Our favorite place to be in the summer is at the beach. Destin to be exact. Every year we discuss going some place different, but we always end up back here. It just feels like home to us. We have been going to this same condo for 5 (?) years I think. We only missed one summer. The summer of 2015 Josh took a much needed Mommy and Daddy vacation and went on a cruise. But other than that-we have been at the same condo on the same beach. See? Home.
One year Joey, Emily and Wyatt went with us, and one year the Riley's went with us. But this year it was just us 4. Me and my favorite 3 people in this world for 7 whole days!!
On Friday morning, we headed out with Mobile, AL in our sights! It sure makes a long day's drive easier to bear when you know that Aunt Bit and Uncle Byron hugs are the end prize!
In true Aunt Bit fashion, she had presents for her girls. Monogrammed presents of course!
We enjoyed a wonderful seafood dinner with Aunt Bit,Uncle Byron and Grayson. Then we headed off to our hotel for the night. We usually stay with the Holts, but we decided that it would be so much easier to be on the other side of the tunnel before the morning rush. And it actually worked our really well.
The next morning we got up and headed out. Destin Bound!
We arrived so early that we had time to eat lunch before we picked up our grocery order and checked into the condo.
We left lunch, picked up our groceries (online grocery shopping is the greatest invention ever!), and went straight to the condo and unpacked! And before long, we were headed down to the beach to enjoy a half day of beautiful weather!
My happy place!!
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| Best view ever. |
That night we ordered pizza because we spent every possible second on the beach!
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| BEST pizza ever!!! It was about 3 inches thick with toppings! |
Day two started our downward turn with the weather. It rained most of the week, and was cloudy. YUCK! Not ideal beach weather, but we made the best of it.
This sweet girl cuddled with me on the balcony while Josh and I enjoyed our coffee.
Despite the clouds, we managed to enjoy a wonderful day on the beach!
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| It's a rough life, but I toughed it out. |
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| Oh how I love this sweet face! |
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| Burying Macie in the sand |
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| Mermaid Macie! She was NOT a fan of the mermaid boobs....and broke out of this as I was taking the picture! |
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| My sweet Brenna Grace! |
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| A beach selfie....because why not?! |
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| Watching these two play on the beach and in the ocean is my most favorite activity. |
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| That night we did a little crab hunting! |
Monday:
The weather was still not nice to us. But a bad day at the beach is still better than a great day anywhere else!
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| We watched the storm brew...and eventually head right for us! |
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| Making the best of the waves |
Eventually the rain got too close for comfort, so we headed up to the condo to let it pass.
And as soon as it slowed down enough, we headed back down!
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| Toes in da sand, cold drink in my hand! (or between my feet- whatevs) |
And these two made their first of MANY ice cream truck visits!
That night we decided to go out to eat at Fudpuckers.
When you are actually dressed at the beach, you must document it with an obligatory family selfie!
We had a super long wait at Fudpuckers, but it had great atmosphere that we thought the girls would love!
Macie demonstrated the "Mimi look" at dinner. She has perfected it lately, and it cracks us up every time!
They had kids karaoke outside. It took us FOREVER to get Brenna on board with it. She didn't want to, but sometimes Mommy and Daddy really do know what you will enjoy- and thank goodness we were persistent and made her do it! And just as we expected....she LOVED it!! She kept begging to go back all week! She totally rocked it, and the girl that was running it totally fell in love with her. She even had me to text the video of Brenna singing to her so she could use it on their facebook page. (But I have yet to see it there). Macie also sang a song! I was so proud of her for coming out of her comfort zone!! It was a super fun night!
Tuesday:
Yet another cloudy day. yuck! But we made the best of it!
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| Digging holes is their favorite. |
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| I see the sun trying to peek through! |
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| Daddy is always willing to jump in with the hole efforts! |
After dinner that night, we went in search of the fireworks we had heard about. We found the place, but could not for the life of us find where we were supposed to park. We just happened to pull into a spot (not where we were supposed to go to be shuttled up to the show) and ended up with PERFECT fireworks seats!
