Family Vacation!!!

We decided to take a family vacation this year. Brad and I have been lucky enough to go on several vacations without the kids since graduating from residency, but this time, we thought the boys were old enough to go with us. So, I found a nice beach house (equipped with a pool & hot tub in the backyard) in Destin, Florida and around the 10th of September, we headed off on our first family beach vacation!

Luckily, my parents were willing to come on vacation with us so that Brad and I were still able to have some relaxation time. So, sit back and enjoy the pictures (along with a little commentary) of my FABULOUS birthday week/vacation!
Dad on the body board. He was probably the most into catching a good wave!
The first day at the beach, Levi mainly dug in the sand. He didn't get too close to the shore, but he would run in the water that had washed up in the middle of the beach.
Jacob thought the beach was pretty cool.
The first day at the beach, Jacob spent most of his time digging a giant hole. He talked Brad into helping him...and also Grandpa.
The hole got pretty deep. It's up to his shoulders! Once it was complete, there was water in the bottom of it, and Jacob would just sit in it and sort of lay down...it was a bit cozy for laying down, but he sure had a fun time digging that hole!
Eventually, Levi got sick of being at the beach and thought he'd find his own way home ;)
Grandpa was kind enough to get him and bring him back. You can see (especially if you click to enlarge the picture) that Levi didn't really like the sound of the waves.
Here's my beach boy!
Jacob enjoyed jumping in the waves.

We also talked him into going out into the ocean with Grandma on a raft. He wasn't so sure at first, but being the nice parent I am, I forced him and then he got used to it.

While on vacation, I had my birthday. This is before Brad and I went on our date. (Yep, that's my belly at about 21 weeks pregnant.) The family on my birthday.

We waited until the next day to have birthday cake since we got home kind of late from our date. I think Jacob was a lot more excited for my birthday than I was.
At the beach, we found a crab. My Dad spent about 10-15 minutes catching the crab, just to release it. We had no fishing license, so we didn't take it home to eat...beside the fact that none of us really likes sea food!


Levi made himself useful by bringing the raft in from the beach :)

I found a really hot guy coming out of the ocean, so I took a picture.
Same hot guy showing off his 'mad' Frisbee skills!
Even the old guy on the beach had some nice catches!

We took the kids to a place called Fudpuckers. You're supposed to be able to feed the alligators...but these alligators must've already been fed because they weren't too interested in what we had to give them. The one with his mouth open is YAWNING! not asking for more :(


The boys enjoyed more riding on the alligators :)

At the pool in our backyard, my dad found a small gecko in the pool. Jacob was too scared to hold it, but Levi doesn't know yet to be scared of things, so he held it...the photographer was just a little late snapping that picture!

The boys in the hot tub. They loved it!

Jacob sure seems old in this picture to me! He really enjoyed relaxing, having unlimited access to Brad's phone to play "Air Slice" and he enjoyed the XBox that was in his room of the rental house.
Levi enjoyed bike rides with Grandpa and having unlimited access to Teletubbies in his bedroom. (There were 4 bedrooms in the house, each with their own TV...the boys were in heaven!)
The ride home was long, but it was definitely a fun trip. I'm pretty sure my mom has seen Toy Story enough times to never want to see it again!

We had a blast as a family and I would highly recommend Destin if you ever want to take a beach vacation!