Sandestin Easter

Haven and I made our first trip of the year to Sandestin the week before Easter. We flew out on Tuesday morning and Haven did really well during our travels. She was very interested in looking out the window of the plane and when that excitement wore off, I was stocked with snacks galore and Grammy had a portable DVD player with Barney. We were able to make it work, but for a girl that is so used to wearing bows and headbands all the time, she was not good with the headphones.

"...flyin' in an airplane, looking out the window..."

Traveling is exhausting! Haven probably didn't last five minutes in the car before she crashed. Unfortunately, the short trip to the condo was her nap for the day.

I don't think Haven remembered the condo, but it did not take her long to get reacquainted with everything. She was climbing on the balcony in no time, which would have given Papaw a heart attack had he been there.

Haven and Grammy were on one balcony and I was on the other, which was very confusing to Haven at first.

Testing out the fab new patio furniture!

All cleared of our bags and ready for a ride

For the first time ever, Haven seemed to have a hard time going to bed in a "strange" place. She was super tired, but just could not settle down that first night. I even went in and scooped her up once (which I never do), but it didn't seem to help much. She did have a timeout the afternoon we arrived, so maybe she thought the bed was tainted?! Thankfully, she did eventually go to sleep, slept great all night (until 6am anyway), and didn't have any trouble after Tuesday.

We didn't waste much time; Haven and I headed down to the beach on Wednesday morning.

Haven was not exactly a lover of the beach. She would not put her feet down when I tried to get her to walk through the sand. She did a little better where the water made the sand more firm, but she didn't like the water to get her and overall just wanted to be held up and away from it all. I laid a towel down so we could sit, dig, and build in the sand, which she tolerated for maybe 20 minutes before she was over it and crying dramatically. She loved washing the sand off and was happy as could be in the pool.

Making her list and heading to Publix

When Haven woke up Thursday morning, Aunt Amy was there! We all went to the Donut Hole for breakfast and Haven loved it. They have red velvet cake donuts that are heavenly!

Haven and I went to the airport to pick Benton up on Friday morning and on the way back we met Grammy and Amy at Destin Commons. As we suspected, Haven loved the splash park!

When she was over the splash park, we went to Build-a-Bear so Grammy could get Haven a bunny (and stroller because Haven was obsessed with them).

I actually had to carry Haven out of the store screaming because she wanted to rearrange all 65 strollers they had lined up. Thankfully, we both recovered fairly quickly.

This sweet dog can often be found at Destin Commons with his owner (who brushes him for at least an hour per day!) and of course Haven loved and loved on him.

After Haven's nap, we headed back out to the beach to see if she would like it any better with someone that wasn't me. And the verdict was...

No. Not really.

In fact, she might have been worse.

Papaw finally got in Friday night, just in time for Haven to tell him "nigh-nigh."

Saturday morning we rushed over to Baytowne for Haven's third Easter egg hunt and she was a pro!

She put her basket down in a central location and got busy collecting those eggs!

Third hunt's the charm!

Checking out the boats on the harbor

Maybe this will be her new spot for a monthly chair picture?!

Wee with Grammy and Daddy

Crawling through the tunnels

We headed back to the condo so Daddy and Amy could take Haven swimming. We barely got Haven in this suit, but it was fun once we did!

Look at that form - she's a natural :)

Haven can float better than me, no lie!

Practicing going under

Saturday night we all went to dinner at the Smiling Fish and Haven was the entertainment for the evening. She was wired - talking 90 words a minute with an iPhone to her ear while walking circles around the table. And this was before the brownie and ice cream.

Cheese!

with Aunt Amy

and Mommy

The Easter Bunny came this year!

Haven's fourth and final egg hunt

Haven sat with us through church this year rather than going to the nursery. She did pretty well thanks to the church having activity bags for the kiddos that included stickers. She probably would have done better had I not left her snacks on the kitchen counter - major oops!

After church, we went to brunch at Burnt Pine. Haven was not on her best behavior; she was pulling on the tablecloth and melting down every time I got up. It was a great reminder as to why we haven't been going out to eat after church lately. We've definitely had worse meals, but it wasn't exactly the peaceful Easter brunch you hope for.

Checking out the golf course

Happy Easter!

Haven made her third trip out to the beach Sunday afternoon and Benton took her quite a ways out into the water. She actually giggled a little bit, so maybe there's a chance she will overcome her disdain.

We made our usual trip to Elmo's on Sunday night, but found out you can get there too early. The "band" doesn't start until 6pm (and we have to go about 5 for Haven), so there wasn't much dancing this visit and there was not one other child there for her to watch.

She's not too sure about that singer guy

Haven's demise started on Sunday, but by Monday she was not much fun to be around. I think the major stimulation (outside, swimming, constant entertaining, and entertainment, etc.) coupled with not enough sleep (she was waking up between 6:00-6:30am which is a good hour earlier than normal and only taking about a one hour nap) had caught up and gotten the best of her. My little girl is B.U.S.Y. and needs her beauty rest or she can act uh-gly! Even Papaw asked her if she woke up a terrible two.

Benton's Monday night flight was cancelled, so all six of us headed back home together Tuesday morning.

Even though Benton and I were sitting together, Haven preferred to sit with Grammy.

Which was good, because she is about the only one who can get her to sleep on the go.

Thank you, thank you, Grammy and Papaw for another fabulous trip! We always have so much fun at the beach and you take such great care of all of us :) The memories we will all have are priceless!