One of our goals as parents is to try and use Steve's work bonuses on experiences for our family rather than just stuff. (Don't get me wrong, sometimes the "stuff" is good, too!) We try to look at our entire year and figure out when we can take special trips or do things with the girls that don't fit into our regular budget.
This year, we really wanted to focus on being able to visit family during times when we wouldn't normally be able to do it. So, we planned a trip to Florida during Bella's Winter Break, and we have a trip to Ohio planned during Spring Break!
Steve also got to take a "man trip" and visit Trey and Whitney this Winter. While he was in Idaho, I took all three kids to Florida. Our big splurge for the sake of my sanity was to fly instead of drive. (Thanks again, baby!) Flying can have it's stressful moments, but it's nothing like the prospect of driving 9 hours with three kids. I can't even imagine...
Another splurge this year was buying the girls their own Kindles for our travels. It took me a solid two weeks before I could tell people that I bought my three-year old a Kindle, but I've gotten over it, and they were lifesavers on the plane!
On the ground and ready for our adventure!
I forgot all of Henry's sippy cups and bottles at home, so he's showing off his new, superhero cup to Daddy over Facetime.
They spent 90% of their time outside! The weather was gorgeous, and they loved Mimi's fountains and bird bath.
The beach was reeeeeeally windy, but when you're sitting on the warm sand in the middle of February, you don't really care.
Playing in the waves at sunset.
Henry and Rachel had some boding time over her Patch the Pirate cassette tapes. She's old school.
On the morning that Mimi had to work, Papa took us to the jetties.
And they posed for pictures! Maybe it was the croissants he had bought them for breakfast...
We don't get much alone time with just Papa, so this was a super fun and special morning!
We also got to check out manatees while we were there!
Walking along the nature trail...
We were super smooth, trying to stuff the kids into the picture!
We saw a TON of manatees, including babies! It was really cool!
The girls got to spend time with their "Florida Great-Grandma", and she brought them special necklaces to keep. I think it's safe to say that they were all pretty enamored with each other.
More time in the water! It never gets old, no matter how many times I go home.
Papa carved Bella and Evelyn's names in one of Mimi's trees. They loved knowing that their names would be there, even when we went home.
What a fun week!
Minus one very messy incident on the plane with Evelyn's exploding juice smoothie (sweet Lord), it was a good flight, and we made it home to Daddy!
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