A Mini Vacation

We have been trying to plan a beach vacation for this summer. One great thing about where we live is that we are close enough to the beaches that we can go check out the houses and beaches before we make reservations. Yesterday Daddy decided we would take a trip to Alabama today and check out a couple of the different beaches and see where we wanted to go this summer.

We started out by going to Dauphin Island. This is our luck....we start getting close and traffic gets really thick. Then we see police cars racing around the LONG line of traffic, which we later find out was to go direct traffic. This is the first time since we moved down here we have gone to the beach. We choose to go to this island when they are having their Mardi Gras parade. THE ENTIRE ISLAND was cars parked everywhere, people standing around drinking and grilling and throwing footballs in the road. It was 12:40, the parade started at 1. We were debating whether or not to take the ferry (it was $21 ONE WAY). When we realized we could take the ferry or be stuck on the island until the parade was over and cleared out, we quickly opted for the ferry. LUCKILY, they were high-tech and took credit cards. We had no cash!

We pulled onto the ferry just as it was about to leave. There were only three cars on it and we were the last one. It was about a 30 minute ride and the boys loved it. Bryce was a little nervous at first and would not let go of the rail, but about half way through he settled into it. As we were being let off, Paul went to pull off and realized he had set the emergency break (as you are supposed too on a ferry). He ended up popping the hood while trying to figure out how to release the break. One of the guys that work on the ferry pushed the hood down and told Paul how to release it (I MAY have been sitting in the passenger sit laughing my bottom off at him). It was all worth a GREAT laugh and we were glad we were the last in line!!

We checked out Gulf Shores first. We parked on a street with a lot of rent houses and let the kids play on the beach. This was the first time for all but Caleb to be on a beach and he was AJ's age the one time he went. They were SO excited. Bryce could not wait to collect shells. Andrew was very uncertain about the sand for a bit! We walked down the beach and let the boys run around and let AJ get used to the sand (he never got used to the water though). It was beautiful weather (around 70 degrees) and partly cloudy.

We went to Orange Beach next. There was a big difference. We were quite happy with Gulf Shores until we saw Orange Beach! But, Gulf Shores beach was empty. Where we were at Orange Beach was where all the condos are and there were quite a few people there for January, so we can imagine August! We again got out and let the kids run around. Andrew probably had the most fun he has ever had! He was running around, squealing, wanting to be chased, etc. Bryce, after trying to run in the thick sand and falling on his face, decided it was fun and started throwing himself down. Caleb ran all over the place throwing sand at everyone and chasing them and Isaac spent a lot of time chasing the seagulls. Daddy was chasing them all, wrestling on the beach with them. I had such a great time watching them all enjoy them selfs so much and can't wait until we go back this summer.

I took LOTS of pictures and will post them tomorrow. I am exhausted and off to bed now. Hopefully since we got home late and the boys spent lots of time running around they will sleep in in the morning!!