Fun at the Beach

We joined my entire family for a five day getaway to Marco Island, Florida. My first time to Marco was about 20+ years ago (hard to believe!) and I have probably been there about 10 times since. Hopefully the kids can continue to enjoy Marco as they grow older, too. There is really not too much to do on Marco other than eat at good seafood restaurants, sit on the beach, sit by the pool, or walk on the beach. Not too bad of a way to spend your day!

We have arrived! A family photo outside of the Snook Inn restaurant at sunset. Both kids did relatively well on the flight to Florida. In the days before leaving, we explained to Olivia that she would be going on a plane and all that she could expect to happen. The night before leaving, she asks "mommy, how will we get on the plane?" So I explained the airport to her (again). Then she asked "but mommy, how will we get up into the sky to get into the airplane?" I guess we had failed to mention that the plane starts on the ground and then flies into the sky! What a smart little girl!

Ethan and Aunt Rachel enjoying a night walk on the beach with everyone. Ethan really enjoyed the night walk and would splash in the ocean and be happy. However, the rest of the vacation he did not like the actual ocean (but he did like the sand!) and would cry if someone carried him too close. I guess he liked it best when he could not actually see the water?


A nap on the beach. Ethan slept very peacefully until the wind blew the towel and some sand all over him!

Fun in the ocean. Olivia did like the ocean and the sand - we weren't too sure about how she would react to the sand since she does not like it when she gets it in her shoes. Grandma and Joe spent a loooong time swinging her through the waves.

Olivia made a friend, Amber, the first day at the hotel. Here they are enjoying a "slushy" together. The next day they also had their hair braided in 2 matching beaded braids. The only hitch in their friendship is that Olivia preferred the beach, and Amber preferred the pool. We spent a lot of time going between those two places depending on Olivia's mood!

Is there anything better than a beach sunset with the one you love? Joe and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage in June.

Olivia and Ethan playing together in the sand. The one thing that I forgot to pack was Olivia's sunglasses, so she compensated by wearing mine.

Glamour girl on the beach.

Ethan in the sand. Luckily, he only ate the sand on the first day and then moved on to just eating the shovel.

Olivia and I playing in the sand. Olivia spent a lot of time burying her legs in the sand.

Ethan and Uncle Thomas outside of a restaurant on the Isle of Capri. They became great buds on the vacation.

Joe teaching Olivia the art of building a sandcastle.

Olivia then taught me how to build sandcastles! Then we did what everyone does, smashed them while pretending to be giants!

Joe and Ethan show off their hats.

A family photo in the ocean.

One restaurant we went to (Little Bar) had some really interesting statues outside. Olivia really wanted her picture taken in front of the mermaid.

Ethan and Grandma waving good-bye to Marco Island!