On November 4th, we packed up our family of 5 and jumped on an airplane (two of them actually...) to fly down to Fort Meyers Florida for a week-long beach-side vacation. We met up with Matt's side of the family. And we stayed - 6 adults and 6 children - all together in a miraculous 3-story house.
Day #1 was a travel day. Rowan's first airplane ride!
Delta did us right. Great snacks! And free TV, movie, and touchscreen game entertainment.
We finally made it!
(Fastest way to get Kale through an airport is on rolling luggage...)
We arrived at the beach house after sunset. So we had no idea what sort of view would greet us the next morning. So much suspense....
Day #2
Say hello to your home away from home!
Impeccable quarters!
It was a hearty hike down to the water. But I grew to love the walk. Also, it was a nice little safety feature. No child could make it to the water's edge without a grown-up noticing first.
The perfect view for morning coffee and nursing.
After getting fed and dressed, Maelyn gave me the tour...
So many toys in the garage!
Paddle boards. Kayaks. Sunbrellas. Boogie boards. Beach cruisers.
You name it!
Paradise. A sandy quiet beach all to ourselves..
The water was warm and we wasted no time jumping right in! My children were fearless. They quickly became one with the ocean.
Light breezes, humidity, and the sound of ocean waves can do wonders for a sleeping baby.
It only took one stroll down to the water side to discover that Fort Meyers is FAMOUS for shelling. I could not believe the treasures that Matt pulled from the beach.
And it wasn't just Matt. Everybody was shelling.
But Gary and Matt were the most committed to the hunt.
Check out the porch railing. Gary and Matt's collection spanned the entire back porch.
We brought an empty duffel bag with us to Florida.
When Matt said it was for seashells, he wasn't joking.
I know this now.
Most days we went to the beach twice.
Once before lunch. And again later in the afternoon. Often times we'd stay till the sun set.
And after the sun went down there was plenty to do around the house for fun.
Hot tub sessions, ping pong, pool, and cards.
Day #3
Eat.
Sunscreen.
Play.
Repeat.
We sort of owned that beach. Hardly another soul to bother us.
Time to bust out those kayaks!
After a good long sun and sand session, we made a quick excursion into town to stock up on groceries and fresh seafood.
Day #4
All the best shelling is done one hour before and after low tide. The men had been taking daily sunrise walks to get the good shells before they were gone. I wanted to tag along and see what it was like.
So while these guys slept...
Matt, Rowan, and I snuck out for a treasure hunt.
Love that beach cart. Every day we packed it with all the essential goodies. No better way to haul your gear (or your babies) to the water side.
Yes, I could get used to this!
Day #5
We rarely left property. There was a little downtown area with souvenir shops, restaurants, and bars. But why?? The idea of hauling everyone down there, trying to find parking, and keeping grabby hands off store-front breakables didn't intrigue any of us. We had everything we needed right on site. We were beach homebodies!
So on this day we tried the paddle boards...
And we played till the sun went down.
Day #6 - Boat Day!
Ana has an aunt and uncle who live in the area and own their own boat. They took all of us - all 12 of us - out for a cruise!
We waded behind the boat on big pool noodles.
Nothing like a cold dip to cool off from the scorching sun.
Sage and Maelyn took turns driving the boat.
We stopped for lunch at a restaurant. And spotted some wildlife!
Day # 7 - our final full day at the beach.
Great spot for a nap...
Day #8
Time to say goodbye and head back home.
An uncrowded flight made for an easy ride home.
Could we make this an annual thing????
