Beaches, babies and bumper boats

We took our annual trip to Gulf Shores the week of July 4th - me and Kevin, Morgan, Elaina, Kaitlyn and Kaitlyn's friend, Emma, from Church.  We were PACKED!!  I wish I had taken a picture of the back of the truck, but I just didn't think about it.  But, it was so full, we probably could not have put a sheet of paper in there and gotten the top to close. :)  I forgot how much stuff a baby needs!!

We left on Sunday, July 1.  The condo we stayed in is the same condo we have stayed in for the past 10 years.  We rented it from a guy that Kevin works with, but they have sold it to a lady in New Orleans.  We did not like the way she did business, so we will not use her again.  It was bittersweet to say goodbye to the condo - it's been a home away from home for so many years. :(  But, oh well.  We looked at a couple of other places to stay, so hopefully we can find something that we like as much as we liked this condo.

Anyway, back to vacation.  We weren't able to check in until 4pm this year (it's usually noon) so we didn't leave as early as we usually do.  We got there around 4:30 and unloaded.  Kevin and I went to the grocery store while the girls stayed and unpacked.  We finally got in the pool around 7pm.  Pure Bliss!!

The weather was yucky a good bit while we were there.  I think total, we had sunshine 2.5 days of the 5 full days we were there.  None of us wore sunscreen and none of us got sunburned at all.  That's good in a way, but I miss my beach tan.

On Monday night, we went to eat at Mikee's, which is a new place for us to eat and it was delicious! We will definitely go there again.  Afterwards, we walked on the beach and put Elaina's feet in the ocean for the first time.  That little girl is definitely going to be a water baby!!

Kaitlyn and Emma checking out the ocean

 

PaPa gave her her first seashell. How sweet is that?

Kevin and his girls

So, I have developed a fascination with alligators.  We saw

this one on the beach and I had to take a picture of it.

 This was the entertainment for the night one night while we 

were there.  Can't explain it - it just is what it is.

This is how Elaina spent her first day trip to the beach - all 20 

minutes of it.

While we were at the beach, Kevin and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary (July 3).  We had a date night at the beach for the first time ever!  He took me to Ribs and Reds.  Not the best place we have ever eaten and probably not one that we will return to.  After eating, we drove around and looked at some other condos to rent.  We can ride around together for hours, and we did.  For about 2.  We had decided earlier in the week that we were going to go eat ice cream for our anniversary.  So, we went to TCBY and shared a Cookie Dough frozen yogurt.  It was SO good!!  Of course, no date night is complete without a trip to WalMart, even at the beach. :) So, we went to WalMart, but I can't remember what for.  Probably drinks or something like that.  Then we went home to fighting kids.  Oh the wonderful world of teenagers!!

The next night was July 4th and we planned to watch fireworks on the beach.  Kaitlyn had to have the perfect outfit for that, even though no one would see it, because it was dark.  But, that's the diva in her.  Emma wore shorts and a t-shirt.  I love this kid!  Below are a couple of pictures from before we left.

 The only family picture we had made the entire trip.  This was on the

beach before the fireworks began.  Definitely one of my favorite of all time!

While we all watched fireworks, Kaitlyn played in the sand.

This is her version of a sea turtle.  I love my child!!

 Thursday night, we took the girls to The Track to ride go carts and play in the bumper boats.  Elaina just watched the crowds and took everything in.  She is definitely a PaPa's girl and just lights up whenever he comes in a room, or where she can see or hear him.  If she was fussy at all, he could walk in where ever she was and just speak to her and she would calm down.  If he picked her up, the look on her face would be total bliss!  The picture below is of them watching the girls in the bumper boats.  She reminds me a lot of Kaitlyn when she was that age.  Kaitlyn acted the same way with him.  She could be fussy and crying and he could walk in a room and say one word, or touch her, or pick her up and her world would become calm again.  I don't know what kind of magic this man has running through his veins, but I thank GOD for it when I have crying babies in my life!!

I'm sad that our trip for this year is over.  I hope we can get back to the beach again before next summer. What I really wish is that we could retire there!  I love the beach - it's my Heaven on earth.