Family Vacation

Our good friends, and also the franchisers of Squeegee Squad, are spending a month in Clearwater, Fl starting a franchise. They let us know the dates they would be in Florida and invited us to come and join them if we were able. Joe had enough credit card points to fly us all down there so it was an easy decision.

It was truly a relaxing getaway and we had so much fun with our friends. The kids played really nice together and we enjoyed the hot sun on our Minnesota skin. 

Silas and Maya are one month apart. They played and got along so well. Both easy-going kids. Maya got her flirt on and Silas definitely didn't mind being smothered by her.

The first night we were there we let Silas and Maya sleep on the blow up mattress together. They were up past 11pm giggling and jumping around. We all thought it was way too cute to break up so us adults just sat outside the door and giggled with them.

We didn't bring any 'boy' toys for Silas, but he embraced the dolls and played along with the girls no problem.

Too bad he's blinking in this photo!

Veda enjoyed the beach as well. Although the soft, dry sand annoyed her. It would stick to her sunscreen-ed skin and then she'd rub her eyes and sand would get in her face. Very frustrating for a 14 month old.  She would point to the ocean and say, "wa-wa". She spent her happiest moments wading in the waves. The girl has no fear, I tell you. She would dive head first in to those waves if we let her. 

Those thighs are to die for!

And when things didn't go her way on the beach, she'd throw herself in the sand and have a mini-meltdown. It was ridiculously cute. And we gave her lots of grace since two days into the trip I noticed she cut two molars. Despite the teething she was a champ. Sleeping well in a new place and (mostly) enjoying her surroundings.

I tried to keep her porcelain skin in the shade, but this was the best 'still shot' I could get of her in there. She is just a water kind of girl! But the bigger kids loved the tent. They'd eat their snacks in there and Silas and Maya enjoyed doing very age appropriate things in there like 'Roooaarrrr-ing' at each other through the little windows and then cracking up.

My girl with her momma

The view from the condo. I know, amazing! Our friends met other friend who were also long term condo renters with young children so we all hung out quite a bit. Great people!

Joe and Silas filling up the buckets with water.

Veda sitting in the buckets filled with water. Avery was a great baby-helper during our stay; making sure Veda was well entertained and taken care of.

Miss Maya and her sassy self!

Flyin' a kite.

I thought I'd keep it PG for the blog. Sorry, no booby show!

That darn shovel. That's all he wanted to do (scoop an fling sand) for the whole first day. And that he did.

Cartoons!

A quick photo on our morning stroll.

We saw lots of dolphins. 

Our gracious friends who let us invade their condo for four days. 

The baby monitor worked on the beach! We enjoyed afternoons baby-free while Veda napped and also some evenings were spent outside listening to the waves. 

While we gabbed, the boys fished off shore. 

Just in case you were about to judge Joe's backwards  visor, know that is is not a fashion statement, but being used as a makeshift flashlight holder. Alls I'm sayin'. 

The shark he caught!

Shells. 

Family photo. This was the day we left...so we have our flying clothes on. Tennis shoes and no sun screen. The kids were hot and sweaty in their pants, all Veda wanted to do was swim in the ocean and I hadn't showered.
Cheese!!

Joe's shirt is accidentally hiked up showing his belly button, hence the waist up cropped photo. Fantastic background, though! 

Next year we want to do a repeat adventure but stay twice as long!! 

Oh, and the kids were better travelers than I thought they'd be. I figured Silas would be a champ as long as he had his blanket and a DVD player; and he was. Veda, I had my doubts. But she pulled through and busted out a two hour nap both ways. She was only mildly obnoxious on the airplane and the other passengers seemed to be understanding. We did make the mistake of trying to save money by not checking bags. That was super dumb and we realized the absurdity as we were navigating our way through the airport with two kids, three rolling bags, three shoulder bags and two car-seats. On the way home we decided that if it means to have a less stressful airport experience, then paying to check some bags was worth it.
Money well spent!