On December 17th, we did a little "leaving on a jet plane" (y'all remember that song, right??"). I was so excited because Mother Nature decided it needed to be 20 degrees in December and I was very saddened by it. So we traded our 20 degree Missouri weather for some 80 degree Florida weather!
To top off our excitement, we were scheduled to meet Nana, Wayne, Hamil, Sarah, Thane, Ruel, Emily, Ben, Bluet & Ilona at the beach! Woohoo! An amazing feat to get all of us together, let alone at the beach!
Getting ready to take-off...doesn't Nate look like a teenager here?!?! The kids and I checked all of our luggage in while Scott parked the car. I was a sweaty mess at 4:30 AM. It was worth it.
Lila had to bring Lea of course! She was dressed in her travel outfit and even had her own neck pillow. I think I will cry the day she is not into dolls anymore.
Touch Down! We were thrilled to see the sunny skies and the blue water! We flew into Tampa and had about an hour drive to Sarasota - we stayed in Siesta Key.
The house we rented had a pool and the kids were immediately in it!
We waited a couple of hours before our other Missouri peeps arrived. Then we went out to dinner and sat outside. So glorious since we had just left the Artic north!
We had a rough night that first night. Lila had said her throat hurt a few times the day before we left, but it was late and I just figured she was getting a cold. Well. She was up a good part of that first night because her throat hurt so bad she didn't want to swallow. Soooo...we hit up the Urgent Care the next morning and yes, she had strep throat. We loaded her up with antibiotics and she was on the beach in no time!
The cousins had so much fun at the beach. Building sand castles, playing the waves, and running around. We had the best weather. The best. And I was so thankful.
Even the littlest one was playing in the waves!
Scott was once again a sport and let the kids bury him in the sand. A tradition.
There was plenty of chilling out at night because apparently beach parties and endless swimming make one tired.
On Sunday night, Emily, Ben, Bluet and Ilona arrived from Switzerland!
Ruel loved the water - he wanted to be a big kid too:)
The pool had what was supposed to be a hot tub but it was pretty much the same temperature as the big pool. The kids still loved it and especially loved it when Wayne would get in with them.
Bluet loved the waves! I loved her squeal of excitement.
Happiness...beach days are our very favorite days.
Be still my heart. Love. That's my Dad and two of his granddaughters.
I left this picture out of Nate's birthday post. My sad attempt to continue the tradition of making the age pancakes. But I can say we have not skipped a year yet!
While Nate, Scott & Ben went to the movie on his birthday, we went to a nearby state park. Where I was worried the alligators would get to close. Ha!
Jumping over a log. Everything is so much more fun when your cousins are around.
Eating spaghetti for Nate's birthday dinner. Because of course.
Does it get any better than this!?!? Christmas tree on the beach? I think not.
Too bad we have no personality in our family. None at all.
The last night, Nana & Wayne carried on a tradition of doing a skit with the kids. It was hilarious. I hate that my pictures were not any better. But they all had on reindeer ears and acted out / sang /danced Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Lila was Rudolph.
It was an amazing trip. With so many people and schedules, it's hard to get everyone together. I am so thankful we all made it work!
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