Vacation 2016 - part #3

So building sandcastles were a family event!  I loved watching the "bigs" play with and help the "littles"  - warms this momma's heart!

Avery was a little frustrated initially with the boogy board but she figured it out!

Addie did well!  She figured it out quickly!

Addison took to boogy boards right away!!!  She loved it!

Jack was helping Avery learn - so sweet.

There she goes!!!

Dad riding the waves.

Jack helping with the sandcastles

"Hey, Do you want to eat some sand?!?!"

Chillin' in the shade

(Part #4 tomorrow - the beach at night!)

Vacation 2016 - Part #2

I love the beach.  My kids all play regardless of age and for a brief moment, everything really is ok with the world.  This was one of those moments.  

Aliah love the sand, so much so, she was always trying to eat it!  Oh my!

Our little sweetie needed her own shade - of course!

Dad made sure we had a nice set-up on the beach which included shade, chairs and a big cooler!  

Nick enjoyed the waves...

....and the shade!

The entire family helped build this huge castle!  It was fun!

We caught all kinds of wildlife.  Here is a crab we caught.  We also caught a big jelly fish. little tiny ghost crabs, a baby lobster, and a black fish-thingy.  It was fun finding and catching all of them!

We also saw dolphin and several schools of manta ray!

The kids enjoyed boogy boarding in the waves.

I didn't get a picture of this, but the boys were so sweet.  They would put a girl on their back and then let them ride the waves with them that way.  They loved it!

Aliah loved playing in the sand!

I love these pictures of Avery. Such complete, untainted joy.  

More joy. 

The sand was so beautiful.  Serene.

brothers.

Aliah LOVED the ocean.  she would squeal every time she saw it and we'd have to take her directly to it!  She loved the waves and would play and laugh - even is she was splashed in the face!  She's a natural waterbaby.

Our sweet baby girl!  

(More to come tomorrow in part #3)

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Vacation 2016, Part #1

We love the beach, and we felt it was time to take a"beach vacation" so we packed up the family and headed to Fort Morgan, Alabama.

As you can see, Fort Morgan, Alabama is near Gulf Shores - Its about 15 miles West down that panhandle.  Its a little less touristy which we liked.

 We were fortunate to be able to drive this Sprinter van.  I had accumulated a TON of beach stuff which we would never had been able to fit in our van along with the 5 kids.  (Three of which needed carseats)

 When dad drive up in the van, the girls shouted, "The vacation bus is here, the vacation bus is here"..and went sprinting outside to see it!

Our clan making a stop in the vacation-bus.  Nick clearly enjoying the drive!

 Because we have a large family we rented a three bedroom, two bath house about a half mile from the beach. It was nice and fit our family well.  Here are some shots of the inside of it.  This one above is the main living & dining areas.

 Nice big kitchen - we did eat at home most of the time. 

 The bedroom the girls shared - Aliah had a pack-n-play portable bed we set up for her and the girls share the bed.

 More of the living room

 Nick Enjoying the comfy over-stuffed chair.  (He was at officers training camp in Fort Knox so he couldn't make it!)

 The community in which the house was located had a pool which was very nice.  The girls loved it!

(So did Nick!)

 Nick working on his tan!

 Avery jumping in the pool  - the water was SO warm!

 Addison's turn to jump in!

 The girls loved the water!  

(Tomorrow  - the beach!)