Two weeks ago, we made the long drive to Seaside, FL with some of our family. There ended up being 22 people there, spread out over 4 condos (ours was a teeny tiny one..more on this later). It took us around 16 hours each way, with lots of bathroom breaks, gas stations, snacks, movies and sleeping, but we made it! We drove our Tahoe and fit 7 people in it including 1 carseat and 1 booster seat, a full size icechest, luggage for all of us, pillows, stuffed animals, cameras, purses, hats, a diaper bag. Needless to say, we were scrunched in there like sardines!
Last year, we stayed in a 3 story condo on the beach, with plenty of space for all of us to spread out and have some alone time if we wanted. This year, well let's say, we had some quality bonding time. I booked our place and found that across the street we could stay for a third of the price as last year, and since there were 3 less people staying with us, I figured it was a no-brainer. We walked into a 1 room studio with a pull-out couch, a murphy bed and 2 kid size bunk beds. OH and the best part..1 bathroom for 7 people! We had to take shifts on taking showers, getting ready, even going the bathroom in the middle of the night.
BUT, these things make the BEST memories!!! I left there after our 7 days so relaxed and feeling more blessed than ever that God gave me such an amazing family. We got to spend time each day with family that we don't get to see as much as we would like and it was SO nice! I would sleep in a sandy murphy bed every night if it meant that I could walk next door and get icecream, go play in the sand and ocean with them, and beat them at Nerts ;) whenever we wanted.
Addison even got to share a special birthday party with her cousin, Cohen who turned 3 just a few days before Addi turned 9. Since we left on her birthday and we had to postpone her party because of the flooding in OK, we threw a small family party for them and had sloppy joes, cake, cookies and presents!
Addison LOVED the ocean! She spent all of her time there either on a raft floating, kyaking with her dad, looking for seashells or just playing in the sand.
Teagan took a few days to warm up to the ocean, but loved playing in the sand and of course the pool! She had so much fun with her 2 cousins, Aisling and Cohen, because they are all around the same age and don't get to see eachother that often.
Austin, I was a little concerned about since she was only 6 months old when we came last year, but she took right to it! She would be covered in sand head to toe and still having a great time. She probably ate a pound of sand in a week and it didn't phase her a bit.
Everyone who has taken kiddos to the beach knows that it is not an easy task. Hauling children, towels, sunscreen, snacks, hats, buckets and shovels and every other beach toy imaginable, but through all the work, we had a BLAST! Nothing beats watching your kids having fun and loving life!
Family is EVERYTHING! I pray that I cherish each memory that we make together and spend our time doing things that truly matter. My love for these people is deep!
Kristi
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