After a couple years of not being able to travel for spring break, we decided this year we would get back to it... trying somewhere new and crossing our fingers that Nana and Papa would join us!
We opted for Seaside, FL... a quaint little community near Destin, FL where the majority of folks are zooming around in gulf carts and bikes. We thought it would be a perfect little spot for us to re-introduce our trio to "the beach".
We drove half way and stopped in Tupulo, MS for the night... kids were so excited about the rolling luggage cart, it almost made us feel like who needs a FL vacation when you're living your best life just riding the hotel cart- ha!
The evening went well, trying out a mom and pop pizzeria with the girls... but then the car ride got the best of Mags: she got sick and was down for the count that evening- poor baby!!
Good news for us though... she woke up happy as could be- READY for the final leg of the trip to FLORIDA!!!
...Mommy and Daddy loved that the FOMO Queen finally shut her peepers for a little shut-eye before we hit our destination;)!
WE MADE IT!!!
My parent's got it in the evening before, unpacked, and got the lay of the land before we arrived. They zoomed up to meet us on the gulf cart, decorated for St Patrick's Day, and stocked the fridge... I think we all liked the way that plan worked out;)!
{Our home away from home for the week}
With 4 bedrooms, bunk beds for the girls, 2 screened in patios, and a table to fit us all- we were more than pleased to settle in for the week with family.
First stop: THE BEACH!!!!
Evelyn was a baby the last time our crew saw sand so we were ALL eager to get the girls to the ocean. It may have been a little BRRRRRRR, but that didn't stop these girls from shedding their clothes and running for the waves in their swimsuits!
Maggie LOVES the sand!! She sat right up, digging and building, and digging and building for quite awhile with Papa!
{The beach with Nana}
My mom totally won the prize that afternoon. The ocean water was frigid, but she rolled up her pants and got right in with the girls... it was amazing!
The week was spent doing what we do best: visiting, talking, cooking, and GAMING... classic style that is:
Rummikub and Blitz...
..and LOTS of WAR!! The tournaments were pretty incredible to watch between Nana and Harper!
...and lots of beach time. The girls loved searching for critters, making palaces on the beach, and digging their toes in the sand.
I was chilly... opting for long sleeves and towels as blankets, but those kids are tough- ha!
Gulf Cart Rides!!!
I. Want. One.
I was fascinated by EVERYONE in the community garaging the cars and charging up the golf carts. They were everywhere and so fun to ride around in!!!
I truly think Maggie's first favorite thing of this trip was her Papa, but her second was the golf cart. She would sit on the floor and yell, "Papa. Cart." HA!!! He happily obliged and she was more than content being his co-pilot anywhere! Those two did a 2 mile walk together every morning. It was so sweet to watch how close my dad and Maggie really are... happy as could be just hanging together;).
Book time with Nana!!
Evelyn has been begging for the "Sam I Am" book. Her school had spent a week celebrating Dr. Suess's birthday and she had loved listening to that book. Of course it was the ONE Dr. Suess book we didn't own... shoot! My mom took the girls to the cutest looks-like-its-from-a-movie, books-stacked-everywhere kind of book store nestled in Seaside where the girls got postcards and each picked a book. Harper chose a Magic Treehouse book (of course) and Evelyn FINALLY got her hands on "Green Eggs and Ham"! You would have thought she won the lottery with how thrilled she was. Nana happily read her the book over, and over, and over, and OVER again while we were on our trip... I think we ALL can say most of the book by heart... ha!
Birthday Week for Nana!!
Lucky us that we got to be with Nana on her birthday!! We made it a week celebration with fun and cake all week long- ha!!!
Dad and I happened into a mom and pop organic bakery on the beach who made this beautiful lemon cake and to-die-for cinnamon rolls!!! It was ALL delicious and I know we will make Sweet Henrietta's a must if we're ever back in Seaside.
Another must: Pizza by the Sea. Holy moly: best pizza and bread sticks EVER!!! We eat our weight in yumminess that night- DELICIOUS!!!
{Seaside Shenanigans}
Harper was all heart eyes watching an "Alice and Wonderland" performance at the outdoor pavilion, and Evelyn was always full of theatrics whenever we were out: here with her napkin on her head pretending to be invisible whenever the flap was down- goodness.
more reading... big surprise: it's Green Eggs and Ham- ha!
Pool Days!!!!
On the cooler days, we opted for the heated pools within our community. Best grandparents ever hopping in with the girls and playing game after game with them!
Lots of "washing machine", "how far can you jump", and diving for rings activities to fill the warm afternoons...
...and Maggie LOVED the water. I am thrilled she doesn't mind her swim vest this year and had a blast splashing and playing in the water.
Bikes!!!!
MY second love of this trip was the bike attachments we got: a bike that attached to Daddy's for Harper and a trainer for the little girls. They LOVED it and I was thrilled with how easy they were. Another want on my list for sure;)!!
{More Family Shenanigans!!!}
Never a dull- or quiet moment;)
Nana's Birthday!!!
Papa and Harper spent a lot of time plotting out birthday decorations and festivities for Nana on her special day: rainbow cake, balloons, gifts, and fun restaurants to keep the celebrating going all day- haha!!
Harper's face as we called Nana in to see her cake and decorations was priceless!
...and her giggles were even better when Nana started into her trick candles! HAHA!
We finished up the week with a couple more gulf cart rides, a quick souvenir trip, and some gaming;).
So grateful these two met us for the week. We enjoyed playing in the sand and soaking up the sunshine with them. It was so great to catch up, be lazy, and just slow it all down for a week. So many moments I wanted to freeze in time: Evelyn's face when she saw the ocean, the girls diving out of the car to see Nana and Papa for the first time, the deep breath I was able to take when the husband and I went on a bike ride together, Maggie yelling for Papa to take her for golf cart rides, doing my daily run with the entourage of my family on bikes, spending some quality shopping time with my mom and leaving with matching oyster shell ornaments, and Harper's face when she surprised Nana on her birthday.... so much happy squished into one week.
A couple last pics before we headed out!
{Family}
Peace out, Seaside. Thank you for a week of adventure, firsts, and fun. Perfect medicine for our family as we say goodBYE to winter- spring here we come!!!!
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