The week of July 26-30, was spent unpacking, washing laundry, re-packing, and cleaning up the messes we made. I had 1 really productive day during which I made 2 different desserts, hit the grocery store, did laundry, went to play group, attended a funeral for a dear sister in my parents ward who recently passed away from cancer, had dinner waiting when Byron got home, and attended a farewell evening for our recently released Relief Society president. Byron put in a 38 hour work week in just 4 days and only missed the last 2 hours because he came home a little early to mow the grass before we left.
Friday, July 31st we started our road trip to Destin Florida for my Lane family reunion. At 5:45 am we loaded the boys into the car as quickly as possible and hit the road. We had a 7 hour drive with 2 stops and a hotel planned for the day. Our first stop was around 8:30, we stopped and visited for a bit in Lousiville with Grandpa Wilson. He had a ton of fruit and mini muffins that Grandma had prepared for us, but we didn't stay very long since we found out Grandma had been admitted to the hospital the night before with heart complications and we were anxious to let him get back to her.
Around lunch time we reached Dinosaur world and let the kids run around and play. We had lunch, enjoyed a "fossil dig" and walked the trail with all the "life size" dinosaur statues. We made the last leg of the trip making a few stops for potty breaks and cough medicine before making it to the hotel. We had an awesome pool the kids could burn their energy off in, and went to CiCi's for dinner. Getting Caleb to bed was a little difficult, but overall it was a successful day.
Saturday we finished our drive. We were stopping almost every hour for potty breaks, and we hit a really long window with absolutely not cell service, so I was a little worried about making it since we had accidentally split from my parents by that point, but we both managed to make it to Florida and it was okay. Byron and I were able to visit one of the gorgeous Destin beaches before it was time to check into the hotel, then we got to spend the rest of the evening getting settled, swimming in the private pool the rec area we were staying in offered, eating pizza, and rejoicing over the arrival of each family that came in after us.
The week was incredible, and definitely one of the most beautiful vacations I've ever been on. Even with incredibly high humidity we enjoyed every second we were there.
We got to spend time at the beach, though not as much as I wanted since David hated the sand. He wouldn't even stand in it, and the ocean was just as bad. He cried and cried every time we tried to take him in the water, but Caleb was just the opposite. He loved building sand castles with his cousins, aunts, and uncles, and was more than happy to run into the waves, giggling like mad even when they tried to knock him over.
The water was so blue and clear, you could see straight down to the bottom in every area we went, and the sand was so white. It was picturesque in every sense of the word, and so fun. I love clean water, and was able to totally enjoy every second we spent on the beaches.
My mom took gorgeous pictures all week and I loved getting the unique opportunity to have a couple of maternity shots on the beach. Ezekiel will have some special pictures from the week even though he wasn't there to experience it on his own.
The area our hotel was located in was right on the bay so we saw beautiful sunsets and sunrises every day, got to see manta rays, dolphins, and crabs if we were out at the right time, and Gabrielle caught tons of hermit crabs.
Byron got to fish off a pier with squid (gross!), took Caleb out on a jet ski Grandma Lane kindly rented after the boating trip was cancelled, took me out on a date for sea food, and managed to only burn his back one morning at the beach when I wasn't there to help him re-apply his sunscreen.
I loved getting to spend so much time with family and finishing the week off with fireworks on the beach and family all around was so special. I'm so grateful for my family and the time that we can spend together here on this earth strengthening and encouraging each other. I feel so blessed to have knowledge of the plan of salvation and the incredible blessings that my family can have in the eternities if we're willing to live worthy while here in our earthly life.
We made the 12 hour drive back in just one day. We started late and had to make several unwanted stops for Caleb's potty breaks, which led to us getting home around 2:30 in the morning but we were relieved to fall into our own beds that night and save the money we would have spent getting another hotel on the way home.
I suppose that's all that's been going on with us. Letting Byron go back to work tomorrow is going to be difficult after getting to spend so much time with him 24/7, but it will be good to get the boys back on track and used to rules and consequences again. We love you all and think of you often! Have a splendid week.
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| David at Dinosaur World |
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| Byron wanted to play dead |
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| Caleb loved all the dinosaurs! |
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| David avoiding the sand and water by sitting in my lap |
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| Caleb playing in the sand on the beach |
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| He loved playing hide and seek whenever we needed a respite from the sun |
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| Got some yummy crab legs on our date! |
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| David with his Uncle David and Great Uncle David! I was excited to have them all in the same place for this picture |
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| Brotherly Love. My mommy took this awesome picture and didn't tell me about it (or any of the others that were taken with it) until we got home! |
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| My handsome love and I at the huge luncheon my Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Alden provided Sunday after church. We cheated and served pizza for the meal we had signed up to be responsible for. |
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| My beautiful little family on the beach! <3 |
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| My HUGE family. All of my Mom's brothers, sisters, spouses, and children were able to make it. And my Grandma and Grandpa got permission to come from their mission presidents. |
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| My love and I |
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| Byron fishing off the pier |
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| David loved the portion of the pool that he could walk around in all on his own. |
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| Caleb and Byron on the jet ski |
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| We put David on it just for a picture but he was not happy about it. |
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