Family Photos on the Beach

We planned to take a group photo on Sunday morning at the beach and Cynthia found beautiful white sundresses at Target that fit all of the girls. I brought our tripod so we could attempt a group photo, which I knew would be very iffy since it is hard enough to get everyone to stand together. I imagined it would take forever and we probably wouldn't get a great shot, but it is worth a try. Luckily, just as I was trying to set up, a nice young lady who happens to be a professional photographer in Virginia came over and offered to take pictures for us!! She actually lives in Norfolk, so most of her photography is on the beach which was perfect! She got some great pictures of all of us, even though it was difficult to remove our sunglasses since it was so bright outside. Then, she stayed and took the group pictures of each family and CK Sr and Connie with all the grandkids. The only pictures we ended up taking ourselves was of the five grandkids by themselves. She really captures some great photos and we were SO lucky that she offered to help us!

All of us!

Without sunglasses

Another good one

Love this photo of the four of us!

Also this one with Sofia looking at Olivia

CK, Connie and all the grandkids

Jay, Cynthia and their three

Love this photo of the four older kids

Close up

All the grandkids/cousins together!

Fun in Destin

The next few days in Destin were just as fun, starting with a visit to the beach for a few hours and then a trip to the pool. CK would drive over to the Donut Hole to pick up two dozen donuts which are absolutely divine and made our mornings! All the kids had a great time playing together and building sand castles. We even buried Jillian and Olivia like 'mermaids' and they tried to do the same to each other after that which was really cute to watch.

On Sunday night we walked down to the Crab Shack and enjoyed a great meal sitting outside. The food was delicious and it was fun to sit overlooking the beach. The restaurant has a playground and the kids played for awhile before we walked home and went to bed.

On Monday morning, we loaded up and said goodbye to everyone and a fun weekend together. The girls played together and napped on the flight home. They both have a lot of sleep to catch up on!

Girls with Grandma at the beach

Nap time at the beach!

Wading into the water together

Playing in the sand

The two mermaids

Trying to recreate the mermaid sand covering

Playing together

Sweet cousins and friends!

Saying Goodbye to Grandpa just before we flew off on Monday morning

Our view on take-off

As we flew, I played with the settings on my little camera and took the following pictures which I thought turned out pretty interesting:

Olivia's Beach Birthday Party!

All day Connie spent downstairs and CK told me she was putting together a "little" birthday party for Olivia. I should have known that Connie never does anything "little"! First, she and the kids decorated the living room with paper cut-out fish and sea creatures and set out lanterns on the deck. Next came the food, which was amazing and so creative! The party was a beach theme and all of the food fit in with the beach! Connie made little "pool party" scenes with blue jello and candy, hard boiled egg "sail boats," "crab" chicken salad and tuna salad sandwiches, "octopus" hummus, and the kids decorated a dish and made a cute beach scene with candy and food. Of course there were also cupcakes on a cupcake stand decorated with shells. It was magical! We sang enjoyed the cute food, which was delicious as well as cute before singing Happy Birthday to Olivia! She had a bit of difficulty blowing out the three candles, but Papa helped her before the kids all got a cupcake.

After eating, Olivia opened her gifts from Grandma and Grandpa as well as Aunt Cynthia, Uncle Jay and cousins. Grandma and Grandpa gave her an Elsa doll and two adorable pair of shoes - white sandals and black dress shoes. They also gave her an adorable black and white striped dress with pink leggings. The huge hit though was a set of Frozen panties! She loved them and had to show her Papa and put a pair on right away! Grandma and Grandpa also gave Olivia a Target gift card, that I know she will LOVE being able to pick out a few toys. Aunt Cynthia, Uncle Jay and cousins gave her two Frozen plates and a Frozen bowl (Sofia will love being able to use a plate) and a pink polka dot dress and white sundress that we plan to use for photos. It all was so thoughtful and she was so excited to open it all and let her sister read the cards. Unfortunately, Olivia didn't get a nap so she was exhausted and got a little crabby at the end of the evening. We put her to bed and enjoyed a relaxing day and a very fun and sweet party!

Pool party jello cups - SO cute!

Close up

Hard boiled egg "sail boats"

The adorable beach scene Sofia, Chandler and Jillian decorated

The birthday table all decorated

Octobus hummus

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Crab sandwiches

Birthday cupcakes

Excited kiddos

Happy Birthday to Olivia!

Happy birthday girl

Cousins!

Opening presents with Sofia reading the cards

Look Papa, Frozen panties!

Destin!

We packed up and headed to Destin on Thursday after Sofia got out of school to meet the girls' grandparents and Uncle Jay, Aunt Cynthia and their kiddos. We got a bit of a late start when Sofia forgot we were picking her up from school and instead road the bus. After an easy flight, we arrived in Destin around 8pm and met CK Sr who picked us up and took us to Jim & Nick's BBQ for some great BBQ sandwiches and sides to go. We arrived to the house we rented and Jay, Cynthia and their kids had arrived just before we did. We unpacked and ate dinner and the kids were so happy to see each other. Sofia ended up sleeping in the little bedroom attached to her Grandma and Grandpa's room downstairs and Olivia slept in the little bedroom connected to our room on the 3rd floor.

The next day, we ate breakfast and packed sandwiches, snacks and water and headed to the beach. We settled under an umbrella with two chairs and watched the kids as Sofia ran off into the ocean to swim and body surf and Olivia ran back and forth into the ocean and back to us. They were both so happy and Sofia loved spending nearly all of our time at the beach swimming and trying to catch waves like she learned in Santa Barbara. Jillian and Olivia played the entire time and enjoyed running into the ocean together before they took a break to build a sand castle together which Sofia and Chandler helped with as well. They all had so much fun and CK enjoyed relaxing and reading in the shade. We took turns taking Olivia out past the break water where we floated in the water and watched the waves form, which she loved! She didn't really love it when the ocean water got onto her face because it really was very salty and hurt her eyes. Sofia would swim out and join us and is such a strong swimmer. By mid-afternoon everyone was ready to go home so we loaded up and returned briefly before heading to the pool. CK played with Sofia and Chandler in the pool while I swam with Olivia who tried to make friends with a little girl about her age on the pool stairs.

We had a fun and full day and headed back to the house to meet up with everyone else. Once we were back and the girls showered, Sofia played with Chandler and Olivia and Jillian ran off together. The two girls were completely inseparable and had so much fun together!

Chandler pulls one of the two wagons we had full of stuff. This one has Jackson in it with Olivia in the background.

Olivia and Jillian having a very important conversation, I'm sure!

CK relaxes!

Having fun together in the sand

The whole crew play in the sand together

Olivia running into the ocean

Olivia and me after a little snack

My beach girl, Sofia!

Building a sand castle

Sofia helps with the sand castle

Olivia and Jillian!