On the road and happy by 9 am...we made a pit stop to eat breakfast at a Waffle House and ended up at a Shoney's, which was pretty good. Makaila was still not feeling well, and stayed asleep in the car! Once we were done eating we made one more stop to fill our gas tanks and then Danny for whatever reason looked at the tires on Ceci's car and noticed that each one of them was ripped - and in a very dangerous state!!! We called around the area to different tire shops and stores, got several different quotes then ended up spending the next three hours getting new tires on her car. While the guys waited for the installation, the kids and Ceci and I hit up a Marshall's. I got two pairs of really cute sandals, some blankets for the girls (because they forgot to pack theirs), a romper for Makaila and then we headed back to the tire shop.
It was an unplanned stop, but the alternative could have been very scary and was totally unnecessary. I kinda believe in the whole...God's plan is divine, and everything happens for a reason...so I was glad to spend our day making sure we all got there safely versus the magnitude of the what if's had we kept going without having noticed the tires!
It was a long day on the road, and we ended up arriving in Destin at about 9:30 Monday evening. We were all tired, and yet no one was really cranky which was nice!!
We unloaded the cars and then headed to wal-mart to buy groceries and necessities for the week. We came back home, cut up fruit and cleaned hte kitchen and then all headed to bed. It was a little after midnight by the time we went to bed, but we were there and the next day would be fantastic...so we all went to bed hopeful and happy.
Tuesday - I woke up a little early, and no one was awake yet, so I put on my workout clothes and headed out for a run. Back home....I hate running. It is not an exercises that I enjoy nor do I do it often...but in Florida - I love to run. I love to check out the scenery, and I love love love to walk back along the shore line picking up shells letting my feet get wet, and enjoy the morning breeze.
I ran down to the Crab Trap, and then headed down to the beach and walked back along the shore. It was awesome. I came up a little before our turn (mainly because I wasn't sure how to gauge my distance from the beach versus the sidewalk), and I'm glad that I did because after a few more steps I ran into Danny. He had suited up and come in search of me to join me on my morning run. I was presently surprised! We instead took our shoes off, and walked the beach the rest of the way back to our cottage home. It was great. I know in all our years of going to Destin, that has never happened....so it was a first I am definitely grateful for! We made it back and everyone else was awake and starting breakfast. We all ate, and got showered and ready, then headed out to the beach for the day. The kids played, we all swam, and Isabella because a master of the boogie board. I honestly think this was the first time I really got in the ocean and enjoyed it. Usually I stay on the beach watching the kids, or reading, but this time I got all in and really enjoyed the water- it was breathtaking!!
Once we got tired, we went back to the cabin to shower and eat, and decide what was next on the agenda.
We headed over to the Emerald Grande with the intention of renting jet skis. While Danny went to check out the availability, it started to get kinda gloomy. Turned out we couldn't rent them as there was impending rain, so we decided to head back to the house, and get dressed for dinner, and return to the village to have dinner and enjoy the Fat Tuesday parade.
After quick showers for everyone, we headed back to the village, and had dinner at Margaritaville. The food was nothing to brag about, but the pina colada I had was fantastic!!
After dinner, we waited around and watched the night parade go by. The rain was right behind it, so we headed back to the house to call it a night.
It never really got to raining good like we expected, so instead we headed back into the night and had some Bruster's!! It was yummy!!
We headed to bed after that and then came Wednesday! I woke up a little later, but still no one was up, so I suited up in my workout clothes and headed for my run. This time I made it all the way down to the Bad Ass Coffee company (which was pretty freakin far from our house). I was gone until 11am...and Danny called and told me to hurry up! LOL
I showered up and we spent the day at the outlets shopping. Everything seemed great when we got there but it quickly turned ugly. Makaila got pissy because I didn't get excited over a pair of pants that was on sale for $25 at Aero. She got all pissy and started being disrespectful and ugly, so I went to the store and had her try them on (which only made it worse because they were too tight and I wouldn't buy them). I told her that if she was gunna act ugly then to not ask me for anything the rest of the time we were there. So she stayed away from me the rest of the time we were at the outlets. I kept going with Isabella and Danny and it just kept getting worse. A few more stores and then Danny was mad because Isabella was being a brat. I went to the restroom and came back to a crying Issy and a frowny pissed off Danny!! Isn't that how every woman wants to spend her time at an outlet mall...looking at pissy faces!!!
