Making Memories

Well, on Friday night, March 2nd, we packed the van up and piled everyone in about 7:30pm and hit the road. Some might say we'd lost our minds to leave when we did. The weather channel had severe weather warnings for what seemed like our entire route to Florida!! We were in for a long night! Before leaving I gave Abby her medicine thinking "well she'll be asleep in the next little bit." I was wrong...very wrong. She did not stop talking or even pause to breathe for the next two and a half hours. I mean, she didn't even pause to breath! I've since checked the van to see if she had some type of oxygen supply rigged to allow her to talk without taking a breath! WOW! All Chris and I could think was "this is really going to be a long trip!" I don't think she ever actually fell asleep, I believe she passed out from lack of oxygen and was unconscious for a little over 2 hours! Once her oxygen was replenished she was up again and chatting away for another 2 straight hours! Samuel was asleep by about halfway through North Carolina and didn't wake up again until we were almost through Atlanta! That boy knows how to travel!! Then there is the tiniest one of the three...Madison. I think that child snuck some coffee before we left because she was awake for most of the 13 hrs of the trip! She only slept maybe an hour and a half! The rest of the time she sat in her car seat, quiet as a mouse, and looking like she was on the verge of passing out but would stay awake! We had several good laughs about it because she would sit for miles with a glazed look in her eyes, mouth wide open with her thumb hanging in there, and looking like a bobble head but still awake! She was so quiet though never making a sound. Bless her heart she was also sick and has been since we've been here but it has not stopped her or dampened her happy always smiling mood until she's about ready to crash....then you can't stop the tears! The weather during the trip was awful and raining the entire time with maybe an hour break off and on. The rain came down in barrels not buckets and the lightning at times was so bright that it left you blinded for a second! I was so thankful for a husband who did such a fantastic job driving through it all! He really was amazing! Especially when you think we left just two hours after he got home from a 10 hour day at work! INSANITY!!

We made it to to Florida around 8:15 am and realized we had an entire rainy day to keep busy since we couldn't go into the condo until 3pm. We stopped at Paw Paw's house first and saw him which wired the kids and woke them up good! The all of us went and saw a family friend and spent a little time visiting with her, followed by a visit with Omi, Chris' mom where the kids were again wired and excited and tired and fussy and hungry! We decided to get them something to eat and realized it was only 10:30 and we still had an entire day to keep them occupied!! After a few texts we went spent our waiting time at Matt's....my ex-husband's.Yes, I know that sounds very strange to all of you but he, Chris and I have developed a friendship and we actually had a nice time visiting, talking and laughing. Madison passed out on his bed...she was running fever and not feeling well and even Chris zonked out in the leather chair. Around 2:30 we loaded up and headed to the island ready to see this condo and check everything out! We hadn't been there 10 minutes and Abby ran to me and said "I love this condo!!!" The week was already off to a good start!

The week was full of days playing in the sand on the beach, going to the zoo, visiting friends and family, a trip to Build A Bear, the Bass Pro Shop, and so much more!! We were on the go constantly and I came to appreciate the few hours in the condo here and there when Maddy would take a nap and Abby and Sammy were occupied playing for a while. My favorite time of day was getting up at 6:00am, brewing a pot of coffee and sitting on our balcony with my coffee watching the sun come up as the waves crashed ashore and dolphins played out in the surf. THAT was my piece of paradise everyday! We also went to First Baptist Church of Niceville where Daddy used to pastor and saw so many dear sweet friends! It was a blessing to be able to love on them again!! On the trip home we decided to break it into two days. We drove to Cartersville, GA where we stayed with my old college roomy that I had not seen in 15 years!! Getting to see her again and meet her husband and kids was definitely a major highlights of the trip for me!! We really enjoyed our night and morning with them...not to mention the awesome food she cooked for us while we were there! It's amazing how after 15 years you can still pick up where you left off and suddenly it doesn't seem like it's been that long! Such a blessing to have lifelong friends like that!

All in all it was an amazing week. Our very first family vacation was a huge success. Nothing could beat watching our kids have such a wonderful time and being so excited about everything that we did and saw! I loved experiencing everything through our children's eyes! It was something that I can not put into words! Although it was a long trip down, very busy while we were there, and a long trip back, I am looking forward to our next family vacation and the memories that will come with it!

Now we are home and settling back into our daily routines. Chris has been back at work for two days, Abby is back at school, and Maddy, Sammy and I are trying to re-establish our daily routine at home! I suppose it's good to be home...LOL My coffee doesn't taste the same as it did, I guess the salt air added a little something to it but I'm happy that my kids were happy and excited to be home. Abby was especially happy to be back in school and when you get down to it that's all that matters...our children had a great time and are happy to be home with tons of new and exciting memories to talk about!