Disclosure: this post contains an endless amount of Nix family photos and details. There are multiple shots of the same child, doing the same thing, wearing the same cute outfit, on the same day. I realize that a good writer knows her audience and "writes" to them, so to speak. Well, my audience is my future self. It is the future self that one day looks back and wonders "what exactly did I do with the law degree"? Well, Future Sarah, you had an amazing family trip to Destin!
This is our fifth annual family trip to Destin, and each year it seems to get better. Thankfully, all three kiddos seem to love the beach as much as Brad and I do, which is good for them because otherwise they would have a miserable time :)
Our trip started off with a three hour flight delay in Houston, but luckily a family from Second Baptist was also flying into Florida and the kids entertained each other in the airport. Natalie and James have always loved the shuttle ride to/from airport parking---they call it the "bus"
As soon as we landed we headed to the beach to squeeze in a few minutes of sunshine and sand. Luke was determined to carry this ball with him.
As I said, numerous pictures of the same kid(s), doing the same thing, in the same outfit, on the same day.
The bucket Natalie is carrying is actually from last year. My mom bought it for her at the dollar store, and she has talked of her "mermaid buk-tet" for the past three months. She (and I) was elated that Aunt Susan still had it around!
This little angel was not excited about the sand at first. He couldn't figure out whether he disliked it enough to miss out on the fun that the other two were having.
My sweet boys
The menu at the beach includes a lot of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Doritos (aka "beach chips"), bacon, ice cream, BLTs, and a few veggies thrown in here and there. Luke LOVED cereal every morning. And he loved pushing this truck around.
Like father, like son.
Luke and Natalie spent most of their days playing in the sand. There was a lot of digging, dumping, and scooping
At one point Brad, Natalie and James were building a "pool" down near the water, which looks like this....
Luke and I were sitting in the sand, and he walked back up to the chairs, grabbed his shovel, and came and sat back down with me. Ready to go in and help, if they needed him.
Brad is the best playmate at the beach. He will dig, swim, and pull the kids on the boogie board and boat until he is worn out.
This little dude. Of all of our kids, this one has tolerated/liked the beach the most as a toddler. He is about as laid back as it gets.....
Holding down the fort
"Uncle Jimmy" left a gift in the closet for James. Needless to say, it was a huge hit! I think we even managed to make it home with all of the superheroes, which is remarkable.
We also did a lot of cooking and baking this trip. Here the kids are helping me make a chocolate and coconut pound cake, which Brad so graciously pointed out that I ate about 3/4ths of it.
Two of my favorite pictures of this sweet, happy child
I couldn't get enough of these cuddles
Snacks at the beach. In keeping with the menu, milk was somehow replaced with juice.
One evening Brad grilled burgers, and we had a picnic on the beach. I believe James ate three ears of corn. Not kidding. A very fun and special evening.
One of my favorite things about our trip is breakfast at the Donut Hole. My favorite pancakes.
Boiled peanuts and a beer--what's not to love
This train is a rip off at $5/person, but they always seem to enjoy it.
We also make a stop at the go-karts each year.
What a difference a year makes. Last year Natalie wanted nothing to do with the rides, but this year she wanted to ride over and over again.
Again, not the clearest picture, but Natalie and I had a fun spin around the track as well.
Poor little Luke will have to wait a year--or two.
We bought kites for the kids earlier in the week, but Natalie somehow broke the string. The entire week she kept asking when she was going to get to fly her kite. I'm not sure if she really understood the concept, but she was amazed. That is, until she just let go of it. James was an expert.
In trying to compose this blog post, I went back and looked at our past beach trip pictures. It is almost heartbreaking how quickly these kiddos are growing.
Still smiling on the flight home
We had a wonderful trip! Perfect weather, precious time together, and a lot of relaxation.
This is our fifth annual family trip to Destin, and each year it seems to get better. Thankfully, all three kiddos seem to love the beach as much as Brad and I do, which is good for them because otherwise they would have a miserable time :)
Our trip started off with a three hour flight delay in Houston, but luckily a family from Second Baptist was also flying into Florida and the kids entertained each other in the airport. Natalie and James have always loved the shuttle ride to/from airport parking---they call it the "bus"
As soon as we landed we headed to the beach to squeeze in a few minutes of sunshine and sand. Luke was determined to carry this ball with him.
