San Destin Trip

We set out early (3:30am to be exact) on Sunday, July 10^th to head toward San Destin for our 3^rd year in a row.  We always stay in the same “Shabby Chic” house from VRBO and love everything it has. The kids love the bunk beds and refer to it as our “beach house”.  Ha!  It is like our home away from home.  The house has 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, living room, large kitchen and backyard is good for grilling or smoking a cigar for Daddy.  The golf cart takes us to the pool around the block, the beach (5 min ride and through what the kids call the “magic tunnel”, Baytowne Wharf (10 min), and just about anywhere else you want to explore!  This year, we had the honor of Nana going with us.  We were jumping for joy when she said she would come, and I am so blessed that we are able to help her travel and get around to see new things.  The kids could not have been any more excited to share our vacation with her…and she was spoiling them before we even started with beach toys and needed items for our trip. We have no plans except somewhere along the 10 hour drive we look up what is scheduled for the Wharf each night, and we try to think of 1-2 big things to do in Destin.  

When we finally arrived in Destin, FL we stopped to eat at Fudpuckers where the kids could run around, stretch their legs, feed alligators, and get some grub.  After eating, we headed to the beach house to unpack while Daddy made a trip to the grocery store and then we went to walk on the beach.  Words simply cannot describe how it feels to walk on the Florida beaches.  Just like heaven on Earth I suppose.  The kids of course got the annual warning of “just get your feet wet”, not everything else…and for the 3^rd year in a row came out looking drenched in their clothes.  Just part of the tradition and fun I suppose.  Ha! 

The rest of the week was filled with adventures in Destin, shopping, good food (our favorite is Boshamps on the water), beach/pool, Baytowne Wharf, and so much more.  This year we also decided on the Dolphin Cruise for all 5 of us, and then early one morning Cade was able to go parasailing with Mommy and Daddy.  Both were the highlight of the trip!  Caelin LOVED seeing the dolphins and thought they were so cute.  She had a sparkle in her eye and I just knew she was gonna ask if we could have one as a pet, ha!  Cade enjoyed the dolphin cruise as well exploring the big boat and the ice cream float as a treat.  Both kids were able to help Drive the boat with the captain and they enjoyed being in the big seat.  Cade had wide eyes looking at all the navigational buttons while Caelin wanted to stand up in the chair.  Their personalities are so funny!  Cade also loved the parasailing and never flinched to do it the entire time.  It was fun to experience everything with him just the 3 of us.  We had so many great pics while up 200 feet in the air and Cade smiled the entire time.  Memories that will last forever!  On our last day in Florida, we decided to go souvenir shopping.  Well, we grew our family by 3 more members on that trip…3 hermit crabs named Hermie (Cade’s), Butterfly (Caelin’s, due to the butterfly shell), and a 3^rd crab Hustle.  Hustle got his name because we were actually not aware that the shell we bought to help decorate actually had another crab in it.  Thus, we got hustled and are now a party of 8.  The final morning before driving home, Charles and I woke up early to go watch the sunrise on the beach.  This is one of my favorite things while in Florida.  Times like this remind you that there is beauty left in the world.  I kept thinking of Jeremiah 32:17 and how blessed we have been to have another amazing trip to Florida.  Thank you God from whom all blessings flow.