I was a little bummed because I didn't get as many pictures as I had hoped but I did get some of the kiddos. Here you have it!
We were able to spend a few days in Florida with the Bates fam! Just like last year it was amazing! We left our house around 7 am and by noon we were in to Clearwater. As soon as we flew in we headed to the beach. We didn't even unpack our bags yet, we went full force straight for Clearwater Beach. The boys were beside themselves. They didn't know what to think. Just flying on a plane gave them excitement. Right when we arrived we changed into our suits and spent the day on Clearwater Beach. What a beautiful beach this was. The boys were able to hit the waves with Jeff and papa while the ladies relaxed in the sand. Hayden on the other hand didn't know what to think. She hated putting her feet in the sand. She would not let anyone put her down because her feet couldn't touch the sand. The only way she would walk on it was if she had her water shoes on. Then once she made her way done to the ocean, she would scoop up the sand and throw it in the water. Talk about cute! I absolutely love seeing the kids with constant smiles on their faces. It brings the greatest joy to Jeff and myself when they are so happy. Being around water and the ocean makes them all so happy.
We headed back after a few hours to where we were staying. My mother-in-law works with a man that rents out his condo in Punta Gorda. It is perfect for ALL of us. Grandma O., Papa, Mema, Aunt Jessica, all three kiddos, Jeff and myself. Jessica hadn't arrived yet because she had meetings for work back at home so the first night she wasn't with us. The boys sure were asking about her though!! That night we decided since we got back to the condo so late, we just had pizza and unpacked for the week. I had a suspicious feeling that the sleeping situation might be terrible. Of course right before we left, in fact the day before we left Hayden has a fever. Come to find out she has strep throat. Based on how our winter had been, we were not at all shocked! Luckily, she was on antibiotics a full 24 hrs before we arrived so she was feeling much better. That made the sleeping situation that much better. It actually was perfect. The kids were pretty exhausted the first night so sleeping was a piece of cake!
When we woke the next day we headed to Siesta Key. This was our favorite spot. Staying in Punta makes it nice because we rent a car and can arrive to the beach (different beaches) within an hour to an hour in a half. We decided to head to Wal-mart before heading to the beach for snacks and drinks, a beach umbrella and some more sunscreen. The drive to Siesta Key is beautiful. Thank goodness for GPS on our phones too. I'm not really sure how we got around places before GPS. Reading a map seems so difficult compared to someone telling you when to turn right or left from your phone! We found our perfect spot on the beach and planted ourselves there. The kids were of course in heaven, just like the rest of us. Siesta Key beach is so beautiful. The sand is so white, the people are so friendly and they have nice bathrooms...well nice enough. The boys were back and forth from the beach to the sand, beach to the sand. Hayden finally got used to the sand a little bit. She even walked to the ocean waves if her dad was holding her hand. We headed back to the condo where we got ready for dinner. We were in Florida during March Madness so heading to a sports bar to watch the games only seemed right. We headed to a local restaurant where they had three large televisions on their patio. This is where we met Aunt Jessica as well. The kids were so excited to see Jess. She finally had arrived.
The following day we headed to Tween Waters Resort in Captiva Island. It just happened to be Hayden's 2nd birthday. This place was great. We were not expected to have the best weather so trying some place new was a good plan. This resort was so nice. It had its own beach were you could rent cabana's and umbrellas. It also had a pool and nice bar which you could also utilize. We took advantage of all of it! The waves were so big that day so having the kids near the water made me extra nervous of course. I'm not one to jump in the ocean and play near the waves, but my children definitely are. They love everything about the water and the waves. They would go all the way out to the booies if they could. Jeff and his sister, Jess are great swimmers, so having them by their side the whole time was always the rule if the boys were going to get in the water. I didn't have to worry about little miss getting in the water that day. She decided to lounge under a cabana for a while. I don't know many little kiddos that were able to spend their 2nd birthday in a cabana in the Florida Sun! We enjoyed the beach, the bar and the drinks that day, but it was cut short because of the rain. We knew it was a possibility so we were too surprised. It ended up working out because we made it home just in time to head out for the evening. In Punta they have a place called Fisherman's Village. It is a nice area where they have restaurants and shops. We decided to eat there that evening. We also finished the night at a bar/grill where they had some arcade games for the boys and some nice beverages for the adults! Apparently, you can't have kids under a certain age sit near the bar so the poor miss got kicked out of her first bar on her second birthday!
The remainder of the trip was spent at Siesta Key. We were able to head to Siesta Key Oyster Bar, which we went to last year. It has a great atmosphere and amazing seafood!
Since Papa Bates and our family was flying out a few days before the rest of the crew, we decided to head to Clear Water on the evening of the 29th. Our flight left so early that getting all the kiddos up and going would be easier if we were minutes from the airport rather than a couple hours. It worked out nice for us.
Leaving Florida is always the hardest part. To have a week of relaxation and fun in the sun is something nobody wants to leave. It is nice to have a stress free trip where everyone can enjoy each other. That being said, it is always nice to get home and back in a routine again. It was time for the kids to go back to school and Jeff and myself back to our routine as well. What a surprise it was too when we arrived home my entire house was cleaned (dusted, vacuumed, bathrooms cleaned, laundry done and my hardwood and kitchen floors were spotless). Thanks to my wonderful parents they helped me out a ton. Knowing I would have enough on my plate with getting all the family back in to the swing of things, they came over when we left and cleaned my entire house! I couldn't believe it. It was definitely a pleasant surprise.
So for this year we say goodbye to Florida, but hopefully it won't be the last time!!
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