Days With Kate: Destin 2013

Dear Kate,

What a vacation, what a vacation! Let me be very clear on this - you LOVE the beach. More than I have ever seen a kid love the beach. And I was skeptical at first, hence the reason I suggested Mimi tag along with us this year (for that extra hand), but man alive, you wanted to stay longer than anyone on that beach! And would have if I would have let you!

We headed down on Saturday with a pretty uneventful drive. We toured our new house and loved every bit of it and Mommy and Aunt Steph headed to the grocery store while the daddies went to a couple other stores and Mimi watched you kiddos. When we returned, she said she had already taken all four of you to the beach, just to look! Ha! I don't think I would have taken you and Abs by myself much less Ellie and Kipper, but she said everyone did great!

So, on Sunday, we woke up, packed our coolers, gathered our towels and headed that way to see what it was all about. Immediately I knew this beach trip was going to be a true vacation for me. You played by yourself, with the girls, with Mimi, in the pool, in the sand, in the ocean, just having a good ole time, letting Mommy and Daddy relax on the beach! And, I have the pictures to prove it! Here goes... First day on the beach...

First dip in the ocean (it was SOOO calm the first 2 days then got crazy wavy!)...

Dipping you (in the background)

You loved the boat too. Loved waving at Mimi while sitting in the boat. Sadly, we couldn't take the boat out the rest of the week because of the crazy waves. Not for lack of trying though!

And, you immediately proved to be related to your sister with the whole side cheek show!

You also loved the pool, did I mention that?! Here you were chilling in the float, having a tea party with Daddy...

And we liked to strip you kiddos down to nothing then throw you in the pool to rinse off all that sand. You LOVED this, and we loved looking at that little booty just floating in the water!

PS - these pics are a little out of whack, but it's all I can do to get 200+ pics on here!!!

On Thursday night, we headed to our annual Baytown Wharf night. We love some Wharf and this night was no exception. And, as we annually do, we dressed you kiddos all alike! Man alive were you four not the most precious cuties I have ever seen!

They had a kids ropes course and you insisted on doing it, and doing it by yourself!

And you watched some boats with Kipper...

And, of course, there was some dancing while we ate at Hammerheads. You found something to climb on while others danced...

And we walked out on the pier to watch the sunset (and scare Mommy to death by leaning over the rail a little too much with your sister)...

This was about as good as we could get with pictures of all 4 of you. Still cuties!

And Aunt Steph (and Mommy and Aunt Meg) had to do a few chasing down of you!

Loving this facial expression!

Dancing the night away!

After dinner, we watched Sister do the Euro bounce and ate cotton candy. We were all exhausted after that great fun (and late) night!!

Here's day 2 (???) on the beach... You loved playing with your babies in the baby pool.

And jumping up and down on the side on the pool!

And, another shocker, you LOVED being buried! Aunt Steph buried you all up and you were all grins...

Then you hopped up...

Got your shoes...

And insisted to be buried again, with your shoes this time!

Happy as a clam! We also ate some fresh pomegranate (thanks to Aunt Meg). You were the only one that really loved it, but Ellie and Abs were happy to share with you!

More fun running in and out of the ocean. You would do this over and over and over again!

All in your own little world. I tried to get a picture of you and Sister at one point together playing but somehow you two hit heads or something and both of you started crying right when I tried to take the picture, so that was an epic fail!

But we were able to catch a few more pics while building a sand castle or two!

Sister was trying to dig a whole to bury herself and you kept puttin your feet in her way and she'd scoop out your foot and you'd just giggle and laugh! I think she was getting frustrated with you, though...

But she finally got that whole dug!

Another day (maybe day 3, or 4??)

One morning we went with Mimi and Sister and Ellie to visit an old friend of Mimi's who happened to be in Destin at the same time. Her family was staying right down the road so we went to see them. We didn't take any pictures, but it didn't really matter because you fell asleep after Mimi got sunscreen in your eyes (or well, I think she says you did it). You slept for an hour and 1/2 on the beach - you beach bum!!!!
So, as I said, you LOVED the beach, every bit of it, with one minor exception - Thursday morning when we decided to get cleaned up and take pictures (rather than waiting at night when it's so hot and we're rushing to get to dinner). I'm not sure what triggered it, we're thinking it's when I tried to take your shoes off at the beach, but you did NOT want to be there, at all. And I tried everything. So, after lots of pictures with Daddy and Sister, we decided just to take our family pic with you holding your cup of milk and the random goldfish that I'm still not sure where they came from....

Here's what happened when I tried to take them away...

And then, when I gave them back you were one mad (but cute!) little girl...

There was no use in trying with just Daddy and his girls...

And we just gave up for the Mimi pics!

Then we ventured to the water, thinking that may ease your irritableness... nah, it didn't...

This is my favorite...

So, back to the house, bathing suit on, and back to the beach - what a difference it makes...

You were getting very brave, running in the water and all, and got caught in the waves and dunked under. We all just knew that was the end of the glory days with you and the beach...

But nope! You just got right back out there!

Like I said, a world of difference from that morning...
One night we went to Harbor Walk for dinner. We walked around looking at boats and went to Harry T's for dinner where we sat right beside the band.

(I'm pretty sure Kipper touched your head...)

And, as you can imagine, the group photo was, yet again, unsuccessful...

After we ate dinner, Mimi took you and Kipper back to the house while the big girls stuck around for a little fun (i.e. ice cream). You two had fun with the frisbees...