As I said, numerous pictures of the same kid(s), doing the same thing, in the same outfit, on the same day.
The bucket Natalie is carrying is actually from last year. My mom bought it for her at the dollar store, and she has talked of her "mermaid buk-tet" for the past three months. She (and I) was elated that Aunt Susan still had it around!
This little angel was not excited about the sand at first. He couldn't figure out whether he disliked it enough to miss out on the fun that the other two were having.
My sweet boys
I was bound and determined to get a shot of the three of them in their cute beach outfits. (I even begged a friend to monogram Luke's seersucker the night before we left) By the end of the "photo shoot" everyone was wet, sandy and happy
The menu at the beach includes a lot of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Doritos (aka "beach chips"), bacon, ice cream, BLTs, and a few veggies thrown in here and there. Luke LOVED cereal every morning. And he loved pushing this truck around.
Like father, like son.
Luke and Natalie spent most of their days playing in the sand. There was a lot of digging, dumping, and scooping
Much to James's dismay, Natalie thoroughly enjoyed knocking over the sand castles. Little mischievous thing.
At one point Brad, Natalie and James were building a "pool" down near the water, which looks like this....
Luke and I were sitting in the sand, and he walked back up to the chairs, grabbed his shovel, and came and sat back down with me. Ready to go in and help, if they needed him.
Lots of burying each other
Brad is the best playmate at the beach. He will dig, swim, and pull the kids on the boogie board and boat until he is worn out.
This little dude. Of all of our kids, this one has tolerated/liked the beach the most as a toddler. He is about as laid back as it gets.....
Holding down the fort
"Uncle Jimmy" left a gift in the closet for James. Needless to say, it was a huge hit! I think we even managed to make it home with all of the superheroes, which is remarkable.
We also did a lot of cooking and baking this trip. Here the kids are helping me make a chocolate and coconut pound cake, which Brad so graciously pointed out that I ate about 3/4ths of it.
James loved, loved, loved the beach and water. Loved it. He was in heaven running, playing, jumping, splashing, swimming, and boogie boarding over and over and over.
Natalie was content, for the most part, to sit in the sand and watch.
During nap time Brad and I will alternate--one stays at the house with the kids, and the other goes down to the beach for a little R&R. On one of my days to stay at the house, this was my sweet nap partner. Doesn't she look so little and so relaxed?
Snacks at the beach. In keeping with the menu, milk was somehow replaced with juice.
One evening Brad grilled burgers, and we had a picnic on the beach. I believe James ate three ears of corn. Not kidding. A very fun and special evening.
One of my favorite things about our trip is breakfast at the Donut Hole. My favorite pancakes.
Down by the Boardwalk.
Boiled peanuts and a beer--what's not to love
This train is a rip off at $5/person, but they always seem to enjoy it.
We also make a stop at the go-karts each year.
What a difference a year makes. Last year Natalie wanted nothing to do with the rides, but this year she wanted to ride over and over again.
These aren't the best pictures, but you get the idea. On the way to ride go-karts, James said he wanted to ride with dad "so they would win".
Again, not the clearest picture, but Natalie and I had a fun spin around the track as well.
Poor little Luke will have to wait a year--or two.
We bought kites for the kids earlier in the week, but Natalie somehow broke the string. The entire week she kept asking when she was going to get to fly her kite. I'm not sure if she really understood the concept, but she was amazed. That is, until she just let go of it. James was an expert.
In trying to compose this blog post, I went back and looked at our past beach trip pictures. It is almost heartbreaking how quickly these kiddos are growing.
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| 2013 |
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| 2014 |
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| 2015 |
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| 2015 with an added beach-goer |
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| 2013 |
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| 2014 |
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| 2015 |
We had a wonderful trip! Perfect weather, precious time together, and a lot of relaxation.
You could've posted 500 more photos, and it wouldn't have been too many for CC!!! 💙💚💙💚💙💚
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