Two weeks ago, we got back from a wonderful family vacation to the beach! We got to spend time with all the Flacks - so much fun for all of us! Adults had fun playing some games at night (I got a bit slap happy with Apples to Apples that Steven and Vadessa brought -- they always bring the best games! Logo is great, too!) and kids had a great time playing with all their cousins! We hadn't seen Mark, Kathy, Dacee and Ryen since the last FL trip a year ago - so the visit was long overdue!
Our first full day there, we celebrated Tim's birthday! He loves this Hershey's chocolate cake that I make every year for his birthday; it's a super yummy recipe! We were glad for the celebrations as our weather was a bit stormy and the waves pretty strong. Lots of red flag days so not much in-ocean time.... but we still had fun in the sand and in the pool at the house!
We loved the house that Nonna and Dada rented! "The Lucky Dog" was super fun! There were 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, a great screened in porch, a big front porch, a great pool and a short walk to the beach. I took this pic of Eli thinking if we get to come back to the Lucky Dog year after year, we can see how much he grows!
On our first walk to the beach - couldn't wait to feel that sand and see those waves!!
We had a fun girls shopping day! This was a great way to spend the day since we couldn't get in the ocean. We even got to have lunch at the Hard Rock!
Madeline drew this in one of the stores to text to her Daddy! He's training her well!!!!
The next day on the beach. We couldn't get in the Gulf, but there was a lake feeding into the beach where the kids had fun splashing and playing.
All 7 grandkids!
Lauren Ashley has become quite the photographer! She took most of these shots!
Dacee, 2
Ryen, 1
Lovebirds on the beach!
Our fam!
Susanna, 2
Eli, 4
Madeline, 7
Flack brothers!
Some fun in the pool!
Kathy and Ryen...
Eli riding his horse noodle!
LA and Madeline diving for coins...
Awww, so cute! Daddy and daughter! Wow, Lauren Ashley has really grown up! We say this every year, but wow - here is Steven with his TEENAGE daughter!!!! How can that be?
Isn't she beautiful??!!
Eli found a little frog! This was so fun to watch.
He named the frog, "Flip!"
We got to celebrate Kathy's birthday 3 days after Tim's. We all learned how to make strawberry pie - her favorite! I can feel a new vacation tradition coming on!
We released Flip that night because it was so hot, we didn't want him to get hurt in his little cage.
Followed by a fun water volleyball game!
Another day at the beach... we could get in the Gulf this time!
Madeline wants to be just like her sweet cousin!
Another fun burying of Parker! Eli loves doing anything and everything with his big buddy, Parker!
Ryen surfing!
Dada, LA and Tim!
Awww, look at them! So fun relaxing!
Nonna and Dada with the little ones...
With two little guys, there's not much time for Mark and Kathy to hang out just the two of them!
They did manage to steal a few minutes!
Love the water...
Love the sand....
Well, I do have to report a sad part of our trip. On Tuesday night, Susanna ended up in the ER getting 10 stitches. I was cutting vegetables for dinner, and Susanna was upstairs fussing about something. The fussing had a story to it, Tim called me to the stairs to explain a little. So, not thinking straight, I walked WITH THE KNIFE -- uggh, wish I had just laid it down on the counter -- to the stairs to talk to Tim. Susanna was at the top of the stairs and decided to jump off. I had to catch her, but unfortunately still had the knife in my right hand. So, I sliced her arm. I just hate that happened to my sweet baby girl. I know all mothers can relate to how bad I felt that night. If only I had put down the knife... I have certainly learned a VERY valuable lesson.
This was the morning the stitches came out - 10 days later.
Dr. Lana said they had done a great job and things were healing well. So, now it's been another week, and it looks pretty good. We are just being careful to keep it covered during the day so the sun doesn't make the scar worse than it is.
So, other than Susanna's stitches, the trip to Florida was really fun.
We would recommend the Lucky Dog to anyone!