After the show- we went in search of the Dipping Dots store! We have had them at the zoo and water park, but had never seen a whole store! The girls and I were in heaven. It was so much fun!!
Josh opted for Dairy Queen. He's no fun. haha!
Wednesday:
SUN!!!!! Finally!!!!
The only problem with the sun this day was that we had to leave the beach early to get ready for our family pictures that night that Josh had booked as an anniversary present for me! And we had to do our best to not get sun burned right before pictures!
No day on the beach is complete without a trip to the ice cream truck!
Josh and the kiddos dug a tunnel to try to drain the stagnant water that was just standing behind where we were sitting. Brenna had to take a few breaks.
Then it was time to get buried!
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| This time Macie got a bikini! |
And all too soon, it was time to head in to get dressed. We hated to leave the beautiful sun, but I was so excited to have these pictures done!
Oh how I love this guy. He drives me crazy some days, but I feel certain that I do the same to him! And it only makes us love each other more.
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| He tried to pull his typical "no smiling from Josh Pool" face!So I joined him! lol! |
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| Last year's Easter dresses came in pretty handy! |
After our pictures, we hit up our favorite Destin spot...the Crab Trap! This place (just like Fudpuckers) isn't probably the best or most unique food, but the atmosphere is what it is all about. The girls LOVE the playground on the beach!
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| Yes- I take too many selfies. But if I didn't, I would never be in a picture! |
Thursday:
On our next to last day at the beach, we had some great visitors- Aunt Bit and Uncle Byron! We were so excited that they came to hang out with us. The day started out beautiful!
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| Making them a couch in the sand |
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| Then they talked Aunt Bit to sitting on the couch! |
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| These three had such a great time being together! |
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| These two silly boys stayed in the shade! |
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| Well- they did until the shade moved on them! |
We had the best time visiting and hanging out with Aunt Bit and Uncle Byron. I thoroughly enjoyed my Aunt Bit time!
Us girls went up and got lunch for everyone since we didn't pack one that day.
Then after we ate, these girls heard the all too familiar sound of the ice cream truck!
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| It was a little messy! |
And then our luck ran out....and the clouds moved in. We stayed as long as we could- then we packed up and headed up to the condo. We showered, changed and then continued to enjoy each other on the balcony!
I loved having some extra family time!!!
We all had a wonderful steak dinner, and before we were ready- it was time to say goodbye to the Holts.
Saying goodbye is never easy! These girls love their Aunt Bit and Uncle Byron so much!
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| They sure can fight...but they sure do love each other! |
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| I'm pretty sure this ended with one of them being mad at the other one before they even reached our condo... |
That night we went down for crab hunting round 2 followed by some time in the pool!
Friday:
Our last beach day. Thankfully the weather cooperated...a little. It sprinkled on us, and OH MY GOODNESS the WIND......but we dealt with it and forged on!
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| I love this man. |
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| They love for him to come into the water with them! |
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| Holy WIND Batman!!!! |
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| Barbie traded in her dream house for a castle on the beach. |
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| If these two koozies don't scream "I'm from Texas and proud of it" then I don't know what does! |
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| Using that wind to their advantage!! |
I love that Josh loves to get in the water with them, because I am much more suited for watching from the chair on the water's edge!
These two definitely made the best of their last day....TWO trips to the ice cream truck! Pretty sure we dropped a small fortune at the ice cream truck this week!
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| Perfect kite flying weather |
Towards the end of the day, we took a walk down the beach to have appetizers and drinks at the restaurant on the beach. The girls thought it was too cool!
And then before we knew it, it was time to head back up and start packing to go home.
It was an amazing week with my loves! And I am counting down the days until we are back!
So long until 2018 my beloved chair on the beach!
But I will admit...after being gone for 8 days, this was a very welcome sight!
It's always wonderful to go, but it's even better to be back home!