I decided we should leave, cause I was not having fun and started to feel pretty pissy my damn self. I walked back to where we were parked and sat on the bench, and told Danny we needed to leave if they were going to keep walking around looking like that. Of course we didn't leave, but we went our separate ways. I took Issy with me, and Lord only knows where Danny took off to. After about 30 minutes, we both ended up in the Lacoste store feeling a little better, so we shopped together a little while longer - without the attitude and pissy faces. There was really nothing in particular that struck me as a deal, or something I needed or even wanted. I bought a couple outifts for Issy that were like $10, and then a high/low dress she had been in search of for a long time. Danny got a pair of tennis shoes and we called it quits!!
Thank goodness...that shopping trip was the pits!!
We left the outlets and headed to Bubba Gump for lunch!! To say this was the most exciting part of the trip for Issy is an understatement. Isabella has this crazy obsession with the movie Forrest Gump (I don't think I even realized the amount of love she had for this movie until this point). She was super excited to be at Bubba Gump. The entire time she was looking around, and fidgeting and just shaking from sheer excitement. She asked for everything in the gift shop, and was just jumping up and down from her joy! I think her joy spread to everyone it was a tad contagious.
We left there pretty happy, and decided to hit up the Hard Rock area and do a little more shopping! (At this point I must tell you that I know I am immensely blessed to be married to a man who likes to shop and enjoys to take us shopping - it can be a curse financially - but a blessing none the less). Makaila picked a few things she liked at Forever 21, and Isabella got a couple clearance shirts from Gymboree.
We left the shopping places, and decided to head for the beach once again.
Everyone suited up and we sat on the beach watching the sun set. The kids headed back to the house without us, and we sat there for a good while laughing and having a few good drinks on the beach. Another Destin first for us that I really enjoyed!
Thursday morning, we all woke up pretty early and got ready and headed into town to rent a pontoon boat for the morning. There was a gloomy cloud out when we started and so I thought our boat time was gunna be - not so much fun. Luckily we got out from under the rainy cloud and it cleared up quickly....we drove around, took silly pictures, the kids caught some hermit crabs on Crab Island and Danny even caught a fish with Isabella's Barbie fishing pole! (Yet another Destin first). We had a great time on the boat, and I loved it. The kids were happy, the adults were happy and the weather was fantastic.
After the boat ride we had a pizza buffet lunch at Pizza Hut. We stuffed our faces then went back to the house to shower and freshen up. Ceci and I had decided the night before that we wanted to take family pics on the beach. (Another Destin first!!!). Everyone showered up, got pretty and we headed to the beach!
The rain clouds were among us so we had to hurry...I think we got some great pics...don't you!?!?!
We left the beach just as it started to rain. Perfect timing. We headed over to the candy maker, in hopes of watching some taffy being made. No luck, they were done making candy for the day....but they had plenty. The kids all picked their own treats and I took some cute pics while we were there.
It was still early and the rain had come and gone, so we decided to head over to the Baytown Warf to walk around, and check out the new stuff. We again, took some pictures while were were there and had a cocktail, and just relaxed!! It was nice.
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We would be leaving Destin Friday morning - so we watched a little tv, and started gathering our stuff to bring our trip to an end.
We headed to bed at about midnight once again. We woke up Friday morning, adn finished our washing, packing, checking, double checking and loading. We hit the road at about 10 am, and made several pit stops on the way home.
We hit up the Brick Pit in Alabama (featured on the Food Network of course). The food was great!! We were all full!!!
We stopped in Biloxi Mississippi to check out the Hard Rock there. The guys went in a few minutes to the casino and gambled while the rest of us hit the gift shop and the Starbucks!!
We stopped in Lousiana for snacks and gas, and then made it back home by about 8:30. It was fantastic vacation, but it always feels good to be home after a long trip!!
Overall I think Destin 2014 was a great success!! We had a blast, took some great pictures, and made some wonderful memories!!!
I would do it again in a heart beat!!! Thank Jesus for the blessing he pours upon us day after day....for our health and the opportunity to give our girls these memories!!!!
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