I Love Florida!

Gabby and I spent a wonderful (and much needed) week in Santa Rosa, Florida over the last week of August. We met the Andersons and my brother Gabe. We shared a fabulous house and a fabulous time. Originally, we had thought it would be my whole family like we did 2 years ago. For a while, it didn't look like anyone would go at all. Marji and I got to talking and both our families had the time, the house was available, so we made it happen. I was so glad as it was coming up on 2 years since I had any beach time. I know, that's not that long, but I really LOVE the beach.

I am happy to sit at the beach all day. Give me some sunscreen, a good book, a couple cold Diet Dr. Peppers, Red Vines and I am one happy woman. I read 4 books over the week. It was all so wonderfully relaxing. Gabby and Thomas played really well together for the most part and it was nice that they could entertain each other. The waves weren't ever too rough so the kids could safely play in the ocean. With school having started, it almost felt like we had the beach to ourselves. We really didn't see too many other kids. The kids were always done with the beach well before I was ready to head back to the house. We did a little bit of shopping at the outlet malls in Destin, some go-carting, but really it was all about the beach!

Gabby took right to the beach. She's had a love/hate relationship with the beach over the years and I think the hate portion is officially over!

She wasted no time getting in the ocean

There's a dead crab in that net. That was the best we could catch

Isn't she the cutest 5 year old ever?

Gabe was great about playing with the kids. We were the only ones who hadn't seen Gabe since he got home from his mission in June. It was great catching up with him. Gabby was quite taken with Uncle Gabe.

That's Gabby way off in the distance. I love how big the beach is!

This was with Marji's much nicer camera. Gabby is tickling me with a feather

The house even had a pool in back. Jim throwing Gabby up in the air

The sandcastle built by me and Gabby. Thomas was itching to destroy it. It lasted a good hour.

Gabby took care to make sure the seagulls didn't disturb us. I think she got "idiots" from my road rage.