Last year we took a small vacation to Destin, Florida, which turned out to be...well...not that fun. It was great from the standpoint that we were out of the house with our kids, at the beach. It was horrible due to the fact that we were out of the house, with two small kids, at the beach. The drive was a four day nightmare, there were jellyfish and stingrays just off the beach, and it was during a time when my wife and I were not...well...playing nicely. But out of that trip came some amazing pictures, and lessons learned.
1. Take your mother to help...Thanks, Mom. Sorry about the arguing.
2. Stick to the pool.
3. Invest in the best DVD player you can afford for the car.
4. If your 3 year old likes to get up at 4am, use that time to go get phenomenal sunrise beach pictures.
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47 comments:
now that is simply precious. you are such a good dad... or a creepy dude with a shoe fetish.
Awwwwwwww...........
My favorite place on the planet - well, it's actually about 20 minutes east of there, but you know.
I agree, sand + small children = major headache (and cute shoe pictures).
Em
What a beautiful, artistic picture!
Beautiful beaches, though, huh Jay? My sister lives there (Niceville, actually), so I've made many a car trip (both with and without children) there myself. Fun fun!
Way to find the positives!
The Destin Chamber of Commerce called. They won't be needing you to write their Welcome to Destin! brochures after all.
wow, positive post--way to find the gem in the sand
That really is a beautiful picture.
(And about the spider thing, it's just too much, right?!? It's one of those things that I just don't believe so I go check it out again. But it is real, and I scream! But I don't believe it so I go check it out again... ;-> )
I love that picture. How adorable!
Happy ATWT
That is an adorable picture!!!
The picture is amazing, but the story tells so much more. Sounds so bittersweet!
Sometimes the worst of vacations end up with the most memories!!!
Ours is many hours in the hot sun with the rental car in the garage, four tired, hungry, hot children in Weedsport, NY -- But we can now laugh about it!
I love that picture, good eye, and good lessons learned!
I love that it seems like the beach stretches on forever.
It's amazing how the same thing can be looked at two different ways. It looks like you choose the positive. Great pic!!
Lovely photo!
We make that 4 day drive every year when we visit my parents in Naples FL. I never want to talk about it for months afterward. It takes time to see the good in experiences sometimes.
Thanks for stopping by my blog..
I went on a beach trip with children involved and it was fairly rough.. They would have had much more fun at the pool..lol
Thanks for stopping by!
What a beautiful picture!! Traveling with two small children is definitely not easy - how you did it for 4 days is beyond me!!
I am SO sorry you had a bad time. We actually went to Destin for the 1st time back in JUne and had an incredible time. The little guy loved the waterfall at the pool and I just loved Destin. I love how you put it "not playing nicely." Hopefully your next trip will be better.
That is a precious picture. I love the vastness of it!
*sigh*
I do miss those Florida beaches, but the endless pools and warm weather is better with kids.
LOVE that shot!
Amazing picture! Even better story!
Great pic... and I agree with the pool! Less sand!
Sounds like our family vacations.
You are among the few men who have ever stopped by my blog! REFRESHING!
Yeah... bringing kids to the beach seems like a good idea until you're actually there. Everyone around you is relaxing, while you're chasing the little monsters, icing jelly fish stings and screaming at the kids not to throw bread at the seagulls. Cute picture though!
Wow! A four day drive with two small children - hmmmm, you are braver than I!
But, on a positive note, love the beautiful picture! Great use of 4:00am photography!
Ahhh....we went to Ft. Walton ( Waterscape) area last summer and loved it! Cute picture~
A four day drive? Wow, you deserve a medal! The most I can handle is the six hour drive from Northern California to Southern California. After six hours, we all get a little grumpy. Great picture though!
What a great shot! Thanks for stopping by today.
Thanks for stoppin' by...I LOVE the picture! But I feel your pain, both with the sand+little kids=woe and the "not playing nice with spouse" issue. Haha! Aren't vacations FUN??! ;)
look at you, you were first on Jen's page! LOVE the picture and great advice about the beach. we actually had a horrible beach trip earlier this summer. went with a friend and her family...total nightmare, always get your own place!!
Great lessons! I never thought about the insanly early rise-time of my son as a blessing. Now I will try and think that way!
Oh, hey! Come here often? :)
Confession: I usually like to wow someone new to my blog with a witty and intelligent comment. You know, wow 'em from the get-go? But.... I just read the post about how you met your wife and I was so touched by the beauty in the writing that... I GOT NOTHING! That's right, NADA! Sigh. Now look what you've done!
All I can say is thanks for stopping by my little old blog and I hope you visit again soon. Oh, and that I'm very much charmed by smart guy bloggers... Keep up the great posts!
:) Robin
I hate the grit of the beach. I'll take poolside ritas any day.
Glad you stopped by. I may have to start stalking you.
I love that picture! I just adore it. My toddler daughter and I both wear crocs all the time, and that would be a wonderful photo. I may have to try it one of these days. :)
Well done!
Beautiful picture. I second that Lesson learned..DVD for the car. I don't think there is anything wrong with the glazed look every now and again from my kids..better than drugging them up!!
That is a great picture! And I don't think anything could convince me to DRIVE for 4 days for a vacation?! You win.
Beautiful picture...I love those little pink crocs nestled in her daddy's shoes!
I just wanted to confirm , they have you book again for this coming 2009 summer. How about the photo of you and the pink thong?
Ah, yes. I, too learned the magic of the DVD player for the car whilst traveling. And a hotel swimming pool? Forget about it. It's all about that stinkin' pool. We packed up the family and took the kiddies to Disneyland this past spring. They were luke warm about the Magical Kingdom, but crazy about that hotel pool!
Yeah, arguing=bad time. And being cooped up in a car only makes it worse. Beautiful picture though!
What a gorgeous picture!!
You've been BOO'd!!
you will be 'booed' on my Friday post- beware!
Hmmmm.. my last vacation was kinda like this. However... there were some good parts to it. It took me a few weeks to realize that, but they were there. Cool post Brother!
Great advice! I have experienced a family trip that didn't go exactly as I thought it would. There are some definite lessons to learn from it, and there's always some great pictures to be taken though. I hope your next vacation is bliss!
Thanks for sharing the great picture!
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