Florida: Week 1

What better way to celebrate the last day of the school year than heading to Florida to start our fun family vacation. We had been counting down to long days in the pool, a slower pace, Nagymama's Chicken Paprikas, Uno tournaments and unlimited family time for a while. This was our first year driving to Florida with the girls and the longest road trip we have ever attempted as a family. After much consideration, we decided to leave when the girls were ready to go to bed. They waited patiently for the car to get loaded for bedtime!

The car was fully loaded with all kinds of snacks, movies and games, but we started with cozy blankets, pillows and a full night's sleep. Driving through the night wasn't the easiest option for Joe and I, but on a 24 hour trip few things trump eight hours of silent, uninterrupted driving and completely content kiddos. We were in Virgina by the time the girls woke up! 

Oliver spent most of his time riding like a royal puppy in my lap and loved every minute of it.

 

I do not exaggerate when I say he acts like a human child. No one put him in this position on my chest. Joe snapped the picture when Ollie and I were taking our rest.

North Carolina was an exciting stop! We had finally reached the south. The girls were excited to use their road trip wallets filled with change to get the treats of their choice in the vending machine. It's a a special day when you can choose any piece of candy you want!

In South Carolina, we stopped for a picnic lunch.

Here's the thing. We had every intention of stopping at a hotel halfway through our trip to rest up and take a break, but the finish line kept getting closer and closer AND the girls weren't complaining. They were loving the road trip! Everyone was happy. We had an unnatural amount of energy to keep driving and just kept pushing ourselves a little further. Then, just like that we were in Florida. We knew if we made it to Florida that evening, we would push through, but that was probably when we needed a break the most. The girls were ready to get out of the car and be done. It was bedtime again. Emotions were high and we started crumbling. The last two hours in the car were the most challenging, but we made it. I climbed in the back and snuggled my babies to bed for the last leg of the ride. Our beds have never felt as good as that night when we arrived.

A total perk of driving straight through was waking up the next morning to an extra full day in Florida. We were ready to start our favorite vacation strategy: roll out of bed, roll into the pool..from PJs to bathing suits back to PJs again! I mean we do get dressed sometimes and of course we have our coverups handy for our poolside meals. :)

First thing in the morning, the girls took care of Mama's hair with their traveling beauty salon, while the puppies were reunited.

And she thought she would never be seen with colored streaks in her hair...

One of my favorite parts of being here are the sweet reminders I find of my Nagypapa when I'm least expecting it. Whenever I see this glass, I picture him. I think of him sitting at the head of the table with his favorite glass filled with iced water. I hear his voice telling me to not talk so much at the table because I am going to bite my tongue (which he accurately predicted many times) and it makes me smile. Whenever Cory and I see this glass we think of him, so I choose it every chance I get.  

The girls were like fish in water our entire trip. They conquered fears and tried new things. Ella has always been pretty fearless when it comes to jumping in and getting completely wet. This year, Abby joined her and became quite the jumper. She even spent some time swimming and jumping without her floaties. The girls swam and played imaginary games for hours. Honestly, the four of us could stay in the pool all day long and not get bored.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVSIMfPqqE0

I enjoyed all six books that I read on vacation, but this one was by far my favorite. Challenging, encouraging and a perspective changer for sure. It's always a good book when it makes you laugh really hard, while challenging you on a deep level and continuing to point your heart to Jesus page after page.

Oliver had his very first swim lesson and did great! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiFY4xD7d3c

One of Joe's very favorite parts of Florida are the afternoon thunderstorms. He found a partner in Ella this afternoon.

Bedtime stories and Uno tournaments with Mama are the best.

After dinner, the girls were so excited about a trip to the ice cream shop that Joe convinced them to walk instead of drive. The extreme heat wasn't going to stop them from getting Superman flavored ice cream.

Our little buddy learned very quickly what it meant to be on vacation! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ-TfP4EO7s

I loved this throwback comparison. In 2012, I was pregnant with Ella on our trip to Florida. Three years later, the picture is strangely similar, while being so very different. I love our life together.

It didn't take long for Ollie to make himself right at home. He loved the freedom of Mama's patio and the company of Buffy. While we were making breakfast each morning, he would wander outside and hang out by the water.

Nothing like a little photo shoot before our first day at the beach.

Not sure where Abby learned to pose like a European H&M model, but she's a natural.

Ella brings her own slice of life to everything we do!

The girls were really proud of their sand castle!

Put the girls to sleep in their own beds and came in an hour later to find them like this.

The girls got really excited about the idea of planning a Friday night pizza pool party. Joe (being the really fun daddy that he is) took the girls to the dollar store to buy decorations and everything they needed to set up for the party. Mama and I took care of the Pina Coladas and pizza! It was so much fun.

The girls came back with leis, drink umbrellas and paper lanterns. The mood was set and the pizza pool party was a success. Everything about it screamed: "This is summer!"

the party planners

the after dinner swim