Fall Break & Destin 2016

We just got home from a lovely trip to the beach. If you recall this is our 2nd beach trip this year. We took one in February for Mardi Gras and it was super cold!! The kids were out Wednesday-Friday this week and we decided it was a perfect time to head to the beach. I was so thankful for a long weekend and break with them. Its truly what I think we needed to heal from the craziness that was September. It was also a time of refreshment and rest before we head into the holiday season. 
Wednesday we got up early and were ready to hit the road by 9. We did our usual late stop for lunch at Ruby Tuesdays. The kids were great travelers and watched movies or just chilled during the trip. We were all starving by the time we got to lunch about 1:30. We had my parents and Randall and Lizzie on the trip as well which always makes it fun! We arrived at the condo around 3. We unpacked and got settled before taking the kids out to the beach. They were quite ready to get out to the water. The beach felt wonderful. It was in the 80s and the water was cool but not freezing. We stayed out there about 30+ minutes before heading to the pool. I let Austin get in with the kids and I just relaxed in the chair. The day of traveling there is always so tiring. We let them swim for about 30 minutes before heading up to clean up for dinner. By the time we changed and got to my parent's condo dinner was about ready. We had a lovely dinner that night of chicken, mac n cheese, and green beans. As always it was a great time of visiting and just being together. We were about 8:30 or after getting to our condo and getting the kids to bed. 
Thursday we did our usual get up and have breakfast in my parent's condo. We all work together and make a yummy and big breakfast! Its one of my favorite things. After a leisurely breakfast and visiting we set out to get dressed for the beach. It was so nice getting down to the beach and enjoying the chairs. The kids are at perfect ages now as far as being pretty independent and being able to play. The weather was amazing as well. We spent about 2 hours out on the beach before the kids were ready to move on to the pool. We let them swim for about an hour before going back up to the condo. We got cleaned up and went to make sandwiches for lunch. That afternoon Austin went back down to the beach and I stayed in the condo with the kids. I always enjoy a good nap there. The kids watched a movie and Colby played on the iPad some. We got cleaned up and ready for dinner at 5. We had plans to eat at the Back Porch but the line looked horrendous so we went further down to eat at Pompano Joe's. I was honestly a little excited for a change. It had been years since we had eaten there. The food was great and we ate outside. After that we went to the outdoor mall. The kids weren't quite as into it as they usually are. They both said they were too big to play on the playground. They did ride the train though. They also both enjoyed the boats and such at Bass Pro shop. It was nice out and the fall decorations were so cute. We went back to the condo though after that. I think we were all pretty tired. 
Friday was much of the same....big breakfast then time out on the beach. It was much hotter that day! We only stayed out on the beach about an hour and a half that day. Lindsay was done by that point and ready to head to the pool. My parents and I brought her down there to swim. We swam for awhile then the boys joined us. By the time they got there I was ready to get out. They played for awhile longer then everyone got out and we went to change and get ready for lunch. That afternoon the boys spent more time on the beach and Lindsay and I napped. I could tell by that day she was getting pretty tired and would need the down time to stay up later that night. We got ready around 5 again and just Austin and the kids and I went out for some family fun. First we went to eat at Johnny Rockets. It was ok but nothing too crazy to rave about. We then went to play putt putt. That was fun although the kids got tired of it by about hole 14! We then took Colby to ride a go-cart! He loved it! He was able to ride on the rookie track this time instead of the little preschool track he had drove on before. He was in little boy heaven! Lindsay wouldn't use her tickets to ride the preschool track. She didn't want to ride anything alone. After that the place was getting super crowded so we decided to head back to the condo. We had cookies and visited with the family for awhile before heading to bed.
Saturday we headed home...well not home for us but to Hattiesburg. We were able to stop for lunch all together before splitting directions. We arrived in Hattiesburg around 2. We unpacked and took a potty break at the apartment. After that we went to the facility where Austin's dad now is. The kids were a little hesitant but did well over all. I think Colby was relieved seeing that Pawpaw had actually improved and was up sitting in the recliner when we arrived. Lindsay was very hesitant. I didn't want to force her in the room. I think it was a combo of a new place and the room being full of people. It was his parents, his sister, Harvey, and Shelbi and Maggie. It was a lot. Once they all left and it was just us and his parents she livened up and came out of her shell. We hung out and visited a couple hours. Colby had taken a ride with Wendi and the girls back to their house for awhile. Once he got back we could tell Lindsay was ready to move on. We enjoyed our visit though. He even as access to the outdoors so we were able to take Lindsay out there some to stretch and run around. We took the kids to eat at Olive Garden that night. Once we got back to the apartment Austin went back to visit with his mom and dad while I stayed there and let the kids play and take baths. It was nice to finally be in for the night. 
Sunday we woke up early to head home! We knew it would be a long and busy day as well. We ate a quick breakfast at McDonald's before hitting the road. I can't say enough what great travelers our kids are! We got in and all got to work on unloading and unpacking. We ate lunch outside before then heading off to Lindsay's dance class. I felt like that was poor planning on my part. It was hard to think about getting out again but she so loved it! Their theme was Cinderella. She loves dancing so much but I just haven't been ready to sacrifice our Saturdays for something like that. I am thankful this is just once a month. After that we got home and were all ready to unwind and get ready for bed!