I have been dying over these vacation photos. They mark our first vacay as a family of SIX and Max’s official first trip and our annual trip down to the shore. Jeremy was so cranky waiting for the beach week to come and when it finally did, I was right there with him….we wanted a change of scenery at any cost. Well…little did we know that the car ride down would cost us our sanity. It was like fingernails on a chalkboard. Apparently we have a two hour car ride limit with the littles and they were very, um, vocal about wanting out. Weston especially. The kid has so much energy that being strapped down was nothing short of torture. For all of us. We even planned out stops every two hours (we call them “baby breaks”) and when they came, we all tried to breathe in as much non-screaming as possible. When we finally arrived…I think Jeremy and I had that look that said…yup, they broke us. they won. and we lost.
These were from a rest stop in Alabama. Weston can strike a mean pose (and yes, this is totally a pose…)
LJ is still learning the art of posing.
Those curls….
The boys loved this particular stop because it had big trees and we played hide & seek.
Catch that pose again?!
Will is the only one that really “gets” hide and seek. The others just run and hide whenever and if you say “where are you?” they immediately answer 🙂
Once we got to the resort, Gramps and Grammy were waiting to meet us. We checked out the condo where we stayed and then grabbed a lunch. The resort was a really kid-friendly spot and ended up being PERFECT for our little clan. I can tell you more later about the place because of you are heading to the gulf, this place is awesome. Trust me. We usually pick private houses but this was my first condo experience that I loved.
LJ loves feeding Grammy. Grammy I think is not as sure.
It didn’t take long for us to hit up the beach.
Will is such a pro now. He knows exactly what to do and is so EASY. I will have to remember that the tipping point is age five.
Weston loved it at first.
He totally followed Will’s lead. Going in the water, digging in the sand, jumping…
LJ acted like he had never seen it before….which I understand…it was pre-sitting up the last time he touched the sand.
But then things started to change with my little Munch. We could tell he was bothered by something.
When he finally lost it, we realized. It was his boo-boos in the salty water.
The shorts would get wet and then keep that stinging water on his legs. He had scraped his knees in our driveway a couple days before and now it was so painful. He would put up his hand and say “No BEACH. NO BEACH. NO!”
I think both Jeremy and I felt terrible about it and so Jeremy did his best to calm our little guy down. It’s gotta be tough to be two and really want to keep up with your big brother and not be able to. Heck…it’s tough to do that when you are thirty two!
Gramps & Grammy took over the other kids, I nursed Max and Weston was all Daddy.
Weston is SUCH a Daddy’s boy. It’s funny because they have this special little relationship that I never understood. I just didn’t get what I was doing wrong. I thought maybe he wanted Daddy so much because I was just not a good mom or somehow I rubbed him the wrong way. He would cuddle me but if given the option, Daddy was always his number one pick. But then LJ came along and now I have that with my third born. LJ is right now a mama’s boy and I soak it up like gravy on a biscuit. It was such a healing experience for me because I blamed myself for not being enough for Weston. But now I realize…it really doesn’t have anything to do with me or Jeremy….it is just how the boys were created. It’s an inclination that we don’t have control over but we do have the ability to provide for these little charges. Sometimes that means we give them exactly what and who they feel most comfortable with and sometimes that means we help stretch them and give them an opportunity to learn flexibility. Either way…Weston needed Daddy’s comfort in that moment…away from the brothers and grandparents and even mama. And I think I will frame this one for my boyfriend 🙂
Max at first was totally benign about the beach. I mean….just look at him.
Maybe even a little bored…
But then he quickly formed a solid opinion about it as a whole…
Apparently not his thing…
These crack me up.
LJ was slightly obsessed with the birds…
I was slightly obsessed with his hair 🙂
Will just continued on. He was one with the sand….
I think it was at this point Jeremy just was ready to go to bed. A day full of toddler screaming will do that to ya….
There are only about 2.3 million photos….
Seriously mom…what are you doing?
Eventually Weston perked up a little more and he started to enjoy it a little bit more. Poor thing. One day I am gonna look back at this and think….omg look at his little legs with the million bug bites and his sweet two year old belly 🙂
Seriously mom WHY!?!
On the second day of vacation, we learned that Weston loves being buried in the sand. We had bought some waterproof bandages for his legs and they seemed to help tremendously. He was like a different kid than the day before! I think most toddlers are like that though…they can flip that switch and suddenly the terrible-twos are a distant memory 🙂
This is normally how he is….spunky and mischievous 🙂 And a total ham for the camera….
I can list out the places we went to eat….they were The Donut Hole, Fudd Puckers, Harry T’s (this was new to us and the bacon wrapped crab stuffed shrimp was AMAZING), and this little local place called Taco Bell 🙂
The best part about the resort was the upper toddler zone. It was PERFECT for us. Since it was fully gated and the water was never deeper than 10 inches, we could let the little dudes play and we could actually SIT DOWN. like in a chair. on our rear ends. BLISS people BLISS!
Max joined us in his bouncer seat. When he finished his naps, we would change him and let him sit in our laps near a bubbler. It was so great.
The beach was definitely part of the routine but usually more of a morning activity. I loved that Jeremy captured some of the moments on the beach….
Overall…it was a great vacation and we couldn’t be more grateful to Gramps & Grammy who paid for the condo. We had so much fun (once we got those bandaids) and overall, the boys loved it (well….all but Max but his opinion doesn’t count….yet!).
I have so many more photos to share….I know that the grandparents want to see them all….so get ready because we aren’t done yet with our Gulf adventures 🙂
Fab trip!! I need a LIST of things to bring to the beach with a 5 month old-ish baby?!?! We are heading that way soon and i’m OVERWHELMED!!!
