Our first family vacation! Destination...Destin, Florida

The main reason that we are very behind in our posts is that we went on our first family vacation May 7th - May 14th to Destin, Florida.   We flew from Wichita with the Miller clan (Ashley, Kevin, Dylan and Eli) on Saturday morning, and we arrived in Destin around 6:30PM.  We actually flew into Pensacola and drove to our rental home for the week where the Browns (Lacy, Paul and Austin) were preparing for our arrival!  They went to the store and purchased all the groceries, diapers and other necessities for the week so that we could begin relaxing right away.

This was not only our first vacation, but it was Kyley's first time in a plane.  We were nervous for weeks anticipating the flights and how she and her little ears would handle them.  Well after we got through security lugging our bags, car seat, stroller and ourselves we made it on to our first flight together.  Kyley was excited from the beginning to see all of the people and her new surroundings.  She gets excited with just about anything new we do.  The first and second flights were almost a non-event for her and both the boys.  If I can brag a bit...I think that they were MORE than very well behaved, and not one of them had any issues with their little ears.  

We took a scenic drive to Destin, and we immediately fell in love with the clear blue water and soft, white sand beaches.  I am a sucker for palm trees too...it definitely signifies paradise!  We did not realize how amazing that Destin was...from the beaches, water, shopping, restaurants, views to the fact that it is a narrow strip of land only a few miles wide.  I cannot think of anywhere else like it.  We could not wait to get to our house to see the Browns and of course, the house!  It was beautiful...perfect for our 3 families for the week.  We had plenty of room, a pool and a 2 minute walk to the most beautiful beach I have ever seen.  

Kyley actually had a lot of new "firsts" during vacation...first flight, first visit to the beach/ocean, first time in a pool swimming, first time around that many people for an extended period of time, first outdoor restaurant, first carousel ride, first time she clapped, first time in a swimsuit (all 6 of them), first bath with mommy, first trip to Hard Rock Cafe, first time shopping with both mommy and daddy, first time in the sand, first time eating paper:), first time REALLY in the sun...too many to list them all.  The best part about all of these new "firsts" is that she handled them like a champ and enjoyed them all more than any 1 year old could!

We spent our vacation relaxing in the sand and sun.  Sun...something we had all been missing out on this past year.  The mornings started off hanging around the house, then off to the beach, home for lunch, naps for the kiddos, then pool time, dinner and bedtime for kiddos and adult conversation time.   That was the routine of almost every day.  Kyley's favorite time of the day was pool time.  We could not believe how much she loved the water and playing in it...she would laugh, smile, kick her legs (like she knew what to do) and best of all, get mad when we tried to take her out.  So, I mentioned naps...Kyley decided on vacation that she would take only three 30 minute naps per day most days.   When the boys were all napping Kyley was out hanging at the pool with the adults, and I do not think she minded all of the attention.  She must have been worried that she was going to miss out on something.  

We had taken her to a restaurant before vacation, but we did not realize how good she was in this new environment.  And, we did not realize that she was now such a big girl sitting in her high chair.  She was so enamored by the people and activity.  Kyley would sit and play, smile, drink her water and eat her gerber puffs.  We commented several times during the trip on how much she had changed in the past few weeks.  She really is turning the corner from baby to little girl on us...not sure we are totally ready.  It was not just a fluke either...the behaving in the restaurant...we have now since done it MANY times and get the same response:)!  

Kyley loved watching the boys...all 3 of them.  Dylan and Eli Miller are the twins that are just 1 year older than her, and Austin Brown is almost 1 3/4 years older than her.  The boys are all busy bodies, so she was entertained nonstop.  In fact, it was Ms. Lacy and Austin that got Kyley to clap for the first time one evening when she was watching every move he made.   It was so darn cute!!!  Little do all 4 of them know that they will be making many memories together over the next 18 years or more!

Kyley got to visit her first Hard Rock Cafe.  Yes, we went because mommy loves to got there and collects items from every one every where she goes.  Kyley was so excited she slept in her stroller while mommy and daddy ate!!!  Either way it was a special time...it was mommy and daddy's 10th wedding anniversary lunch and they spent it just the 3 of them!  They also went and looked at some houses, window shopped and spent the afternoon together.  It was a great day.

The 3 families really had a great time together, and it was really tough to leave at the end of the week.  We especially hated to say goodbye to the Browns.  They live in Little Rock, Arkansas, and we do not get to see them as much as we would like to.   We had a wonderful week, in a beautiful house, with great friends, in the most amazing vacation spot we can think of!  We cannot wait to go back!