Refreshing

Family Vacation

I did not have high hopes for our family vacation.  Being completely honest, though it's great to spend time with family and the kids it has always been exhausting and for lack of a better word - HARD.  This time around it was different.  We were different.  The kids played and played without complaining of boredom.  I read books and spent time talking to other adults not just staring at my kids for hours on end while they swam at the pool.  I took more than one walk on the beach and we just ENJOYED each other's company.  It was pretty heavenly and by far the best family vacation yet. Though the twins still claim Disney as the best -- to be that is nowhere close to this fabulousness.  I don't think that I am going to do 5 things I am grateful for though I have been craving to sit down and feel a bit of gratitude.  For this post I am just going to share some pictures and a few words and thoughts.  My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude and I can't wait to go on vacation with these families again. 

Yes, I wore this shirt during the second half of the week.  It SAVED my skin.  I loved it more than I imagined I would. Also, so grateful that the boys had these shirts all week.  It saved hours of sunscreen agony.

One mimosas morning I realized that all the kids and the adults were in the same room.  That NEVER happens nor did I have faith that it would happen again.  I made us all get together for a picture.  I am sure you can imagine the groaning BUT so happy that I get these shots.  Trust me - later - we will be so happy to have them.  

Our shrimp dinner in the room was AMAZING.  Holy hell it was so good.  Mike and I talked about how we should of done that every night.  So good and inexpensive.  After dinner all the adults sat on the patio talking while the kids were in another room playing and watching a movie.

Jack killing a donut during mimosas in the morning.

My beach buddy.  In the morning I would save all the seats for our group and a few days he would come and hang out with me.  I LOVED this time on the beach.

Food Truck dinner at Seaside.

walking to get ice cream after dinner

our view - the waters were a bit rough when we first got there but quickly slowed down and cleared up

My obsession with Rosemary and Alys beach continued to grow on this trip.  Mike and I were able to get out for a food and bar crawl during lunch one day.  I was in heaven with smiles from ear to ear.

The donut truck in Alys Beach did not disappoint.  I am so glad that we made this trip.  Alys beach has changed so much.  The playground that the boys remember is completely different though the develops worked to retain some of the old memories - like the hill.  This was a perfect day.

Mike ended up getting this for me as a congratulations present for my new job.  It's hard to tell from the picture but a super cool octopus wine holder from NEAT.  

This is why you can't make amaze balls drinks at home.

pizza dinner with the family.  We waited FOREVER but all the kids were insanely well behaved.

our beach neighbors offered to take this picture of us reading.  Since we were down on the beach together every morning before the rush she thought it would be a cool picture.

Storm coming in on our last day in town.