Our Visit to Pensacola

Last week we took our very first family vacation. We went down to Pensacola, Fl to spend the week with my sister Megan and her family - before her husband deploys... for the third time. We drove through the night and the boys did great. Both trips I think we may have only had like 15 minutes of tears. Which was definitely a wonderful surprise :)

We did all get sick - which stunk - but other than that, we had a really great time. It was warm and sunny and we got to go to the beach a couple times, a local zoo, the Naval Aviation Museum, shopping, and even eat out - which is no small feat with 4 little kids. We got to do everything we had wanted to do. And it was really nice.

It was also really nice just to get to see their lives down there. Their home, where Joss goes to school and dance class, where Corey works, where they shop on base, etc. I feel like we miss a lot being so far part. But it really was great to get to be a part of their lives for the week. And now I feel like I can at least picture things in my head when I think about them way down there.

And, of course, I'll always have all the pictures from the week to help me remember :)

Almost there.... Jared having some coffee at a McDonald's right by their house. We stopped for breakfast and to call and make sure they were all up and ready for us!

Tired but excited to be in Florida!

Sliding at the Play Place between bites of his breakfast

Ready to be out of the car and playing, I think :)

We're there! The guys playing some Wii Ping Pong

Bath Time the first night

The Beach! Holden's very first time at the ocean

Going to feel the water with Uncle Corey and the kids

Going for a walk in the sand with Daddy

Checking out the water again

♥

My beach boys

Happy baby in the shade

Soaking up some sun

Playing in the sand with Jossy

Looking at the water

Everyone playing by the water

Building sandcastles and digging holes

All together at the beach♥

Our family at the zoo

Off to find some animals

Petting zoo. Feeding the goats with Daddy

Looking at the bunnies!

The giraffes!

We got to feed them! (I was definitely more excited about it than Holden was)

Jared's turn

He just loves sitting with me. Har-dee-har-har :)

Joss feeding the llamas

Holden's favorite part: the monkeys!

Checking out the animals







The tiger was pacing on the opposite side of the fence from us.

Megan. Running by the tiger cage to try and get his attention. :)

Gator.

Looking at the alligator with Mommy

Silly bear in his water

Peekin' through the gorilla cut out

Me and Meg

Zonked.

Silly Daddies

Riding the little carousel

He had fun at the zoo :)

Our second day at the beach

Playing in the sand

Running all around. Trying to get Mommy to chase him.

Everyone taking a walk on the beach

Making a sandcastle

Getting some help from Aunt Megan

Jared and Bridger - catching some rays

Football!

Felix got the ball! Get him Holden! (He wouldn't) Haha :)

Sleepy head.

Felix and Holden playing together

This kid will eat anything.

Visiting the Naval Aviation Museum on our last day

Being ornery. Of course.

He wanted back down to run around. Stinker.
(Meanwhile, Felix is smiling big in the plane beside us!)

Sitting in a plane

Little pilot

Climbed in this one all by himself

The play area

His favorite part of the day :)

3

Loves to slide

Here come the rest of the boys

I just love this picture. Such a happy last memory of our vacation♥