There are way too many Evan one liners and pictures to put in one post, so this will have to be broken up into installments. I am sure you understand!
This is our first (real) family vacation. I had no idea how it was going to go. Would the boys make the 7 hour car ride? Would they be able to sleep in a different place? How in the world were we going to keep them quiet when the rest of the condo was asleep until 8am and they get up at 6am?
But as mentioned in a different blog, I had to let that all go and just experience it.
I mean, people go to the beach with their kids all the time...and keep going back. It would be fine...
They did great on the way down thanks to the God given right to technology in the car. We have a DVD player in the car that has only been turned on once. My rule is we have to be traveling over an hour to watch TV in the car. I think the kids were so excited about watching DVDs in the car, they actually wanted to get on the road.
Luke, who I thought would be the most difficult, was actually the most relaxed about the car trip. He watched his little movies, ate his snacks and smiled most of the way down.
Evan asked me 900 million times which state we were in. I guess that is better than "Are we there yet?" but seeing we staying in MS for about 6 of the 7 hours, it got a little old.
Once we made it to the beach (I cannot really discuss the Mobile to Orange Beach traffic situation. It was scarring. I might not recover.) I knew the boys would want to go down and see the ocean. But that was all I was planning on doing...just looking. I didn't even take towels. Angela and I took the kids while the guys went to get dinner. Angela mentioned changing into a suit just in case. I didn't think I would need it, but decided to do that too. Much to my surprise...my BIG surprise, the boys ran straight into the water without hesitation. Both boys were full of smiles and giggles the entire time. I was soaked but had to best time watching them experience the ocean for the first time.
One of the greatest things about that night was the big surprise. Nonna and Pop planned a vacation to Orange Beach with some of their friends the same time we were there! I didn't tell Evan or Luke that they would be there. I wanted it to be a surprise. When Evan saw them for the first time that evening, he was screaming with joy! They were able to play in the water with them until close to 7pm. Even though they were both hungry, they didn't want to leave the water.
I was ecstatic the boys took to the ocean and sand so well. It really set the tone for the rest of the visit.
Part 2 coming soon...
