How we do...

I am just keepin' it reals, when we go on family vacation, it is the most laid back time ever!

Our crew stays in the same condo together, we breakfast together, beach together, swim some more together, snack some together, and dine in our pajamas... you guessed it, together!

We rarely leave the comforts of our vacay home (only to run over to the Wal-Marts), we wear our best (swimsuit) all.....day.... long, and once dinner is done we clean up the mess and go to bed (only to rest up for the next long day in the sun). 

It.  Is.. Heaven!!

When gearing up for this family week, I can guarantee all of the above will happen.

I can also guarantee that I will do the following things (as I am a creature of habits):

1.  I will over-pack my children's suitcase.  I will pack so many clothes/ outfits, and they will only wear their swimsuits and their underwares!  Why do I do this when I know they will not wear any of these things??  It would save our backs from lifting the suitcase of 12 outfits for each child, if I would just pack more appropriately!  #ThereIsAlwaysNextYear

2.  I will overpack myself!  I will even pack dresses.  Wha????  Am I going to church??  Why do I this!  The only thing I wear is my pajamas, undies, and swimsuit!  I even wash the stuff I wear that day, so honestly, I could re-wear all of it the next day!  I could possibly just throw my stuff in a Wal-Mart sack and be good!!

3.  The day we leave for vacation, it could be a quick vacay to the next town over, and I will start my period!  I... DIE!  Every.  Single.  Time!  #SharkBait  I could not have a cycle for months, but send me to the beach and I am sure to start!  #TisMyLife  With the murder scene down unda… I will be completely paranoid in a swimsuit.  I am just waitin' for the moment where I am sitting in the sand with my babies building a sand castle, and I leave a mess on the white sand.  Or that I will be out frolickin' in the waves and I am attacked my a hammerhead shark! #YesIHaveTheseThoughts

4.  I will wear my family out with pictures!  Here are all of my people, they want to sleep on the beach, or make a sandwich, or sit in their pajamas.... and I feel it is the best time for a photoshoot!  I cannot help it, I love to not only be in the moment, but document it!  I love to look back over our time!!

5.  That sun zaps all of my energy!  Those first few days:  the long drive, long days outside playing, and visiting will wear a girl out!  So, the first few nights, I am out like a light... possibly right after dinner while people are still cleaning the kitchen!  It is so sad, I do not even make a bed for the kids to sleep or tell them good-night!

6.  The last thing, and I am sure some will judge... I will eat cookies for breakfast most of the days we are there.  The other days it is sugar toast!  #ObviNotWatchinMyWeight #OrMySugarIntake

Y'all, this is just how we do vacay!

My happy place is on vacation...

We have arrived!!  That was the longest drive, and shocks beyond shocks.... the manfriend let me drive (ummmmmm, this nev-er happens).  Sadly, I had to drive through all of the small town stretch (this is about 3 hours of no bueno cruise control in a 40-60 mph speed trap and lotza police along the way), and then I drove the last 1.5 or so (in the pitch black dark).  FYI... this chick does not see very well at night, but I pushed through and got us to the Turquoise Place in Perdido Key!!!!

When I saw that building it was as if the heavens sang!

When we arrived, it was late (almost midnight) and all of our people were awake and waiting for us.  If only our people were this excited to see us everyday!

The kids were full of energy, my parents (I am sure) were thankful we got there so they could have a break from Larry and Moe, and my sister... well, I just could not stop huggin' on her!  It has been weeks since we last saw her, and I was just over the moon with excitement!!

The first day was spent swimming, lazy riverin, and swimming some more!  Then when we were bored with all of that we headed for the beach!

Look at how tan I am (try not to be so jealous)!

Y'all, the basketball card collecting is in full effect!

Even Uncle Richard is doing a happy dance because we are finally here at the beach!

Oh, what a fun way to start this week of fun and relaxation!!

Finally, the 76 days have come and gone....

For months and months, I have been on a countdown for vacation!!  Yes, the kids and I would actually discuss how we had 76 days left until we go on vacay!  The time has come and we are having the most fun with our family.

Yes, y'all, family.  I have many friends that travel with friends, or just their core group of family members, but we travel with parents, brothers, sisters, and who ever else would like to join!  We are BIG on togetherness and vacation is just a fun time for us to be with our people.

This vacation did start a lil different.  My parents took the kids early (like three days early)!

 This is me trying to hold back the tears... I was letting someone (okay, not just some random... parents, but it was without me) take my babies!!

 By this picture they were like.... mom, you can go now!!

Yes, the manfriend and I had a vacation before the real vacation. We have not been without our little people.... ever.  So, at first we were sad, then dinner time came and we did not have to feed anyone, and then bedtime came and we discovered we did not have to go to bed.... we could watch a movie, and then the middle of the night came and no one walked through the bedroom to pee in our bathroom and then stop at my bedside on the way back to ask if they could sleep with me!

It... Was... AMAZING!!

I think it was just the lil break we needed to sit, talk, hang out... just connect!

We ate out for all but one meal, had afternoon drinks, and even went to the movies (in the daytime)!  I miss those three days....

I am not sure that during this time, the kids were missing us much.  Their days and nights were filled with fun with their Honey and G.  Swimming, eating, reading, picture drawing, more swimming, lazy rivering, and then there was beach fun!  Did I also mention they got to go and pick up their Kitty (my lil sister, who is spending the summer in Destin)!!

We left by noon on Friday and drove through thunderstorms and the night to get to our people!!

Oh, what a reunion!

Bring on the Turquoise Place!!