Spring Break 2013

Pictures coming soon!

I am very fortunate in my job that I have always had a spring break. I don't know what I would do without it! Last year I was very pregnant and enjoyed a relaxing beach vacation with Jay. This year was 100% different. We decided to take a trip to New Port Richey, Florida to visit my Grandpa and Susan. Driving 9+ hours with two kids was no picnic but I am so thankful for the opportunity to spend time with my Grandpa. He and Susan were so hospitable and so good with the babies!

We hit the road at 7am on Monday morning. The twins had just finished bottles and we were good to go until 11am. We made great time and arrived at the Georgia welcome center just in time for 11am bottles. It was fun spreading out a blanket and relaxing at the rest area. This is something I would have NEVER done in the past (I am always go go go!) but I guess children will do that to you!

We arrived in Jacksonville and our room was ready yet so we took a stroll along the mayo clinic campus.

Funny story- I used priceline for our Jacksonville room because I am CHEAP when it comes to hotel stays that only require one night or limit use of the hotel. I used the name your own price thing and picked the Jacksonville beach area. Of 8 hotels, 7 of them were on the water. I entered $50 and my bid was accepted. Of course I "won" the only hotel NOT on the beach. The hotel happened the be the hotel for the mayo clinic. Just my luck :) The hotel was wonderful though and we had a great experience. 

Once our room was ready we got the kids dressed and headed to the beach! Just our luck it started to rain as soon as we got there. We did a change of plans and headed west towards my old house (we lived in Jacksonville for 2 years during elementary school). We decided to have an early dinner at Clark's Fish Camp. This place is so fun and good and you should definitely go if you are ever in Jacksonville. It is definitely an experience.

We got the kids down for bed back at the hotel and enjoyed some cold beers and tv in the dark (oh the perks of sharing a room with babies that go to bed at 7pm).

The next morning I woke up with the stomach virus of spring break 2013 and after some meds we finally headed south. We had a little bumble Saturday morning that may have included one of our kids falling head first off the hotel bed... the nurse at the pediatrician's office seemed more concerned about the germs infecting the scrape on our child's head from landing on the hotel floor than anything else so we loaded up and headed on.  Our trip was pleasant but the novelty of riding in the car had definitely worn off! I also was distracted and missed my exit and went 20 miles outside of our route. Whoops!

We arrived at my Grandpa's a little after lunch and after a great visit, headed out to grab Mexican at Estella's. It was delicious and the twins had a great time.

Back at home, the twins were ready to go. Holden LOVED the carpeted floors and crawled like a maniac. He also learned to pull up on furniture and pulled up on everything in sight! Grandpa and Susan thought he was such a treat! We went for a stroll around their neighborhood before settling the babies in for the night. The adults stayed up and chatted and again, I'm so thankful for this time I got to spend with Grandpa and Susan.

Wednesday morning we woke up and played a bit before naps. After naps we headed out to Fred Howard Park to play in the ocean! Holden LOVED it (and loved eating sand). Emma Cate- not so much. She and I preferred hanging on the blanket and playing with toys while the boys played in the ocean. I can do this arrangement! We only stayed about 45 minutes but that was plenty. We enjoyed a scenic drive through tarpoon springs on our way back home.

Wednesday evening the kids went to bed and we stayed up chatting with my Grandpa. I'm writing this down for my memory. We talked about his job at the post office. He told me about a time he took a shortcut through a corn field, got stuck, and delivered the mail late that day. He told me about my mom as a baby and the dog following her around as she crawled. He talked about going back to college and raising three kids under four at the same time. He talked about owning his own business. It was just so nice to sit down and chat.

We were up early Thursday morning to pack up and hit the road! We ate a quick breakfast at the Breakfast Station with Grandpa and Susan before taking pictures and saying our goodbyes. My stomach bug was still in full force and we had to stop frequently on the way home. We arrived in Savannah (our resting place for the night) with high hopes that we could take the babies for a stroll around the riverfront. Rain ruined our plans and we settled for early bedtimes and take out. We planned to walk around the next morning but the rain was still coming down so we packed up and headed home.

Spring break was crazy and fun. I wouldn't describe it as relaxing but I doubt any of our trips will be until the kids are much, much, older.