I need a Vacation!

Ever felt like you needed a vacation from your vacation?! I would think that most people that have gone on a trip with kids would agree. After 5 days at the beach/pool (with my family), 2 days at the lake (with Chase's family), and 1 evening at the pool (with our church)...all in one week...I am water logged AND so very happy to be HOME!!

This was an interesting vacation to say the least. It was great don't get me wrong, but a "vacation" with 5 kids 5 and under, it's not really a vacation, more like semi organized chaos. I LOVE my family, all of them, and I LOVE spending time with them, but there is NO PLACE LIKE HOME and routine! Ha!

Last Friday evening we left Nashville and headed south to Birmingham. It was the first leg of our trip to the beach. We arrived late, unpacking only the necessities and got the kids in bed, followed very closely by ourselves! Saturday morning we repacked, also adding a few things to our car that didn't fit in my parents car and headed out. Several stops later (one being Durbin Farms in Clanton--a must for any peach lover!) and 7 LONG hours, we arrived at the beach. And thus our "vacation" began...

Our mornings were typically spent at the beach--when it wasn't so dang hot!!

Gavin's first day at the beach with his Papa!

Mommy and Gavin splashing in the waves...he LOVED it! He only managed to eat one handful of sand. Guess he found something he doesn't like to eat!

It's a good thing he's cute because he stole my chair!!

Eva and Gavin just enjoying the breeze!

Sweet Eva!

Payton and Emory taking time to take a picture for me...pretty sure I had to bribe them for this one!!

Cole and his girl!

They had to build a wall...well Cole, Chase, Jody built a "wall" for them. Two years ago that was the only way they would play near the ocean!

Payton and Emory jumping the waves!

Our EARLY mornings and lunch times were spent inside the house. Conveniently this was when it would rain...perfect napping weather. Too bad we couldn't get them to agree to that!

They were excited about taking a picture...can you tell?!

This was one of Emory's favorite things to do, so of course Gavin thinks it's funny too!

Eva had to join in with Papa.

 

Poor Sammy...he was so tired! He was the only one that thought napping was a good idea that day!

Jody with the kiddos...they LOVED them some Jody! I don't think he knew exactly what he was getting himself into. It can be exhausting being LOVED SO MUCH! Ha!

Singing with Nita

I love this picture. She was so excited to have her Papa sitting next to her!

After lunch and SOMETIMES nap time...we would head to the pool for a few hours. This was the favorite spot for the kids. Gavin wasn't so much a fan of the water as he was crawling around the edge of the pool!

Love the face he's making!

"Hulk" Sammy!!

Sammy jumping to Papa.

Papa was the favorite person to jump to!

Cheese!

Just hanging out!

This was a favorite spot for Eva and Gavin!

Jody and Sammy were watermelon rolling into the pool...well Jody did anyway!

Our last night there we decided we wanted to take an adventure...meaning we wanted to go out to dinner...with 13 people, 5 of which were kids...we might have had a streak of crazy run through us, but we wanted seafood so off we went to Mikee's! It was quite the adventure but SOOO yummy!!

Before dinner on the last night.

Katie and Jody before dinner on the last night.

Nita and Emory in their "matching" Hawaiian dresses! Nita and Papa bought them when they went to Hawaii last March.

Because we went to dinner SO early we had plenty of daytime left when we got home, so we suited up and headed down to the beach!

Love this sweet boy!

Sweet Payton!

Mommy and her girl!

SAMMY!!

     

The kids had a blast because the sandbar was so close that night.

Playing in the waves.

Isn't that the sweetest little face?!?!?

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture of my boys!!

 While the vacation was exhausting at times, I will cherish the memories and the time spent with my family!!