Trip to Florida

Last Thursday, the girls and I, along with my parents made the 9 hour trip to North Florida for my grandmother's 90th birthday celebration. Jason had meetings he couldn't miss, so he didn't make the trip. We stayed with one of my uncles and his 4 year old grandson was there for the week so Lauren loved having a new round the clock playmate. On Friday morning we drove to Grayton Beach. I think Grayton must be the most beautiful beach in the world with its white sand and clear water. As we drove down, Lauren was on the side of the van closest to the water, and as soon she spied the ocean she started telling her cousin, "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, I can see the ocean and you can't." She had to have learned that from Jason. Lauren and Emily loved the sand, but had meltdowns when we carried them in the water. It didn't take Emily long to calm down, as long as I held her, but she didn't want anyone else holding her. She and I stayed in the water a long time jumping the waves. Lauren, on the other hand, screamed and screamed. She is afraid of water above her knees and I think the hugeness of the ocean overwhelmed her. I tried to show her that she could stand up in the ocean, but she just screamed louder when I put her down. After about two hours, which is about all Emily's fair skin can take out in the sun, we started to pack up and Lauren decided that she liked the beach after all and did want to run and play in the surf. We're going to SC on Friday and plan to spend a morning at the beach next week, so maybe she'll have fun!
Saturday was my grandmother's birthday celebration. It was wonderful to see lots of family members that I haven't seen in a while. Lauren and Emily enjoyed having new playmates, being outside for hours, and lots of attention from great aunts and uncles. The trip back stretched to 13 hours because we took my parents home and then we headed home. It made for a long day, but I'm glad we were able to go!