Beach recap

If you've been reading this blog for some time then you know that my family does an annual Florida beach trip.  For many years it was just me, my mom, my aunt (Jenni) and Casey (close family friend who is basically fam).  Some years we got to go twice and we would take my grandmother.  I remember when I was finally old enough to go with the girls.  I was so excited!  

2005 was the first year they let me take any pictures.  They hate pictures.  Dumb.  Anyway.  It literally rained the entire week we were there.  So we sat on the balcony tucked under the awning and played cards and drank bloody mary's every single day.  We talked the realty company into letting us stay 2 more days but we had to move to a different condo.  We threw everything into the car and drove next door to get our 2 extra days!  That one is definitely one of the most fun times we've had, even though we didn't get much beach time.  

2009 my cousin Jan started coming with us.  

In 2010 we changed things up a little bit.  When my mom, Jenni and Jan were little their parents brought them to the beach.  A few months before our trip, Jan's dad, my great uncle passed away.  We decided it was time to return the favor and take my Aunt Jerry (Jan's mom) to the beach.  She hadn't been in many many years.  So we made a much bigger girls trip out of it.  We got a large 4 bedroom condo and all 7 of us went.  (recap here)

2011 recap here.

In 2012 we did the unthinkable.  We invited Lonnie!  Ha!  That recap is here.  Pretty sure he is the only male who has or ever will be invited.  Unless, of course, I get pregnant and I have a little man.  :)  

2013 recap here

So that brings us to this year.  My Aunt Jerry couldn't make it.  The drive down is just too tough on her and she will not fly.  Hopefully next year she will feel better about it and want to make it with us.  

The second day there was Mother's Day.  This is my new favorite picture of me and my pea pod.  

2 generations

3 generations

4 generations

Blakely had a ball as can be imagined.  She loved the sand and the beach.  At first she loved the water.  Then she got splashed pretty good and for a day or so she was totally freaked out and would not go near it and did not want any of us to go near it either.  "No Mommy!  Stay up here!"  On about the third day Lonnie and I took a walk with her on the beach.  She realized that she could find seashells if she got a little closer to the water and her fear of the water ended there.  After that, she wanted to kick or jump over every wave when it came in.  We half buried her in the sand, we waved to the helicopters and airplanes that flew over low, we built sand castles, and we made "sand soup".  I really wish we lived closer to a beach!  She still plays with all of the seashells she and Jan collected.  

BIG STRADDLES!

We went to dinner almost every night.  Blakely loved trying new foods and she especially loved learning how to eat fried crab claws.  One night after dinner I wanted to take her out on the beach and get some pictures with my good camera.  I didn't take it to the beach everyday because, hello, sand.  Our dinner lasted a little too long so the lighting wasn't what I wanted and Blakely would NOT stay still but I did get a few that I like.  I also didn't really take many pictures with my phone because I was wrangling a 2 year old.  Lonnie only went to the beach a few times because he was still feeling rough and the medication he was on made him very sensitive to the sun. But he did make it down some so we at least have one picture of all three of us!  

wild woman

She napped loooooong every day and she slept in the pack n play at night.  She is too big for it but since she was so tired she just passed out right when we put her down.  

She slept in a pull up at night but woke up dry every day we were there.  She typically does that when she isn't in her own bed.  I thought when we got home we would go for it and try night time in panties.  But then I was leaving just a few days after we got home from the beach and I didn't want to leave my mother in law with possible dirty sheets in the mornings.  We will try later this summer.  

All in all it was a great trip, as usual.  Blakely did really well on the 10+ hour drive.  Lonnie still felt pretty bad until the end of the trip but at least he got to rest and relax.  I think that helped him to heal.

This picture is sooooo out of focus but it is the only one I have of everybody!  

My mom rode down there and back in the back seat with Blakely.  We hadn't even left my mom's driveway after dropping her off when the trip was over and Blakely went hysterical.  We literally had to turn around so she could give GranDi "once more hug and tiss".  She DID NOT want to leave GranDi.  It was so sweet.  I look forward to going again next year!  Or maybe again this August?  :)