This past week, we headed down to Seagrove (right next to Seaside) for a vacation with the Howell family. We've always stayed in Seaside, so it was a bold move to try a new place when the old familiarity of Seaside would be just next door. I'm so glad we did. The house my mom found for us was so perfect for the 7 adults and 3 kiddos that make up our family. It was sort of like having three condos stacked on top of each other for one whole house. Everyone had plenty of space to stay together, or have alone time...whatever suited your mood at the moment.
Sorry for the overload of pictures...but here we go!
Clay and I pulled up to the house around 3:15pm on Tuesday, and we were all on the beach by 4pm. It was sort of overcast- which was perfect for an afternoon on the beach with the fam. Saty flew kites, Pop took the boys on a walk, and I got to sit in a beach chair and take it all in. By the time we went back up to the house, I'm pretty sure George had two pounds of sand in his diaper. I've rarely seen him as happy as he was that day.
These boys love playing on the iPad with Pop. By the end of the week, George was starting it up by himself.
After we put George down for the night, Clay, Katie, Erin and I headed to George's for a kid-free dinner. This was one of the best meals I have had in a really long time. If I included a picture of every yummy thing I ate on this trip, it would be a little obnoxious. But this little gem was one of my favorites. We all split a lobster quesadilla to start, and then I had a grilled snapper with summer beans and a tomato salad. I just about cried my dessert was so good. Pictured above is a white chocolate nutella bread pudding with decaf coffee.
After sleeping off my food coma, George was READY to go to the beach. I put that in all caps because he woke up for the day saying 'Hey Beach!! Beach peeeees!" We always have snuggle time in the mornings, and he was having none of it. He was ready to run around in the waves and sand.
It was a little chilly, so we took the bikes over to Seaside and played on the playground there. He seemed to be pretty happy with that, too.
Here he is running across the suspension bridge. Last time we were here he wasn't even standing up yet. I almost cried when I saw him running and sliding like a kid.
Saty carrying Rogers and Frannie in the trailer.
Then we took the bikes back to Camp Watercolor in the Watercolor neighborhood. George wasn't quite big enough for this playground, but Clay was pretty pumped about it. Notice him walking across the suspension bridge, about to head down the slide.
I felt like George was setting up a little lemonade stand in here.
Our house had a small heated pool with it, so we braved the chilly air and tried to treat it like a hot tub. You pretty much had to keep your body completely submerged in the water, with only your head out of the water in order to stay warm. Rogers and George's teeth would be chattering and their lips turning a pale shade of blue, but those boys could not get enough of the pool.
George in those swimmies absolutely kill me.
Rogers and George watching some Peter Pan before naps.
After naps it had really warmed up, so we headed down to the beach. Pop would take the boys on walks and they loved it! They'd come back with all sorts of treasures they found on their walks.
Thursday morning we had to hit up Charlie's Donut Truck in Alys Beach. Our donuts were tasty, but you really go for the experience. After donuts we all played in the field next to the truck.
Thursday night the girls went to Caliza for dinner. We had such a great time! The dinner was incredible- and it was such a fun night just the four of us. For dessert they had homemade donuts with a coffee ice cream.
You know you've had a good day when it starts and ends with a donut.
Friday morning was really cold and rainy. Saty was like Mary Poppins with the tricks she had up her sleeve! She pulled out dot paint, stickers, crayons, painting with water pictures, and play doh. Those boys could have been entertained with her arts and crafts station all week, but by about 10am, the rain had stopped and we were heading outside.
Saty Heaven.
We were able to play outside for a few hours in the morning, and swim in the afternoon. We put Rogers and George in a bath afterwards to warm up...I just love this picture.
Friday night Scooter cooked us a yummy dinner, and then we all went to get ice cream. I feel like this picture really captures the joy George experienced every minute of this trip. Clay was nice enough to share his ice cream cone with him, I couldn't be parted with mine.
Saturday morning, as usual, we headed to the park in Seaside. Four days later, and this kid still can't get enough of playing in the park.
All of a sudden- the sun came out, and it was warm! We paused for a quick group picture, but we were ready to head back and take early naps so we could spend the afternoon at the beach!
It was such a perfect afternoon at the beach. George wore this little Seaside baseball hat, and I couldn't handle his cuteness. I am pretty sure I have 75 pictures of him in this hat, just because he was so proud to be wearing it.
Family pictures on the last night!
Please don't ever grow up.
Saty and Erin put the kids to bed (Pop had to head back to Birmingham on Saturday afternoon), and we came home to find Saty packing up. Among her list of 'essentials' that she brought down to the beach include, but are not limited to the following:
**TV with built in DVD player for the den
(so she didn't have to figure out the DVD player in the house)
**Table lamp for doing puzzles
**This puzzle center organizer for the puzzles she put together on this trip
I'm telling you- she is Mary Poppins with her packing skills. Clay and I struggle to fit our clothes and cooler in our car, and she manages all these things, 6 beach chairs, beach cart, and a bazillion other things just to make the trip fun and easy for everyone else.
Sunday morning we went on one last bike ride, picked up some breakfast at the market and took it to- none other than- the park for one last play on the playground.
George was absolutely sacked out for most of the trip. By 6:15pm tonight, we were putting him to bed. I am absolutely positive that this was the most fun he has ever had on a trip. He's never been walking while we've been at the beach, and he could not get enough of everything we did while we were there.
It was such a great time outside of the normalcy Clay and I had gotten used to at our house as of late. We laughed really, really hard. We ate the yummiest meals. We had great time with family.
Clay and I were talking about the trip on the way home today, and he was saying how very few things make him happier than making George happy. I think that's why this trip was so special for us, and probably even more so for my parents, as they watched their children, and grandchildren, have such a great time together.
Thanks Saty and Pop for such a great week!
Looks like ya'll had a great great time. It's always so nice to spend such great quality time with family. I can't believe how big George is getting! Where did our babies go?!! So glad George had such a wonderful time!
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