Kirland

Picture Night at The Beach

 

The trip was winding down and we headed into Seaside for pictures on the beach and dinner at Pickles. Last year's family picture was so great there was no way to top it, but I think we got a couple of cute ones.

Meanwhile, back at the beach

While we were on our date night, Mary Helen and Mike and Paul and Alta braved taking the kids to the sprinkler fountain and then to the Sugar Shack for some pre-bedtime hyperactivity (fine with me as I wasn't putting them to bed!). From all accounts they had a great time. Both boys enjoyed the sprinklers which bodes well for a summer at the sprinkler parks at home. Foster thought it was awesome, of course. Thanks, Mike, for the great pictures. (The last pic I stuck in just for fun - it's G - same place, 2 years ago)

   

Where Bare Feet and Sandy Floors Rule

This is all going to be posted a little out of order, but I'm waiting on some pictures from Mike.
Wednesday night was our date night - woo hoo! We did a decent amount of research and decided to go with Cafe Tango. It got the best reviews for the restaurants on 30-A on tripadvisor hands down. We weren't quite sure what to expect as we read it only had 8 tables. It was adorable and YUMMY. By far the best meal we've had out here in any year. And the service was excellent.

Next we headed into Seaside and walked on the beach, got some yogurt at Dawson's and listened to a concert on the lawn. It was a gorgeous evening and felt a little Austiny (which I always appreciate) with the country/rock bad and the laid back atmosphere. I bought yet another Seaside shirt - I couldn't help myself. This one said "Where bare feet and sandy floors rule." :)

We ended up at The Red Bar for a drink and then headed home. While Keith had talked up staying out late, the sun and sand and food and drink made for a happily tired couple.

Dog Sitting

The great benefit of having 3 families on vacation together for a week is that, among other things, every couple gets a date night. Tonight Paul and Alta and Mary Helen and Mike went out while Keith and I babysat all of the kids. We decided to take them into Watercolor to see the children's theater group do another production - this time it was Go Dog Go. It went so well I almost think I could handle having 4 kids! Almost being the operative word.

Keith was a great babysitter. Here is the pre-play reading of Go Dog Go.

 

My little Pilot did great holding all four kiddos. I will resist the mini van forever! Incidentally, Annie is holding her nose because my car "smells like stinky boys!" Yep. It does.

The kids were enthralled. No misbehaving whatsoever.

Watercolor was a pretty little community

More Watercolor

The "Do you like my hat?" dog.  Annie got up to talk to her and froze. Pretty cute.

Post-play Go Dog Go reading. Nighty night.

Beach-a-licious

Spent the morning at the beach. Big surprise, I know! Saw dolphins like last year - my favorite part of the whole trip.

Lazy Does It

Yesterday the girls, Fozzie and I took a walk into Rosemary Beach to get coffee only to find our precious Starbucks's had CLOSED (gasp!). So we wandered into Alys beach (the newest community and hence the place to be these days) and found a nice little coffee shop that did the trick. The guys took the boys to the pool and by the time we were back from our coffee and walk everyone was ready for lunch. Everyone (including me!) took a nice afternoon nap and I made my Japanese Curry for dinner.

We headed into Seaside for the evening and the local children's theater group had just started a little play. Good timing that happens with no planning only occurs while on vacation :).  The kids were engrossed by the play and afterward the little lights Mike had the forethought to bring provided tons of entertainment. Nice lazy beachy day.

      

Beachy-Keen

By last night the kids hadn't slept a wink since 6am or so and had swum in the ocean and the pool and played all day long (incidentally, Grayson jumped in the pool with his noodle and purposefully dunked his head all the way under and over and over) . They were exhausted but still fairly happy so we walked to the concert on the lawn (about a minute from our back porch). Notice the glazed over look in the last picture.

Floridaaaaahhhhhh

This is  third  year we've come to Florida for our annual summer vacation. I can't tell you how eagerly I await this trip every year. It's my recharge. The past two years we've met Paul, Alta and Joe here (Keith and Paul went to ASIJ together) and this year Mary Helen, Mike and Annie have joined us as well. Our kids get along so well it is amazing. They have ridiculously similar personality types and so we rarely have to mediate anything. In fact, last night after they had played around for quite a while, we heard Annie and Joe getting after Grayson to go to sleep telling him he'd be tired in the morning. It is so great that Keith doesn't even mind that half the reason Grayson is so occupied is that Annie brought My Little Ponies (!). 

Last night we were exhausted but had a great pizza dinner and the restaurant had hula hoops to entertain the kids (worked like a charm!).

 Today we went to the beach and Foster was instantly a fan. That was not a surprise. The surprise was that Grayson swam in the ocean! With just a noodle! No one held him! He said that the waves were his "big helpers". He's been so fearful of the waves in previous years, so this was fantastic.

Plan to post more while we're here so check back.

 

 

2009-06-06T15:13:49Z