Spring Break 2021

We just returned from a week away to Myrtle Beach for spring break.  The rest of this year is looking a little wild for us, so we wanted to plan our vacation over spring break.  We scheduled a trip to Gulf Shores and just five days before our departure, our rental house fell through!  It was devastating, but we looked up some other options and Mitch came up with Myrtle Beach which I've always wanted to go to.  Last minute change of plans and we were packing for the east coast!

It did not disappoint.  We usually spend Grady's birthday at Grand Harbor, but this year we spent it midway into our road trip in Lexington, Kentucky.

The drive from there through the mountains was incredible.  Breathtaking views and the kids were so excited.  

There's nothing like that first view of the ocean from your condo balcony.

Our week was spent just hanging out at the beach and pool.  The weather was much cooler than our normal summer beach vacations, but we didn't mind and it just meant we had more room to ourselves on the beach and in the pool!  The pool was nearly as warm as a hot tub.  The ocean was an ice cube.  So many sand castles and lakes were built.

We spent plenty of moments relaxing around the condo as well.  There was a boys room and a girls room each with their own bathrooms which the kids thoroughly enjoyed.

Otherwise our time was filled with fishing, looking for sea shells, watching dolphins, more sand castles, and more swimming.  The kids all agreed that the best part was swimming.  We had expected rain and had brought board games but the rain mostly stayed away so we never even got around to that, other than a few games of cards.  

This very brief moment of swimming in the freezing ocean was followed with running up to the pool to jump into its warmth.

They just HAD to get in a night of crab hunting.

It was a vacation to remember.  After having our Disney vacation cancelled from COVID last year and before the new baby and new home this year, we were so grateful to just soak in these kids and each other.  So much that we were very close to booking an extra night and a few tears were shed by some of us when we had to leave.

After another trip through the mountains and quick night stop in Kentucky, it's back to reality.  Time to build a house and the countdown to baby sister is on.

Thanks for the good times Myrtle Beach!

Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes...

...if we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane.

There was plenty of laughter in our paradise, Orange Beach, this year.  We spent a full week down south this time, taking our time to travel and hitting up a few hotels along the way followed by five glorious days at the beach with my family.  Our happy place.  Even the storms make us happy down there.  Every breath is easier to breathe at the beach.

We rented our Gulf Shores mobile this year.  And we have to report that this made us extra thankful for our Yukon.  Our family of six hardly fit in this thing!  But it got us there and back, so there's that.  And getting there and back safely is just about all I want to remember from the road trip.

Something else that is not accommodating for large families...hotels.  In fact, one time while I was trying to find a hotel on our way home, the website suggested that I reduce our number of occupants.  You shouldn't tempt a mom who has been listening to screaming in the van for a whole day and has had happy meal toys thrown at her.

But...we made it!  Hallelujah!

Our little family spent the first night at a hotel in the marina.

Dreaming

Dolphin watching

We were so excited when the rest of the crew arrived so we could check in to "our" condo.  The kids got in their suits right away and started begging to go the beach.  It didn't last too long, as the jellyfish started stinging right away!  But quite frankly, that didn't stop them from jumping in the gulf the rest of the week.  We spent a lot of time at the pool this year, looking for shells and wildlife (dolphins, crabs, jellyfish, stingrays), relaxing on the porch, fishing, and eating plenty of good food. I'll let the pictures do the talking...

Happy birthday to Mitch

Grady, Mitch, and Dad fishing

Life is good.  It was just wonderful spending the week with my family including Grandma Nancy, Grandma Margaret, and George.

 I don't think we quite mastered the "jumping on the beach" shot but we sure got some good laughs out of it.  I love us.

Finishing vacation with a sunset walk and a sunrise walk was beyond perfect.

Gulf Shores 2009 vs. 2017

Saying goodbye is always hard.  On one hand we were ready to be home and on the other we wanted to stay at the beach forever.  I guess the balance of the two is good.  We made one more pit stop in Memphis where we splurged with Mitch's travel points and got two rooms instead of hiding two of our children.

We were tuckered out from a great time and it felt so good to get home.  We are already dreaming of next time.