1 - family vacation

Last week we went on family vacation in Florida it was our 2020 trip in 2021.  It was much fun with the kids together and being at the beach and having a pool for a week.  

We relished in each other’s company.  

We invented 100 pool games and built many sand castles that were crushed before completion. 

We let the water crash into us.

We floated on top.

We took boats into the bay.

We ate ice cream everyday.

We swam with manatees.

Scooped up sand dollars.

Located starfish.

Collected shells big and small.

There was a synchronized swimming performance and the most ridiculous game of duck duck goose.

We saw the sunsets.

The boys all went fishing.

At the end of the trip we hit up Legoland.  

We ate big family meals.

We sat in Orlando traffic.

There were 100 loads of towels and equally as many reapplications of sunscreen.

We drank TONS of water.

We played hard and slept good. 

Can’t wait to do it all again.  

Family Vacation

This year we vacationed to Anna Maria Island Florida.  We rented a big house.  We flew in early to Orlando because airfare was about $200/ticket.  Anyhow here’s a list of things i want to remember:

I want to remember toting babies + luggage thru the airport.

I want to remember having a whole row of seats together.

I want to remember toddlers running thru the airport in excitement.

I want to remember traffic in Orlando (remember to avoid it).

I want to remember the amazing LEGO store in Disney springs a great place to escape a rainy afternoon.

I want to remember the kids driving the LEGO remote control car, and dumping a whole box of legos on the floor.

I want to remember build your own lego car races.

I want to remember the TRex restaurant where the animitronics dinosaur terrified Jones, but he faced his fears and still did the dig.

I want to remember pure joy over souvenir shoppes.

I want to remember that moment I noticed my daughter face in a puddle lapping up water like a dog.  

I want to remember that amazing playground in Central Florida with like 8 types of playgrounds.

I want to remember how Thea stuck her face into the fountain and Jones drenched her turning it on.  

I want to remember the rolling slides, teeter totters and musical instruments.

I want to remember delight in arriving at our beach house.

I want to remember all the swimming adventures.



I want to remember meeting Ollie for the first time.

I want to remember his sweet disposition and smile.

I want to remember my babies holding him.

I want to remember building forts during the rain from all the couch cushions.

I want to remember nighttime talks at the pool.

I want to remember nighttime walks on the beach.

I want to remember sand on my toes and the cool ocean washing over me.

I want to remember ice cream from the gelato place and the disaster of two scoops.

I want to remember meeting new friends from Ohio who entertained us at the parade.

I want to remember ridiculous game nights.

I want to remember when the stove broke and Schreve had to grill EVERYTHING.

I want to remember riding the trolley and Jones’s excitement in it. 

I want to remember how Thea fell asleep on the trolley.

I want to remember that the beach is the beach first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening.

I want to remember the bug spray next time.

I want to remember fireworks on the beach and the generosity of strangers who gave my kids glow sticks.

I want to remember Jones’s delight in his man fishing trip and how he told everyone about it both before and after.  

I want to remember the sheer panic of the House after we discovered uncle dylan had strep.

I want to remember 6000 loads of towels and swim laundry.

I want to remember canonball contests.

I want to remember dinners at the sandbar.

I want to remember brooks beach face and Chewbacca growl.

I want to remember uncle schreve reading The Blue Truck like a rap battle.

I want to remember the impromptu dance party with Thea dancing on the table.

I want to remember trips to the shoppes where the kids were so selective on what to buy.

I want to remember finding a crab in our pool and how auntie lo took him back to the beach in a bucket.

I want to remember the matching suits from grandma Jules.

I want to remember 4th of July babies.

I want to remember all of this and more.  

I cannot wait for the next family vacation.