The Perfect Vacation

We just got home from a week in Destin, FL and let me tell you it was by far the very best vacation we have ever taken.  It was our 4th time to go there and we finally feel like we have things "figured" out.  I have so many pictures from this trip and so much to tell but I promised myself I would keep it to one post and then move on.  This was first time that we have gone to Florida during "off season" and let me tell you - that is the way to go!  Other than a few couples who appeared to be "empty nesters" we had the section of beach by our house to ourselves.  It was quiet and beautiful!  Another great thing was there the traffic was light and we did not have to wait for seating at restaurants....2 things that are important when you have little ones.  This year we made the trip with my parents which was really nice.  They got to spend a ton of quality time with the kids and we got to have a little more freedom to come and go.  We actually had 3 date nights!!!!  It was really nice because in the morning my mom would stay home and keep Lily while she napped and we were able to take Cole to the beach.  That was priceless one on one time with him and I am so thankful to have those memories.  We would spend most mornings on the beach and then head back for lunch/naps and then swim in the pool at our house in the afternoon.  Lily was not a huge fan of the beach this year...she liked the water but the sand drove her crazy so she stayed home most of the time.  She adored the pool so she was happy with that!  It was really cute to watch Cole try to teach her how to play in the sand....something that he loves with all of his heart.  She just wasn't into it this year.  Cole was so brave in the ocean and was swimming like a champ-even putting his head under the water.  He was not a fan of the waves crashing him down but even that seemed more fun as the days went on.  This year we did something we had never done and ate all of our dinners out.  It was so much fun to try so many different places to eat and not have to cook and clean.  It definitely left more time for fun!  Cole was super excited to hunt for sand crabs at night when we were there.  We talked about it so much beforehand and as soon as it was dark on our first night we headed to the beach.  That night we caught 4 but each night we got better and better.  It really was fun!  Another thing Cole loved was chasing the seagulls.  Since there was basically no one else on the beach we let him go for it.  He would run at them and yell, "Charge!" It was so funny and so darn cute!!!  The biggest blessing to me was that both kiddos slept and napped perfectly so I felt like I really got to enjoy myself since I was not super tired all day long.  We actually had several friends that were in Destin at the same time so the guys all got up one morning to fish together.  That has been a tradition each year and I know they loved it.  They caught Amberjack this year which was different and sounded exciting!  I think they averaged 40 lbs a piece!  It was so incredible to have Rhonald with us for 11 straight days...to read and relax....to play and spend time with family.  We did not follow a schedule (too much) and we just focused one each other and having fun!  All the way home Cole talked about what a fun vacation he had and we both had to agree!  It is so nice to be home but man, I already miss the beach, and more than the beach I miss that uninterrupted time with family.  I guess we'll just have to start saving and planning for next summer!