Pensacola

When I was 14 I was invited to join my friend and her family on their annual vacation to Pensacola, Florida. 

I'd never been to the beach before, and I remember counting down for months how many days left until the beach. 

[The date was June 22, 2002 haha 9 years later I remember that.]

I still remember the first time I saw the sand, and played in the waves, and tasted salt water, and got stung by a jellyfish. 

I remember the first time I saw dolphins playing in the water, got overtaken by the mighty ocean, and felt fish swim alongside my legs.

I remember how much fun we had exploring and taking pictures and riding bikes. 

I also remember that was the summer I fell in love with my best friend's cousin, Philip.

We started dating a few short months afterward, and have been together, every day since. 

He gave me a promise ring there.

He took me to honeymoon there.

and last week he took our family there. 

It was a spectacular get away to my favorite place. 

I was happy to show my children how beautiful God made this world and the moments in which we are given in it. 

Now this vacation wasn't as relaxing as the ones before. 

Actually it was anything but relaxing, but it was entertaining. 

 Every moment was filled with redirecting, diaper changing, "please eat your food", "please don't throw sand", cleaning off dropped pacifiers, "please excuse her she didn't have her nap today", "more sunscreen will save you from screaming this afternoon during your shower", ducking off into restrooms or a hot car to nurse, locating lost items in or unorganized luggage, and things of the nature. 

Besides the chaos of traveling and vacationing with 2 2& under, we had moments we just wanted to stop and embrace and cuddle with. 

It was a good time, and I'm thankful to God we got the chance to take our little ones to a place so special to us.

Impromptu Beach Day

Myself and spontanuity are like antonyms. 

I'm a planner, and if something unexpected comes up, it's usually more stressfull for me than delightful.

I let that go this weekend though, when we decided to take the babies to the beach for the first time.

My sister and her boyfriend Jeff were vacationing in Pass Christian Mississippi, and they invited us to join them on Saturday. Since it was only 2 hours away from here, we took them up and spent the entire day on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico.

It's no Pensacola, FL, [where Philip and I love to vacation], but it was very beautiful and refreshing and fun and we hope for many more beach days throughout this summer.

Now Adeline is always at extreme. Either she loves something or she hates it. Last summer we couldn't get her into water for anything. She hated the water. So we weren't exactly expecting her to love the beach.

and well since we did drive 2 hours to come, and Gideon is too little to enjoy beach fun, we were really hoping she'd enjoy it.

and enjoy it was exactly what she did. 

We didn't have to coax her into the water; those little feet went splashing right in. Lucky for us it seemed like miles of shallow water for her to wade and crawl in.

 If there's one thing I'll remember from this day, it was that Adeline is much more of a Daddy's girl than I've realized. Everything was "Watch me Daddy!" or "Daddy come see.", "Oh looooook, Daddy!". 

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: there isn't too much sweeter than a Daddy and his little girl. 

Gideon's got the life! While the rest of us pranced in the water, and built sand castles, Gideon got some sweet baby rest in the sun. [Actually in the shade]

Although I was really, really enjoying the sunshine and the water and the giggles from my little girl, part of me really, really wanted to lay out next to little one here and just doze off in the breeze. Mmm Hmmmm...

Adeline and Heidi were alligators.

We wore out an inflatable sea turtle [appropriate, huh?].

We ate goldfish [again, appropriate :)]

and then something awesome happened....

Adeline got acquainted with the waves. I've never seen her laugh so hard. and I told her God must have sent them just for her because they came out of no where and the waves were just her size.

We went in for some lunch and some sunscreen application, and we came out again in the evening.

and when the sun started to turn in for the day, so did we. It was time well spent on a breathtaking day. 

The beach is always such a happy place, but being there with my kids brought a joy I haven't felt before.

We walked to the car and as we were loading up the toys, towels, and kids Adeline waved at the water and said, "Bye bye beach, I'll see ya later."

So we'll definitely see ya later, beach!