's a day at the beach with out burying you!
Have I mentioned you are obsessed with your Aunt Meg??? Yeah, thought so. Aunt Meg brought a pomegranate to eat and while you didn't really care for it (and asked where the chocolate was because Mommy buys the chocolate covered pomegranates from Costco!!) you did sit right beside Aunt Meg passing your pieces to your sister!! (who loved them!)
Next on the agenda - bury Uncle Jaybee...
Then, step on him...
But watch out!!!!
And then watch this... We caught him on camera. Here he is picking up the sand...
And then throwing it!!!
Uncle Jaybee got in trouble. Tears were shed. Feelings were hurt.
But we all got over it :)
You and Kate were playing in the ocean and I was trying to get a picture. As soon as I grabbed my camera, you two ran into each other and that was the end of pictures!!
Thankfully you both got over it quickly and we enjoyed the afternoon acting like we built the really big sand castles :)
And you tried digging a hole to sit in, but Katie Bug needed her foot to go in there...
Monday night was kind of interesting. The 'dults' were going out for dinner and Mimi was staying in with all of you kiddos. As we were getting ready, or rather, right as we were leaving (and Uncle Jaybee was yelling that the cab was there), Mimi knocked on my bathroom door and said "Abby needs to come in there." I asked why and she responded with "Because she just threw up everywhere downstairs." Ummm, what??? Yep, you had told me and Mimi both that you were cold and didn't feel like eating. I told you you were just sunburn a little and tired and you could eat and go to bed. Well, I should have listened to you! Mimi said she would take care of you and if it got worse, we would come home. Thankfully it was just that one time (or well, a couple times in a very short period!) and you felt fine the next morning. I learned later that Aunt Meg had to throw up randomly in the middle of the day (earlier that day) and then on Thursday Mimi woke up with it, but hers stuck around a lot longer than yours (all day!). Then Saturday morning, the day we left to go home, Mommy woke up with it and had to ride all the way home sick! AND THEN, that night, Ellie threw up a couple times in the middle of the night. So, clearly a yucky bug was making its way through our beach vacation. Thankfully it only hit Mimi really bad on the actual vacation and Mommy just on the way home. Mimi probably needed a break from us anyway :) Anyway, back to the fabulous vacation minus that little episode!
Tuesday and Wednesday were like Sunday and Monday. Beach, naps, pool, grilling, sleep, FUN! Actually, Wednesday we didn't grill, but instead ventured to Harbor Walk for dinner.
This was as good as we could get of the 4 kiddos. It was tough and it didn't help that we were so close to open water! You and Ellie were happy to pose, though :)
And dance!
And ride the train!
And eat chocolate ice cream!!!
That's right, after we ate dinner at Harry T's and listened to some good music as we ate, we sent the babies home with Mimi and walked around the harbor. We immediately found a stage with no one on it, so you and Ellie changed that up. We then found a train, and after taking a ride on that, the stage was now bumpin with folks! You girls started a trend! After a little more dancing, we ventured in for ice cream and you got Mommy's all time favorite - Rocky Road!!! Delicious! We then realized that Aunt Steph sent the keys home with Mimi, so while Mimi drove back to Harbor Walk (she left the kiddos with Aunt Meg, who wasn't feeling good which was probably because of that bug, and also she got sunburned really bad!) so while we waited on Mimi, we ventured a little further and found the Euro bounce. Ellie was determined to jump on it but for some reason you told me your belly didn't feel very good and you didn't want to do it. Trust me, I trusted you this time and we just sat back and watched Ellie bounce!
Thursday at the beach was just as fun...
Actually, on Thursday morning we got up and took a few family photos in coordinating outfits. You sister decided this would be the one time she would NOT like the beach and was not helping us out, but you had no problems posing for the camera, and look how perfect you are!
And then there are the photos of you and Mimi. These turned out so good!!
At this point in the pictures, I am confused on which day is which, but here are more fun beach pictures!!
You made a friend, and Ellie was so concerned because you were talking to strangers. We tried explaining to her that she wasn't a stranger because Abby introduced herself and they were just playing, but Ellie insisted that she was a stranger and therefore would not talk to her! (and tattled on you!)
Saturday was tough for Mommy, but we were all sad to leave such a fantastic vacation. We love the beach and we love Destin!
And, I love you beach bum!!!!
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