Destin 2011

The kids had a BLAST playing in the pools at Destin West.  

Our condo had the ocean on one side, and the gulf coast on the other.  Our surfing boys preferred the big waves of the ocean!

Julia and Mommy like the pools best!

Chilaxin'

After our condo rental in Destin, we went on to stay a few nights at the house of friends in Navarre Beach.  Navarre is rated one of the top beaches in the nation...we know why!! Beautiful, relaxing, and not nearly as crowded as Destin's ever popular beaches.  

Beach bums!

Julia loved playing in the sand with her Ariel doll and making castles for her.

Ryan LOVED surfing.

We lucked out and some great friends, the Morris family, were in Destin  for the first portion of our trip and we stayed in the same resort.  Tarra, the awesome planner, even brought along two sitters, so we were able to have some adult time on our trip.  Horray!

My munchkins!

Humoring me for yet another beach photo!

We can't WAIT to go back again!

No, we haven't dropped off the face of the planet...

...we've been at Disneyworld!

...and on "Mickey's Boat!"

..with some cool friends.
(Julia, Madeline, top Mouse, Mason and Ryan).

...where we had an amazing time celebrating Jeff and Julia's birthdays, and kept the kiddos up way way too late because we just didn't want to miss any of the fun activities!

More pics to come soon...I'm still playing catch-up from being gone!

Chicago Weekend

In a moment of insanity, we decided to plan a weekend trip to Chicago...and bring the kids...on the 5 hour train ride. (Ok, so it was a bit chaotic at times, but still way fun...and the kids made many memories. Mission accomplished!)They thought the view out our hotel window was SUPER DUPER COOL.

Ryan poses in front of the massive Lego city and gives me the "I'm too cool for this" look.

Julia hangs on tight to Daddy in the pool.Daddy is SO READY to move on from the American Girl store.

Ry and his Starbucks steamed milk, which he later proclaims "I don't like this!"

Julia drank her milk the entire walk back from Starbucks to our hotel room (Yes, she went in her jammies!). Then when Ryan stated that he didn't like his, she changed her mind as well. Right after this pic, she threw it on the ground and said "I don't want this!" Spanking #1 of the trip. =)

Julia was SO EXCITED to introduce her Bitty Baby to all the other American Girl dolls and get her photo taken on the red carpet.

Julia, Ryan and Jake.

"I 'ant this one, Mommy!" Julia tells me. I think if I buy another stroller Daddy will disown us both, so we leave the stroller display and babies at the store. She sure has a very convincing look though, doesn't she? "Please??" Daddy nearly caves, but the his "manliness" is already being very tested in this store. =)

Yippee! We wait to take a boat ride on Lake Michigan!

Jake, Taran and Josh chill out on the boat.

Ry, me, Jeff and Julia on the boat...she looks mad, doesn't she. She actually really loved the ride. I think she wanted Daddy to stop squeezing her so tight!

View of Chicago from Lake Michigan

The kids enjoy climbing around the bottom of a dinosaur at The Museum of Natural History near Grant Park after having a "picnic lunch" with hot dogs from a street vendor and ice cream sandwiches.
The kids chow down on some MacDonalds on the train ride home.

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time, there were three families...

The Harriss Family

The Rudd Family

The Cochran Family

and two babysitters, Kristin and Katie

...who decided to vacation together to a house in Destin, FL.

We visited a beautiful white sand beach...

It was a bit windy. (Ok, that is an understatement-let's just say we got the best exfoliation my legs have ever seen!) This little windscreen and a few snacks made our beach-goers happy again.

Some cousin lovin'...

Ryan was super excited about the waves...

Jeff was able to spend a morning golfing with "Uncle" Terry...
(who is related in real-life to Jen!)

We were able to get away without the kiddos thanks to having the sitters along!

And we had to stop and snap a few pics before our night out...this pic was taken at the front door to our house -The Seahorse Retreat.

Jen and Allan before heading out without the babies!

The kids had a great time just hanging out at mealtime together...

And, of course, there was lots of relaxing...

Julia loved the "little pool" which was actually the hot tub. (We turned down the temp and the kids loved that they could touch and sit along the edges!)

Sandcastles were built (with no shortage of tools!)...Sand lobsters were created......and joyfully smashed!Lots of of family hang-time was enjoyed!

Tyler took the plunge into the pool finally on our last day with a little help from Momma!

This daddy-motorboat spins so fast...

We enjoyed the backyard ocean view from the pool.

And loved that our schedule included just two things -- relaxing and fun!

We kayaked in the backyard...

We climbed trees...

We took bubble baths...

We ate with friends...
(The cushions for this furniture is in the backyard where towers and forts were built using it!)

We will miss this great house!!!