Running from the Law: Beach Vacation 2016

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Beach Vacation 2016

Well, it's only taken me four months to finally get through the 3,600 photos I took on our Florida beach vacation back in April. I'm not even slightly kidding or over-exaggerating with that number either, so I'm considering this a major accomplishment. A bottle of champagne may or may not have been popped. Honestly, I don't know why I feel it's necessary to take so many photos when we're on vacation and I'm always completely overwhelmed by them when we get home. When I downloaded them all, I was pretty sure I'd still be editing them when we go back next year. Part of that was because it was Mim's first time on the beach since she could walk and I really wanted to capture her reaction and the other part was that I was trying to get comfortable with a new lens I got for Christmas, but haven't used much. I'm still not sure I love it. Next year I need to remind myself to put the camera down more and play more instead of chasing my children around and trying to capture the perfect shot. I think I got some good ones, but there were literally thousands that were totally unnecessary. Lesson learned. 

Otherwise, our trip this year was probably the best yet. Every spring we rent a house on this island and spend a week doing as little as possible. The kids had so much fun at the beach this year and I think they're just going to love it more each year. The house we stayed in was amazing - right across the street from the beach with lots of space, bunk beds for the kids (which blew their minds), a rooftop deck, a huge wrap-around porch and a nice heated pool. Mim loved the beach from the second we put her down in the sand and couldn't stop splashing in the water, jumping the waves, chasing the birds and rolling in the sand. Mac was all about finding critters on the beach and fishing. He ended up catching a number of really cool ocean fish, including three stingrays! If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that stingrays are basically his spirit animal, so it was a very very big deal to him. It nearly broke his heart when we told him we couldn't keep them or take them home with us!

We try to make sure our beach vacation is relaxing and consists of lots of beaching, fishing, eating and swimming. We don't go anywhere that requires shoes or doesn't accept dogs. We try not to even get in the car once we're settled. Every day starts with a golf cart ride into town to get shrimp (bait), followed by beach time, pool time, lunch time, nap time (which is right at daiquiri o'clock), more beach time, more pool time, dinner, a golf cart ride into town for ice cream and then back on the beach with headlamps and flashlights to chase crabs until the kids basically pass out from exhaustion. We also played at the park, did a little shopping, danced at the local dive bar, ate our weight in oysters and even did a little geocaching. We had no agenda or schedule and just enjoyed living on island time for a week. The days were long, but so much fun and they flew by. Why is it that time seems to be on warp speed when you're trying to soak up every minute? I'm already counting the days until we can go back.

So, without further ado...here's a sampling of a few of my favorite pictures from the trip. If you want to read all about where we were and what there is to do there, check out the post I recently did on Savvy Sassy Moms

Only 290 days until we get to go back...

18 comments:

  1. Wow, you made it into so many shots. Good job!! Mim's pout face wins life.

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  2. What a great vacation and you documented it so well! I am impressed by all of the things Mac caught! What beach is this?

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  3. Well these pics are perfect!!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE friend!

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  4. That first photo of Mim absolutely kills me. I love the family shot too. Looks like a blast.

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  5. Love your artistic photos! Looks like you guys had the beach to yourself! So envious!

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  6. Next time we go to the beach, I'm bringing you along as our photographer! :) You did great!! I'm so glad Mac caught some stingrays! And Mim looks like she quite enjoyed herself.

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  7. Wow, that looks amazing. So funny that you caught stingrays!

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  8. First of all, I LOVE the pouty face picture of Father & Daughter - so cute. The rest of the pictures look amazing, the whole thing just sounds fabulous...can I come with next time?! :)

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  9. Okay your pictures are absolutely stunning and they look like they belong in a magazine! You have the cutest family ever and I think this post was totally worth the 4-month wait!

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  10. Amazing pictures!! The first and last - such perfect beach shots!! I love the one of Mim and daddy pouting. Your beach vacation sounds a lot like ours - beach, beach, ice cream and more beach :)

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  11. This makes me miss the beach so bad! And really makes me want to go in April...far less crowded! And you take so many pictures because they're absolutely stunning!!

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  12. For all the hassle and time it takes to edit photos, they are worth it a thousand fold. These are just gorgeous!!!

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  13. Your photo issue sounds like mine after Disney in March. I had over 1500 photos to go through. I only posted some that were taken my Disney photographers and then over the course of 2 days last week, I weeded through them, made my digital scrapbook pages and ordered the book (there was a 50% off code). It was crazy but it's done!

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  14. Sara!!! These pictures are FANTASTIC!! I even see you in them!! Love all the excitement!! Which lens did you get?? I am the same way on the taking so many and not getting around to them. Exact same way.

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  15. I love how you truly take it easy on vacation! Beach, pool, eat, repeat... Sounds good to me! And I can totally relate to taking way too many photos! And after this year's failed attempt at a cousin photo with the year written in the sand, I may steal your footprint idea!!!

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  16. Sara! You captured some amazing shots! And, I don't even know why, but looking at them made me a little weepy (what the hell)?
    I'm loving the daiquiri o'clock. I need to incorporate that into our next vacation.

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  17. You guys got this vacation thing down! No shoes, golf carting, daiquiri o'clock...I'm taking notes ;) Loving all the sibling and family shots. Lots of framers for sure.

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