Beach Trip with Family 2011
We had an amazing week on the beach in Gulf Shores with Jeff's entire family! We rented a 5-bedroom house in a gated subdivision on Gulfshore Parkway. The place was perfect, with a pool and lots of room to ride bikes or just run and play. As for the house, each family had its own bedroom and bathroom with one bedroom left for the girls. The boys slept in the living room so they could play their systems on the big TV at night. The only thing that I would change next time is to have a room for them as well, so they could have their privacy as well as a place to sleep late if they choose. Other than that, the house was PERFECT!
With all of our children's ages being so spread apart, there weren't very many time when we were all on the beach at the same time. My inlaws would go down to the beach in the late mornings with Jeff's oldest brother and his family. Their kids were younger and didn't need the afternoon sun. The youngest had to get back for a nap around the time that the rest of us were going out. Our family would get onto the beach in the early afternoon, and each would walk back to the house when he was tired. Jeff and I, along with my sister-in-law, Danielle, would stay until it was time to start dinner. I just hated sitting in the house knowing that the beach was so close. Most of the time I would sit under my umbrella and just listen and watch.
Jeff bought Carter a Hydroslide before leaving for the beach. Carter was so excited to try it...it works like a surf board on the sand. He had to catch a wave going back out and jump on it. It took him a few times, but he finally got it. I had no doubt that he would figure it out!!
Pictures on the beach....we weren't so happy about them. I know that it is one of the things that most people look forward to doing, but we just aren't the "get ready and pose for it" type of family when it comes to pictures. We did it for Jeff's parents because it meant a lot to them.
I loved walking out to the beach each day and seeing this. Because half of the family went out before we did, everything was already set up for us before we got there. Because we were not on a public beach or in a condo area, it was almost like having a private beach!
I loved that time of the day when dinner was done and the sun had gone down. We would all walk back down to the beach, ride our bikes, or swim in the pool. It always amazes me how different the beach looks and feels at night. I loved walking in the sand and feeling amazed that something so hot during the day could feel so wonderful at night. Because it was too dark to see, my ears became more aware of what was around, and the sound of the waves became more beautiful.
We made a couple of trips to do a little shopping.
One of my best times on this trip was an evening that ended somehow with just my sisters-in-law, our kids, and me on the beach together. We dug two deep holes, flew kites, and laughed more than I had the entire trip.
We finally made it to the Hideout on the last night. Even though it seems to be a place that everyone wants to go to when they are on a beach vacation, I wasn't very impressed with it. Maybe if I were on the beach there it would feel different, but as for dressing for dinner and going, I just didn't like it. But hey, at least we got the "chair" pics.
I am proud of our family for getting along so well in the same house for an entire week. I don't know if some families would be able to do that. Even though we see each other often, it's different when you are with each other every waking hour. I felt like I knew the family better afterwards and look forward to doing it again one day!!
Jeff bought Carter a Hydroslide before leaving for the beach. Carter was so excited to try it...it works like a surf board on the sand. He had to catch a wave going back out and jump on it. It took him a few times, but he finally got it. I had no doubt that he would figure it out!!
This is one of my favorite shots of the trip!!! Danielle did a great job at capturing the action right in the middle of the wave.
MiMi and PawPaw usually went out on the beach in the mornings with the younger kids, but we somehow ended up all on the beach together for a short time this afternoon. I wish all of us could have spent more time together out there.
Each night, a family took its turn cooking dinner, but on the third night we all went to eat at Lamberts...the roll throwing place. There was a little wait to get in, but it was so worth it! The food was great, and we all had a great time!!
Pictures on the beach....we weren't so happy about them. I know that it is one of the things that most people look forward to doing, but we just aren't the "get ready and pose for it" type of family when it comes to pictures. We did it for Jeff's parents because it meant a lot to them.
I loved walking out to the beach each day and seeing this. Because half of the family went out before we did, everything was already set up for us before we got there. Because we were not on a public beach or in a condo area, it was almost like having a private beach!
I loved that time of the day when dinner was done and the sun had gone down. We would all walk back down to the beach, ride our bikes, or swim in the pool. It always amazes me how different the beach looks and feels at night. I loved walking in the sand and feeling amazed that something so hot during the day could feel so wonderful at night. Because it was too dark to see, my ears became more aware of what was around, and the sound of the waves became more beautiful.
We made a couple of trips to do a little shopping.
One of my best times on this trip was an evening that ended somehow with just my sisters-in-law, our kids, and me on the beach together. We dug two deep holes, flew kites, and laughed more than I had the entire trip.
We finally made it to the Hideout on the last night. Even though it seems to be a place that everyone wants to go to when they are on a beach vacation, I wasn't very impressed with it. Maybe if I were on the beach there it would feel different, but as for dressing for dinner and going, I just didn't like it. But hey, at least we got the "chair" pics.
I am proud of our family for getting along so well in the same house for an entire week. I don't know if some families would be able to do that. Even though we see each other often, it's different when you are with each other every waking hour. I felt like I knew the family better afterwards and look forward to doing it again one day!!
posted by Sherri | Thursday, November 10, 2011
2 Comments:
That house looks amazing! I am so glad that you all had such a good time. Thank you so much for sharing all of the photos and giving us a peek at all of your family.
It was amazing, Rhonda. That's one good things about going with a lot of families....splitting the cost of a place like that! Jeff's mom and dad were ready to book for the next summer before the trip was even over :). Thanks for the note!
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