Summer Vacation, of sorts

We made another trip down south again for our nephew's 5th birthday. But this time we decided to make a family vacation out of it.

We started out Wednesday night, driving a few hours and then stopping for the night. The kids always think it's a treat to stay at a hotel.
We just try to keep Blair off the pole. (She will have to find another way to work her way through med school.)

Thursday, we got up and drove the rest of the way to our destination. We checked into a hotel on the beach and immediately changed into our swimsuits and headed down to the pool where Amy, Mike and Lawson met us for some fun. After swimming, we continued playing "tourist" and went to eat at a local seafood restaurant with an ocean view.

Friday, we woke up, ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant overlooking the water, then ran to the nearby beach shop for some sand toys. With shovels and pails in tow, we headed down to the beach to build some sand castles. Reid and Blair had a blast playing in the sand and filling and dumping their buckets of sand. Sloane even had fun in the sand too. I thought she would find the gritty sand irritating (when she sits in grass, she keeps her feet in the air so they don't dare touch the prickly grass!), but she loved it, crawling around in it, digging her fingers in it, and even eating it.

Yes, EATING the sand! And not like, "oh, there's some sand on my hand and it accidentally got in my mouth." She was literally picking it up by the handfuls and putting it in her mouth!




We finally made down to the water--Sloane did NOT care for it at all. Blair was so-so on it. But Reid loved it. He splashed around, and he and I jumped waves. You know, most of the time, I just feel like a girl that happens to have some kids. But there are certain times in life that really make you feel like a parent, and this was one of them. I remember jumping waves in the water with my parents when I was little, and this experience with Reid was just like those times, except now I was on the other side of it! After spending some time at the beach, it was time to check out of the hotel, grab some lunch with Jeremy's dad and sisters, and move to my parents' house for the remainder of our weekend.
Friday evening, we went back out to Amy's for dinner and birthday cupcakes to celebrate Lawson's actual birtday.





Saturday, we got up early (thanks to the kids) and before we could even get out of bed, Reid was getting Blair and himself dressed to go play at the "park" in my parents' backyard. It was so cute to hear him helping her and looking after her, making sure she was ready to go. After playing outside and eating taquitos from Sylvia's (a must-have anytime we're home), we headed to Chuck E. Cheese for Lawson's birthday party. (It was a superhero party, which explains the capes. Although, Reid wouldn't object to wearing a cape--or spiderman costume--anywhere we go.)





What kid doesn't like Chuck E. Cheese??

...or adult?












We picked up Miller's BBQ (another must-have) and had naps for everyone (the kids were so exhausted, they all slept about 3 hours every day!). We decided to take it easy that evening, just piddling around my parents' house, running errands, visiting with one of my aunts, and getting some dinner (which included blizzards from the DQ, the 3rd must-have, of course!)

Sunday, we went to church and then joined my aunt, uncle, and cousins for a Mother's Day cookout. Reid and Blair had a blast playing with their second cousins. Blair was in princess heaven, and Reid chowed down on watermelon, one of his favorites! Jeremy and I had fun getting to chat with some of my extended family who we rarely get to see these days. After late--and long--naps, we went out to see Amy and her crew one last time before leaving the next day.

Monday, our fun family vacation came to an end. We got up, loaded up, and drove back home. We look forward to traveling down again to play at the beach and see our family again.