The Perfect Vacation

I love vacations. I live for vacations. I start planning the next vacation as I am winding up the current vacation.

The truth is though that I am often disappointed by vacation.

I have it built up in my mind of how it will be, where we will go, what we will see and do and eat. And when it doesn't occur the way I think that it should, I am disappointed.

That said, we just returned from the best vacation ever to the beach.

It was the perfect vacation because quite simply, I put no expectations on this trip. I didn't plan our days, I didn't decide on an itinerary or what "we absolutely had to do."

We went to the beach and we went with the flow. We slept in late, we ate in and out as the mood struck us, we read books on the beach, played in the waves, swam in the pool, we cuddled on the lounge chairs on our balcony and listened to the sounds of the ocean, we strolled through Seaside. It was wonderful and I am dreaming of when we can go back.

The girls enjoying our heated pool

Sunset over the gulf

Destiny and her boogie board

I love my beach umbrella!

The girl's sandcastles

Abby and the turtle she rescued from the road at St. Andrews State Park.

Pineapple Willie's.

Clowning around

Destiny doing diligence to her schoolwork even on the beach

Abby loved boogie boarding more than anyone else and did it even on the coldest day there

Love watching the sun go down

Sunset at Seaside

They look more and more alike all the time

Sisters

Seaside Post Office

Sharing shaved ice at the beach

My last morning in P.C before I left for D.C.

Dad won $50.00 for his hole in one at mini golf

Paradise is

Spring Break 2009

I thought this year that it would be a good idea to work through Spring Break and take vacation later this summer.   In some ways, it was a great decision.  It was cool and rainy this week even at the beach which is the only place I ever want to go on spring break.   I was able to save some time for later this summer when the girls and I go to Pennsylvania to see my mom and then in September when we head to Disney with Bud's parents and the great-grandparents.  In other ways, it was a crazy decision because the older girls went to soccer camp in one place and Maddie went to the babysitters (she wasn't old enough for all day soccer camp) and I was busy trying to coordinate drop-offs and pick-ups all week.  Huge thank you's to the people who helped me out this week!!

The older girls were convinced I was trying to kill them since soccer camp started on a day when it was 35 degrees out and my girls are now fun-loving Southerners who think anything below 60 is cold (and I would have to agree with them!).  They went out there armed with their hats and gloves, winter coats, sweatpants and insulated underwear.   They had a good time though and learned a few tricks that should come in handy when they start back at Y soccer this coming week.  

In the evenings we went to the movies, rollerskating with friends and then on Friday headed to Gatlinburg to Wilderness of the Smokies.  They have an indoor waterpark on site and the girls spent Saturday from 10:30 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening in the water.  Bud and I had a great time watching them and even rode some slides  with them.  I will always be traumatized by the slide that drops you almost straight down and then dumps you into a big circular thing that reminds you of being flushed down a toilet.  The girls thought it was hilarious that I could hardly speak when I got off of it.   Bud did some bodyboarding and did us proud.  We tried to get him to stand up and skimboard but he wouldn't!!  We had an incredible time and look forward to going again.

Maddie and her Daddy

Maddie looking a bit scared but actually screaming in happiness

Destiny eating water while bodyboarding

Abby with her cover girl smile and low cut swimsuit (mom needs to do some sewing)

Hanging Out

Bud bodyboarding. He did a great job

Headed to ride the slides

Daddy and his girls

Maddie concentrating hard on staying on that board.

Three tired, happy and hungry girls