XOXO
~ J
Yes please tell the name of the condo! I’m dreaming of a toddler vacation next year with the then-to-be 2 year old!
Great pictures! I have been to Florida many times, but was trying to figure out why Destin seemed so familiar. Oh yeah! That is where they go on “Don’t be Tardy” ha, ha! Glad you had a nice vacation.
i would love to know more about the resort or even see links to houses you have stayed at. We are going there next August, and I don’t even know how to begin looking!!
I’d love to know more about the resort if you don’t mind sharing. Thank you!
Adorable! they are the cutest/most macho lil guys!
I’ve been visiting that area for years. Would LOVE to know where you stayed that had a kid-friendly area for my little! Great pictures!
All the pictures are so sweet!!! I especially love the Max ones though, so cute!
We stayed at WaterScape Resorts. I will be posting more photos and you should definitely check it out!
xo – kb
I will definitely be sharing more about it…but you can also look it up online…it’s called WaterScape Resorts.
xo – kb
We have stayed down on the other end of Destin a lot but this time it was on the west end…it’s called WaterScape Resort.
xo – kb
It’s called WaterScape Resort and it is perfect for 2 year olds 🙂
xo – kb
Ahh! That is a tough one! Here is an old post I did about beach things to bring!
xo – kb
Did you upgrade your camera or lens? The photos are amazing!! So crisp and colorful! 😉
No. Just better lighting 🙂
xo – kb
Looks like a great trip! 🙂
Hey Katie,
I love your blog and (crazy me) have been hoping to see your holiday snaps. We live on a farm in OZ and boy do I love beach holidays. Loved your photos (all of them!!! Max’s expressions made me laugh!) well done on making it through those AAAHH moments. I know that defeated Jeremy look well, I think it is my reflection with our 3 littlies under 5 verrryyy often. Holiday looked amazing, glad you loved it. Love to you all x
Great photographs of your cute boys!
We took out daughter, not quite 2 months, and she had the same opinion as Max. Did you not do the little car presents to entertain them like you blogged about a year or two ago?
We had little things like new movies and snacks and treats but for the most part, LJ and Max slept and Will said that he would rather play on the iPad than have treats…Weston just threw the presents…and everything else he could get his hands on 🙁
xo – kb
I knew you were at Waterscape just at the beginning of the post…..We own a condo there!!! Our kiddos are all VERY big kiddo’s now and way way past playing in that toddler zone but we love it down there!!! I can’t wait to see the rest of the pictures and I’m so glad you guys had a great vacation. I agree 5 is an AWESOME age although they are all pretty awesome. 🙂 (My little guy is 24 now and he is still pretty awesome!)
Thank you for that great list! I’m wondering if a jogging stroller is worth having, or if it’s easier to carry baby around (he’s 1yr). We are flying, so I’m deciding whether to rent one.
5 is definitely the tipping point. Best age ever. But then they start school, fall in love with their teacher, and you become chopped liver. Sorry.
We use a stroller all the time…but we definitely have the need for it 🙂
xo – kb
All your boys are just precious! The pics of Max The Grump are the best! I’ve never been to the Destin area but all your pics are making me want to take a vacation there with the kids!
Fantastic pics and love Weston– he sounds just like my youngest when he was that age. 5 is DEFINITELY the tipping point. I felt a seismic shift in the family balance when our youngest turned five. Like we all were finally reading the same book and sometimes, were even on the same page. Your family is gorgeous and loving and it’s a pleasure reading your blog. Best to you.
I may just have melted off my chair reading this post! Your kids are just too cute! Brace yourselves for the dozens of broken girl hearts when they start having girlfriends!! And this ‘destin’ation looks like paradise….. We live in the Northeast, so there is no direct way to get there, unfortunately. However, I will definitely check out that resort!
Thanks so much for sharing –
I just love Weston’s posing, werk it! I love all of teh pictures, it looks like you all had a great time. It madee miss our vacations this summer. I going to go and enjoy our hundreds of pictures from vacation now. Traveling with kids is so difficult but so much fun!
I’m partially looking forward to that day but on the other hand, I LOVE BABIES. And I even love the stage Weston is in…he is so spunky and has this innocence about him that is adorable in every way.
xo – kb
Chocolate coconut donuts from The Donut Hole …ALL the heart eyes! we visit seaside every year and now I have a serious craving for one (or maybe 2…or 3) of those bad boys. Like salivating craving…yum! Looks like you guys had a great time!!!
Oh my goodness, I couldn’t help but think how BIG Will has gotten! He looks SO grown up! I love his little freckles on his face! Oh my goodness!!! I’m glad you guys had a great vacation!
Erica
I was wondering why Destin sounded so familiar! LOL
I love reading about your trip & seeing pictures of your boys! They are just precious! 🙂
I love when you have pictures of your boys, they are all so adorable! That little Weston gets to me though, you can just see the mischief in his face…so stinking cute!
We are at Rosemary Beach this week. Ate at the food trucks (Batefoot BBQ) tonight. Oh me so good. We went last year on your recommendation too. When you take pics at the beach, do you use your good camera. I am so afraid of water and sand getting in it. Just might have to try this year tho. Love your blog!
Yes. Both the good camera and the iPhone!
xo – kb
WOW, looks like you guys had so much fun!!!! I’m sure next year will be even more fun with Max being more mobile! Can’t wait for more pictures 🙂
Great post and pics! We are headed to Waterscape in May with our 3 yr old, so now I’m sure I picked the perfect spot for him.