The Beach Series: Final Chapter - Everything else I want to remember

A big ole hodge podge of photos and other things we did while in Orange Beach.

More beachy pictures! Because it didn't really happen unless you take a picture of your feet in the sand or a selfie on the beach.

  

Naval Aviation Museum
One drizzly morning we took a quick jaunt over to Pensacola to visit the Naval Aviation museum. It was a hit for our family both kids and adults. Evan allowed John to walk him around and actually discuss the different planes and exhibits. I just ran with Luke. Luke kept saying, "Dis plas iz amazing!" and "It's so bootyful mommy!" His little words make my heart smile.

 

We spent a lot of time either on the beach or at the pool. We did venture on to the 'mainland' one day with the intent of mini golf. When Evan saw the large shark entrance of a gift store, we decided to stop there. The guys had a blast playing around in the store! Added bonus, they got snocones for being so good!

I am not sure why I took so many pictures of snocones. Maybe because it was the only time all week they were actually still and next to each other.

The Beach Series: Part 4 - Dining: The Good, The Bad and The Miserable

Dining out is very challenging for Luke. He doesn't have the patience to wait. He doesn't have the patience to sit through a meal. He doesn't really have time for the whole eating thing. He's a grazer and wanderer. Literally. Some nights he'll pick up his plate and go eat outside just to walk in the grass while eating. #whocanblamehim But we decided to try it anyway.

The first place we tried was the adorable restaurant on the marina that Terry found good reviews about. No wait...eating outside...seemed ideal for our motley crew.

Adults look happy enough...right?
 

At one point Gemma was behind the bar mixing drinks (just kidding, she was just wandering), Luke was sitting in the smack dab middle of a walkway and Evan, well...Evan did pretty good. Two out of three children spilled water across the table. Luke's entire dinner ended up on the floor at one point. By the end, I was sweating bullets and John was power eating just to able to take care of kids. That was the night I didn't even taste my food. 

For some reason we decided to try it again. Everyone who I mentioned Orange Beach to just raved over Lulu's. So out we go. We arrived at 5pm to an hour wait. To occupy the children, there are lot of activities. A ropes course, water walking, piles of sand, water play areas, live music. Yeah...so here is how the Asbells spent that hour. I took Evan to the water walking. It was the best 7 minutes we spent there. lol He was hysterical and had so much fun. I laughed so hard my abs hurt.

 

The next 53 minutes was pretty pitiful. At some point Luke sat down in the water play area making the back of his pants completely wet. He also threw sand in another child's eyes. Thankfully the mother of the other child was cool about it and said, "Don't worry too much. My child just did the same thing to someone else." Evan and browsed the gift shops which translated into - I bought him something so he'd be entertained for 20 more minutes. It was hot...we were hungry...our children were over the sand piles and Luke ate his entire meal while we waited. When we were finally seated, we all could take a breath....or so I thought. We were sitting on a deck over looking water (not the ocean). The table behind us threw a french fry out to a bird. Within seconds, there were about 20 seagulls cawing and flying within feet of our table. Birds are second least favorite animal. Second only to the dreaded fish. Evan told our waiter, "My mom is FREAKING out," and I was.

We put technology in the hands of our children (something I don't do unless on vacation) and ordered a pitcher of beer. Everyone was able to drink, eat and talk in peace. No wandering kids...no spilled water. And the food was actually very good! I thought this we might just might have this eating out thing down ...Then my dinner made a reappearance 6 hours later. Thank goodness I was the only one to get sick and it was only one time.

From then on we ordered take out and ate on our balcony. Cheers to vacation! 

The Beach Series Part 3: Luke vs. the Ocean

Did you notice the very subtle difference in the title. It's not Luke AND the ocean. It's Luke VS. the ocean. And it went down...just like that.

If I am being 100% honest, Luke shocked me the most. This kid hates when grass gets between his toes. Certain tags drive him nuts. I didn't think a sandy beach was going to be his cup of tea. But he took to it like...well...a little boy. :)

 He rolled in the sand, was buried in the sand, jumped in the waves, knocked down sand castles. But much to my dismay, the kid loved the ocean the most. #didimentionihatefish The first two days he took to the ocean with great confidence. He laid in the tide. He let the waves rush on his lap. He jumped in the big waves. He fell down, a lot, which means I was about 2 feet from him at all times. The second morning, my eyes were focused on Evan for about 2 seconds. Long enough for a wave to not only knock him down, but pull him completely under and drag him. It wasn't far and it wasn't along, but it was enough to teach him the ocean was dangerous. We coughed it out on the beach, and snuggled under the umbrella, but he was done. The next couple of trips to the beach, Luke didn't really want anything to do with the ocean or the sand to be honest. He constantly pressed us to go back to the pool.

Luke trying to tell me he was done...

Knowing it wasn't worth the battle (choose those battles, mommas!) one of us took him back to the pool. Come to find out, he had acquired two little girlfriends that he liked to meet at the pool. These two sweet teenagers thought Luke was so very cute (he is) and loved playing with him. Every time we even thought about passing the pool, he would look for them. If he actually found them, there was no way to tear him away. And I think those baby blues had the girls mesmerized anyway. John and I joked that we were going to have to pay them a babysitting rate by the end of the week.

 

By Thursday, Luke was ready to try the ocean again. The reconnection started off slowly. He wasn't fully ready to trust the big mighty sea. He wouldn't go in past his knees. Once John offered to carry him, he decided it mustn't be so bad. He spent at least half an hour with John. I traded off and held him for a while. #stillhatefish He had a ball! He also kept saying "I don't see any fishies" over and over. I think his daddy convinced him to say that the entire time I held him to keep me out there. Smooth move John. Anytime Luke wanted to go back in the ocean he would say "Take care!! Take care!!" while waving his arms up at us, which I translated into "You have to take care of me in here! Pick me up now woman!"

I am glad he got over his fear from the beginning of the week and went back to sea. He's my brave little boy!

The Beach Series Part 2: Evan and the Ocean

Evan took to the ocean like a fish. I can say I was pleasantly surprised. Evan is my cautious child. He likes to know where everyone is. He likes when his family is all close. He wants everyone to be safe. So when he took off into the ocean like it was a swimming pool, I can say I literally stood there with my mouth agape.

I guess ignorance is bliss for the little guy. #istillhatefish

Evan quickly made some new friends on the beach. He had one particular boy, Mason, who he sought out everyday. Mason was 11, but "small for his age" (his words not mine) and very adventurous in the ocean. Mason and Evan went boogie boarding, caught fish together, and learned the art of burying a body in the sand. If I ever lost sight of Evan, I always found myself looking for Mason to find Evan.

This is not uncommon for E. He is the kind of kid who would go into the white stranger danger van without candy or puppies as an incentive. He just doesn't know a stranger. (Disclaimer: if you are a white stranger danger van owner, I apologize for the stereotype. If you are the stranger in the white stranger danger van, please get off my blog.)

He loved everything about vacation. At one point we had this conversation:

Evan: I wish I could live at the beach.
Me: Yeah, that would be nice, but we have our house and our school and our friends and mommy and daddy's jobs all back in TN.
Evan: Well I could go to another school.
Me: What about your friends?
Evan: They can come visit me.
Me: Well honey, mommy and daddy's jobs are in TN. We gotta work.
Evan: You can get a new job!
Me: What would I do?
Evan: You could work in construction and change your name to Gill. Daddy can still be John.
Me: .....
John: sputter sputter laugh laugh laugh
Me: {evil eye to John}
John: cough cough
Me and John: Howling laughter

I mean...where does he even come up with these things??