Here are some pictures (ok, a lot of pictures) of our family vacation to Jekyll Island this summer! We had a perfectly imperfect time. ha! The beach with three littles isn't always so great, but we made the most of it, I think, and the kids had a great time! We left Saturday morning and made it a little after noon to Jeff and Brooke's in Brunswick. They took us to a delicious place on St. Simon's called Nacho's. It was so so good! We went to the grocery store and then to check in to our condo at Villas by the Seas. They let us use a 20% off coupon from Jeff and also we were upgraded to a two bedroom at no charge! Woo hoo! Alabama loved having an upstairs and their own room. The decor was outdated 80's beach style but it was nice and clean. After that, we finally made it to the "beach." We packed up all of our things, (lots of them) and walked down to the stairs to the beach. Except there was no beach. The tide was about half way in and they have these rocks to protect the dunes so there was no actual beach at that point. Alabama had fun riding the kick board in the water with Brooke and Jeff, though. Oh, and the water was really really dirty. Blue got in the ocean for the first time and wasn't really a fan.
We left to go get a shower and then went to eat at the Driftwood Bistro. It was absolutely delicious! I had the friend shrimp platter with sweet potato casserole and squash casserole. So, so good! Blue slept the whole time and the kids were pretty well behaved, too!
Oh, but before we left, we saw a raccoon outside and Adam fed him a chee-to from his hand!
The best of the pictures from the night. ha!
The next day, Sunday, we got up and Adam cooked breakfast in the room for us and then we went to the pool about 10. Alabama and Pate loved jumping in the water and Pate had so much fun with Adam throwing him up. Blue took a nap with me and I was so surprised at how well he did at the pool and beach!
We went back to the room and had lunch and then packed up to go to the Great Dunes beach. We hauled all of our things down a steep staircase to the beach, found a spot and set up. It would have been funny (I'm sure it will be later....that's our life!) if it wasn't terrible! We got the umbrella up fine, but the baby tent that I borrowed it was way too windy for it. Not long after we set up, we discovered that the local trailer park residents were beside us. (No offense if you live in a trailer park, you probably wouldn't like these people, either.) ha! They cussed at their kids, wore jeans, that's right full blue jeans in the water, had one man who must have been 500 pounds and fully clothed (not complaining!ha) that sat in a chair the entire time, and were just loud. Pate loved throwing his ball in the water and Alabama liked to swim on her kickboard with Adam but Blue took a nap on me and then on the blanket under the umbrella. We were having a nice time relaxing (as much as you can with the trailer park beside us). We brought Alabama's kite that she has been asking to fly since she was two. Well, she is a lot like me in that we get an idea in our head of how the event will go and it's hard when it doesn't. Here are a few examples of our time at the beach: The kite was missing a dowel. Adam improvised with a stick but it still wouldn't fly which was extremely unfortunate considering the high winds we had should have been good for something, at least. Jeff and Brooke told us they were coming to the beach. They didn't and she just couldn't let it go and enjoy herself without them. She must have asked me 50 times when they were coming, call them, etc. Sweet girl also brought her beach mat that she's had in her closet for a long time for "such a time as this" and set it up at the beach on Saturday and then on her chair on Sunday. I could just recognize the struggle as she laid on it and the reality of it was not the same as the expectation of relaxation she had in her mind! ha!
After Pate played with his sand toys and dump truck (Heaven.)
and Alabama drew in the sand some, the three of us ventured into the nasty water. (Pate had also went back down to the water and threw the ball by himself for a good 10 minutes.) We were there for maybe 5 minutes when Pate fell down into the water and came back up with red places on both hands and crying. I run up the beach with him while Adam sits trailer-park-man-style and watches. The water was so dark, I couldn't see anything but I'm assuming he was stung by a jellyfish. Beach day over. We (Adam) packed up, I took the boys to the car and left whining girl with him. We went to the condo and showered and rested before we drove over to meet Brooke and Jeff on Saint Simon's for supper. We ate at Mullet Bay and were thankful to be treated to a yummy dinner. (I don't tell her to pose like this. ever.)
Then we walked down to the pier and stopped at the cutest candy store! They have a train that goes around the ceiling and of course Pate loved that. He also picked up several pieces of candy in the wrappers and put them in his mouth. We didn't pay for them. I know. We're terrible.
We did buy some candy and had fun with the lip suckers! Then we walked down to the pier and saw the lighthouse and played on the playground for a few minutes before we headed back to Jekyll.
The next day, we stuck to the pool and then went to the Sea Turtle Center with Jeff after lunch on the playground. (Note to future self: Just eat lunch in the condo. Trust me.)
That night, I planned for us to take pictures on Driftwood Beach in the matching clothes I bought for us to wear. This is a beautiful beach where Jeff and Brooke got married last year. Well, it's still pretty, but they had BITING FLIES!!!!! Y'all. It was awful! I can't even believe we got these pictures that are somewhat okay. If you ever want to see a fake picture, this is it. They hurt so bad. I just kept saying "just pretend for a second and we'll be done!!" ha!
My sweet boys. :)
Love this girl!
We had another yummy (but more complicated) supper at Driftwood Bistro after that. I had the Shrimp and Grits and creamed corn and squash casserole. Then we went swimming at the pool with everyone. Fun times. :) We packed up the next morning and headed out. We got breakfast on the way to Savannah at Dunkin' Donuts and Waffle House. Complicated orders! ha! We got to Savannah about lunch time and went to the Savannah Mall. First stop, Target to buy socks for Adam. Then Texas Roadhouse for lunch and finally Bass Pro Shops to use Adam's gift card and see the fish and try out the boats! We made it all the way down Abercorn while Pate slept to go to the candy store on River Street. As we walk down to the candy store, I see a sign in this toy store that everything is 70% off. So in we go. I go over to look at the toy excavator and the next thing I know, I hear this loud crash and Adam is on the floor! I look away as the sales lady approaches and says, "Sorry, it's not a seat. It's a shelf." lol! Adam says, "Well, it looked like one to me." We laughed all the way home! We finally make it to River Street Sweets. They were in heaven.
We picked out some Pralines and fudge, suckers and taffy and were on our way. We ended our trip walking down the River and got to see a tugboat, too.
We are thankful for the memories made and the time with family. Just remember, vacation is not always as it appears on Instagram and Facebook. :) Although nice, not perfect.
