The Sunshine State...part 1 of many

 

Florida. Ah, sweet, sunshiny Florida. How I miss you so! If you wonder where I've been, I didn't fall off the face of the earth (though I tried), I've just been basking in the Florida sunshine. This is the first of several vacation posts. And, I'll be candid, the pictures all start to look the same but they are special to me. So if you want to read this post and check-out for the subsequent Florida postings, I will understand. But as this is my scrapbook, all my favorite pictures are going to be included.

Traveling with Keagan has always been generally easy, but traveling with two children adds a spin on things. And that's when parenting really happens! And one of the children (I won't name names...     OK, Finn) is not the best traveler. Keagan only asked a million times "where is the beach?" and "is this the beach?" for the first half of the drive. Finley only screamed 75% of the time. Not even kidding. This picture is the one and only time the two of them slept and Josh and I had peace and quiet. Both the drive down there and back. I thought kids slept in the car...not so much ours. But we made it, and both boys were still alive.

Quick supper at a hotdog stand once we finally made it to Florida. Josh was surprisingly calm from the drive. I, on the other hand, was nearly completely frazzled and questioning the "good-idea-ness" of our family vacation...

The first morning in Florida didn't help my questioning of the family vacation as both boys were up at 530 am. Seriously!?!! That's earlier than they get up at home. They spent the first night in the same room but the second night Finn got moved into a closet in his pack-n-play because momma needed her beauty rest so she wouldn't be such a bear. (Of course he was up at 430 the second morning! Sheesh. But it did get better after that) The first morning I (begrudgingly) took advantage of the time to try and get sunrise pictures. I am not good at these kind of pictures and so I resorted to the auto-function on my camera. And then went to my little point-and-shoot camera to get some of the boys. Keagan was absolutely in awe of the beach, the waves, and the tractor that cleaned the beach. He kept saying (all week, in fact) that he wanted to LIVE there. Me too, buddy.

This was Keagan's third trip to the beach and he loved it so much. He was all about the sand, the water, the waves. All of it! He was such a big boy. It was Finley's first experience with sand...and just as we expected, he was less than thrilled.

So Finley sat on a towel or a boogie board the entire week. But he was very content with this and sat and played. He would even tolerate the ocean as long as he was being held. But don't even think about putting him down into the sand!! Here is our little peace of paradise:

 

Josh found a crab pincher!! And then I was bugged with it for a bit.

After lunch we decided to try something: getting both boys to nap at the beach. Keagan has always done great...but Finn is just not a napper. So, we didn't know what would happen. But it worked!!! Both boys took a nap. In fact they both napped at the beach at the same time in the beginning of the week then at the end of the week Finn napped in the morning and Keagan in the afternoon. You take what you can get. :)

Everyday, after the afternoon nap(s), we'd head to the pool. Keagan especially liked to swim and jump in the pool. Finn was OK with it, but really just wanted to be held (imagine that). Here he is in his awesome ear bandit to keep earplugs in his ears (to protect his tubes). Josh thought he looked mean with it on. I think his chunky little face was so squishy and cute!!!

McGuire's for supper...oh yes. Only our favorite place to eat down there. (Get the filet...you can't go wrong). Keagan was all about all the money on the walls and ceiling. Finn seemed to be interested in the moose at the restaurant entrance...so Josh held him up for a closer view. Finn screamed bloody-murder, got this horrid look in his eyes, and shook. It was funny but a bit embarrassing and we felt pretty mean, but in our defense we didn't realize the reaction the moose would cause.