The Trip of a Lifetime!

Warning!! This is a quite lengthy post, so you might want to get a snack before settling in to read this one!

For the last several months, Avery has been asking to go to the beach.  I'm not sure where she learned about the beach because it's not exactly something that comes up often around our house, but she wanted to go.  So, Jeremy and I decided we would take her for her birthday.  Fortunately for us, Mimi just happens to have a couple of houses at a great beach that would be perfect for taking a three-year old (not a tourist destination).  We planned the trip for a week at the beach and headed off.  This was Avery's first time on an airplane, so we (mostly me) were nervous about how she would do, but we started off great.  The pilots on the first leg gave her a pair of wings and were so nice to her.  

We came armed with her iPad loaded up with Mickey Mouse videos to keep her attention on the flight.  It worked perfectly.  (Note the cup of juice she's sucking down in this photo...it will come back to haunt us later!)

 We even managed to keep Jeremy awake for the entire first part of the flight.

Once we landed, the pilots let her sit in the cockpit!  What a treat for her.  Everyone on this flight was fantastic...we couldn't have asked for better crew, especially considering the trouble we managed to cause with that cup of juice...As we landed on the runway in Atlanta (for our layover), Avery says that she has to go to the bathroom.  Of course, I had asked her if she needed to go several times throughout the flight, and each time she said no.  However, now she had to go, and it was an "emergency."  The runway is not a part of the flight that you are allowed to do this though.  So, I told her she would have to wait.  Meanwhile, I'm giving the flight attendant, who has told us "no" several times, that "my child needs to go to the bathroom NOW" look.  Avery started freaking out, screaming that she didn't want to go in her panties and that she had to go NOW!  The flight attendant gets on her little phone then motions for us to come to the back and go.  We do so quickly and take a seat in the back of the plane just outside the bathroom.  It's not until then that I realize that the flight attendant had to phone the pilot who then stopped our plane and all others that were behind us on the runway in order for Avery to go to the bathroom.  From then on, I made Avery go when the flight attendants started making those announcements about starting to descend for landing.  A big thank you to the flight attendants and pilots!! (and a big apology...I learned my lesson)

We made it safely to Mimi's house about mid-afternoon.  The first thing Avery wanted to do was look at the beach, which Mimi has a great view of from her house.

We knew we wouldn't be able to postpone a walk on the beach, so we headed down, and Avery was in heaven.

She immediately headed for the water and began to pick up shells.  This kid loves the beach already!

The first afternoon we were there we spent a little time on the beach, but mostly wanted to catch up with Mimi and visit with her.  So, we hit the beach hard all of the rest of the days.  First thing the next morning, we headed to one of the many beaches on Marco Island to enjoy the warmth, water and sand.

After a long morning at the beach, we headed to Mimi's to have lunch and a nap.  After nap time, Avery decided to serenade us with some melodies on the piano (it was a close second to the beach).

It was back to the beach once our music session had ended.  This time we headed to the beach just outside Mimi's house.  We also brought some new sand toys courtesy of Aunt Chelsea.

More digging in the sand and collecting shells.

We were at the beach until the sun went down, so I got some pretty cool pictures as the sun was setting.  This is one of my favorites from the entire trip despite the fact that it is of three total strangers.  They were taking  a break from fishing, and the picture was cool.  So, I snapped a few.

Then i decided I wanted to re-create something like it with someone I knew.  I think this one turned out pretty cool too!

After a little sleep that night (Avery was too excited to sleep much), we headed to a different beach the next morning.  We came equipped with a few more handy beach items this time...most importantly chairs.

After a day at the beach, we spent some time with Mimi and Annie.  

Even when the overall destination was the beach, we had to visit a park while we were in Florida (just in case we were missing something).  This park had a special area for dogs to play, so Mimi and Annie came along as well.

The swings are still her favorite!

After the park was dinner (where dogs are welcome as well).  I didn't get any pictures of the actual dinner, but I did get some of dessert...a chocolate ice cream cone.

What a mess!

Back to the beach the next day.  Yet another one for us to try.  We planned on staying most of the day this time, so we packed heavy.  This was by far the best beach, but it also had the longest walk from the car and anything else, including bathrooms.

While Avery and I played a little, Jeremy had to make the trek back to the car because we couldn't carry everything.  Don't worry, Avery gave him a proper greeting once he got to the beach.

This is what those Cover genes will get you...an abundance of sunscreen!  Sorry Avery, but this is your future.

This is "bath tub baby" who made the journey from Columbia all the way to Marco Island because she is perfect for the water.

Aside from just being at the beach, Avery asked to surf (again, I'm not sure where she comes up with this stuff).  We were unsuccessful at finding an actual surf board, but we did find a little kick board that she easily accepted as her surf board.  So, we set out to "surf."

This is about as good as she could do by herself.  So Jeremy and I ended up taking turns lugging her out into the water, laying her on her "surf board" and guiding her back in to shore (not an easy task).  She loved it.  Jeremy actually got some video footage of this on his phone.  If I can figure out how to upload it here, it would be a cute addition.

 After our long afternoon of surfing, it was dinner and ice cream with Mimi and Annie again...we were afraid we were never going to get Avery to leave this paradise.  What more could a girl ask for than warm weather, beautiful water, a surf board and ice cream every night?!

The next day, Avery wanted to go back to the park.  We didn't quite understand the draw of a park (which we have many of at home) when the beach was also an option.  Oh well, it's what she wanted to do.

We did end up at the beach later that day only to add to our sea shell collection.  I'm not sure exactly what happened, but somehow Jeremy managed to decrease our haul of sea shells significantly and convince Avery that it was the entire original stash.  Again, I'm not sure what happened there, and I probably don't want to.

One of the highlights of the trip, as far as Avery is concerned, was a golf cart ride we took.  A special thank you to Mimi's friend Ernie for letting us use his golf cart.  Of course Annie came along for the ride and Paci Baby did too!

Avery was afraid Paci Baby couldn't see since she was so small and in the back of the golf cart, so we made sure to give her a front row seat!

After a fantastic week at the beach, we had to head home.  Again, the iPad has never been a more welcomed addition to the family than on long car rides and plane flights.  We drove to Fort Meyers the night before our 6am flight home.  I know, a 6am flight is ridiculous, but there weren't many options.

With the flight being so early, we left Avery in her pajamas for travel (but we still had to wake her up at 4am).  She did amazing despite the early hour.

Jeremy, on the other hand, didn't make it quite as well as Avery.

We had a layover in Atlanta again, which proved to be a little bit of a nightmare.  After we boarded the plane for KC, they told us there was a delay (a mechanical problem with the plane).

We did our best to pass the time and let Avery get out of her car seat, but being stuck in an airplane with an active three year old is not a good time.

Eventually they let us off of the plane since they didn't know how long repairs would take.  Avery decided to pass the time in the airport by "tying" Jeremy's shoes over and over again.  No, she doesn't know how to tie shoes, so she was basically tying them in knots.

After a few extra hours in the airport, we made it home.  It's always a little bittersweet coming home from a trip, especially one as great as this one.  We had a fantastic time on our first family vacation and hope to add trips like this to our yearly repertoire.