Destin, FL Vacation Recap!

Just a warning...this is gonna be long...I'm journalling so that when I scrapbook our photos I'll remember everything!!

As most of you know, we were in Destin, FL from Friday the 19th-Friday the 26th. We had planned to leave out Saturday morning, but Rob was desperately needed at work so instead of driving during the night Friday night, we left Friday morning instead.

On the 19th we left at 10:00 pm and drove all night. We had never done this with the boys but wanted to try. This time it worked out perfectly...they watched a Star Wars movie for 2 hours, then slept until Mobile, AL, where we stopped for breakfast and also to tour the U.S.S. Alabama and submarine. That was amazing!

We headed in to Destin...it was absolutely beautiful! My brother, Sam, and his wife, Lauren, and their 10-month old sweetie, Maria, joined us on Saturday and stayed thru Tuesday morning. We had such a nice time just hanging out at the beach and pool with them. That was the only time we actually went IN the ocean. The seaweed & jellyfish were just to much to bear! I'm not kidding...the jellyfish were EVERYWHERE. While Sam & Lauren were with us we went to dinner at Pompano Joes and we also went to Destin Commons...a really cool outdoor shopping area (I returned there later in the week to pick up some chocolate-covered marshmellows for Matthew's 8th birthday!).

On Monday we enjoyed more beach & pool time. Sam & Lauren were gratious enough to offer Rob & me a night out by ourselves. We chose to just go to dinner because we wanted to get back in time to take the boys crab hunting! We went to Old Bay Steamers...we ordered a huge plate of steamed shrimp, crabs, etc. etc. Rob was just chomping away...he LOVED it...me, on the other hand, ate shrimp...but then the "fishy" smell kind of got to me. The rest of dinner I ate potatoes & corn! Thanks, Lauren & Sam...for watching the boys that night!

When we got back from dinner, we headed to the beach for crab hunting. We absolutely had a blast...we continued to do that nightly from then on! That was what we probably enjoyed most about our trip...the nightly crab hunts & just walking on the beach at night...oh, and seashell hunting!

On Tuesday, Sam & Lauren & Maria left out early...they had about a 6-hour drive back to Atlanta...I think by that point Maria was ready for her own bed! After they left, we had breakfast and drove to the Okaloosa Pier...we didn't fish just yet...it was extremely hot and the guy working at the Pier said that they weren't catching much. We hung out there a bit...saw dolphins!...and then headed to the Bass Pro Shop. When we got home me and the boys hung out at the pool while Rob grilled some burgers. Later that afternoon, Rob & Jacob went back to the Pier for some fishing...check out the photo of Jacob below with the fish that "HE" caught...the Pier is quite a ways up from the water...he definitely had a LOTS of Daddy's help! While they were fishing, Matthew & I went to one of the Outlet Malls. After shopping for a bit, we went and picked Rob & Jacob up and headed to Fudpucker's for a late night supper in Okaloosa.

Wednesday morning we headed to the Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin and ate at "Another Broken Egg Cafe". More relaxing in the afternoon by the pool, eating at Fudpucker's in Destin for supper, and crab hunting/hanging out at the beach in the evening. While at Fudpucker's, we tried feeding the baby alligators but they weren't much hungry. The boys did get to hold a baby alligator...they thought that was really, really cool.

On Thursday, we celebrated Matthew's 8th Birthday! We took the boys on a Pirate Cruise which they really enjoyed! After that, we ate a late lunch at AJ's. We then headed back to the condo and swam for quite a while. The most amazing thing happened that night when we went to the beach. There was a huge sea turtle that had crawled up to the beach and was laying eggs! Someone there had said that in the 30 years that they had been coming to the beach, they had never seen that happen!

We left then around 10:00 am on Friday and had a leasurely drive home...Rob drove the entire way while I read a complete Nicholas Sparks book...the boys watched video after video...they were tired and content doing just that! We safely made it home around 10:00 that night.

We had an AMAZING time, and are so thankful that Sam, Lauren & Maria were able to come spend part of our vacation with us! If you ever need a beautiful place to stay while in Destin, let me know. We can lead you in the right direction to a locally-owned condo...you won't be disappointed!