We're Home

We are home. Finally. It took a lot longer coming home than it did going, mostly because the kids were awake, hungry, had to potty, somebody hit them, thunderstorm, well you name it. Also, the 2 hour adventure at the Cracker barrell didn't help, and we were only 2 hours from home. It was a good trip, but I can wait another year or two before going on another one.
Here are a few things I learned on this trip.
1. Dramamine is a lifesaver (Tessa didn't throw up once, and mostly slept)
2. Nobody ever has to go potty at the same time.
3. Craig really loves to ride around.
4. Ice cream really is expensive.
5. The outlet malls are not cheap.
6. Don't leave town while your garden is in bloom.
7. I really like being home.
8. We can't fit all of our luggage in the car all at once (we were all sitting on something, had something under our feet and something beside us on the way back).
9. 7 people is a lot to travel with, people look at you weird when you get out.
10.I still wouldn't trade any of it.

Last Day...

This is our last night here. We have had a pretty good day. We spent the morning at the pool, then headed for the beach. I decided to show Craig and the kids that I could get in the ocean, but I later regretted that. I tried to surf on the surfboard which didn't work out like I've seen it done on T.v. I actually ended up being dragged in several times before I could ever get up. Ofcourse everyone got a big laugh out of my near death experience. On top of that, while I was being swallowed by waves, I was bit in 2 different places by what I believe was either a jellyfish or a swordfish. Yes, I do have marks to prove this. I still don't think I have all the sand off, it really was a tramatic experience. Anyway, after we rested a while we went out to eat, to the outlet mall, and back to the go carts for one last ride. Now everyone is going for one last swim and to ride the waves, I am staying in by myself to pack and relax. We'll be home tomorrow!!

Still here...

We're still here. The kids are swimming, the boys are fishing and I'm in the room, listening to them squeal as we speak. I bet our neighbors love us!! Good thing we don't know anyone here....

Another Day....

Today was even better. It started off with us going to watch the blue angels air show, the only problem is we got lost and got there right when they were landing. Still, it was a sight to see. The museum was amazing and we ending up spending most of the day there, and staying for an imax movie. We really did have a great time there, it was like going back in time, which I always love. Anyway, then we did find the invisible beach. It was very nice, although we had to watch where we were walking there were so many jellyfish. The kids did get a lot of shells though. After searching for shells we were starving so we stopped at this seafood buffet place called Hazels. It was actually pretty good, and the kids loved it because there was icecream. After, all that we were so tired but went to the pool, the beach, the pool, the beach, then finally getting frusterated, to the room!!! We had peanut butter and jelly for supper and in about 30 minutes we are popping in a movie and heading down for the night. Isaiah and Craig are going deep sea fishing early in the morning, so they will need their strength for those big fish they are going to catch!! Just 2 more full days and we are BACK!!

Much better...

Well, last night was much better. We went to eat at this great place called Lamberts Home of the throwed rolls. It was so much fun. The kids loved it and so did we. They came around throwing rolls, having racoons jump out at you, and fake ketchup being squirted at you when you asked for potatoes, I think I screamed about 4 times while we were eating. It was a lot of fun. Then we went to the racecar track, where I got completely soaked on the bumper boats.
Right now we are getting ready to go back to the invisible beach Craig has been looking for and watch the airplanes do tricks. This should be interesting!! I'm finally starting to settle in on this vacation. We got a lot of rest yesterday and did a lot of nothing until last night. Now that's what I'm talking about for vacation!
I called to check on the baby pups and they were doing great. Unexpected visitors let them out yesterday along with the morning and night ones who are letting them out, so they are very happy and well fed. Now our garden on the other hand might be quickly diminishing..... Everything would be ripe the week we leave.

So far...

Well, yesterday was a whirilwind... I'm still trying to figure out why we call this thing a vacation. We checked in, went to the beach for about 5 minutes before they were ready to go to the pool. Then we went to the pool for about 30 then they were ready for the beach, hungry, tired, you name they needed it. We went to lunch, which by the way cost 45 bucks, then we went back to the beach, pool, room again. This time we ate pizza bites for supper, then off again we went to find this invisible beach, Tim keeps telling Craig about. We have looked for it 3 times yesterday, going 20 minutes each way to find it and never found it. So, we decided to get ice cream last night, and Craig passed 3 ice cream parlors before we could finally stop at one 30 minutes away from our place, does it sound like I'm complaining? Sorry. But we finally did get ice cream and it was delicious, except my digestive system didn't really appreciate it, for most of the night. Here it is morning now and most of the kids have been up since I would say 6 or before, arguing, fighting and best of all waking up all of our neighbors I'm sure!! They are ready to go swimming and I'm just ready for some advil or something I can't move my head in either direction, I have a horrible crick in it. Well, this is vacation so I might as well enjoy it. Right?

These were some of the happy highlights....

First picture!

This is the early morning Cracker barrell picture, Emma was ofcourse "shopping", I think she's already spent most of her money at Cracker Barrell & Walmart this morning.

Good News, they let us check in early and we have internet so, I guess you will be hearing a lot more out of us....

We're here!!

Well, sort of.... It is 6:56 a.m. and we just got through eating at the cracker barrell. I think we got in gulf shores around 3:30. I slept pretty much the entire way up until we stopped for breakfast. We can't check in until 2 p.m so right now the kids are playing checkers and we are rocking on the front porch of the Cracker Barrell. Craig is singing so he must be delirious from being awake all night. Anyway, that's the update! Oh yeah, I woke up at one point and he was fixing to head to New Orleans, good thing I woke up!! That boy has no concept of time or distance, much less gas prices!

Ok.... We are almost off!!

It's Sunday night, and we are getting ready to pull out for vacation!! I can't believe it's finally here. We are choosing to drive at night, well... because it's pure torture during the day!! So, to make the trip very peaceful and memorable (in a good way) Craig is driving and we are sleeping. I got Tessa's dramamine ready in case anyone is wondering, she gets so carsick even when we drive across town. The dog's are double fed, the fish is fed, one died today so we just have 1 left. Several friends, and family are taking care of our precious puppies this week, so please pray that they are able to get them back in their pen once they get them out. They are getting better about that, well a little.... Anyway, if we have internet I will definately update if not, just imagine us with 5 kids on the beach, living it up, soaking in the sand and listening to the waves crash. Wow!! They are loading up now so I guess I better hop in.