Family Vacation to Marco Island, Florida

We just got back from a relaxing trip to Marco Island, Florida. My parents took us on vacation with my sister and her family. We had 5 amazing days of playing on the beach, spashing in the pool, playing cards, eating out, and relaxing.

We spent a lot of time on the huge deck overlooking the ocean.

We got a family picture of all of us together ... and all looking at the camera!

Leighton and McCabe got to ride around the airport, while the rest of us carryed much luggage! The airport and airplane ride went pretty well. The boys did a great job considering their circumstances.

Eating at the Airport after the plane ride and waiting for Amber, Brendan and baby Hayden to arrive!
On the airplane! Daddy, 26 month old Leighton, 11 month old McCabe, and Mommy!

THE POOL

We spent most mornings at the beach for an hour and the pool for an hour. Here my mom is playing with McCabe who liked the water very much once he was in it and used to the temperature.

The picture and video is of brave Leighton going down the big water slide with Daddy. Luke was a tropper and did it several times. Leighton would cry everytime he hit the water but then 10 seconds later he wanted to do it again.

One time Leighton lost his shoe on the wild ride and was pretty sad about it.

At the pool, we would all get in the water and Leighton would stand outside of the water to throw balls into us. He did the same thing at the ocean. Thowing things into the water is apparently much more fun than the playing in the water.
Leighton loved the big beach ball.

And here is one last pool shot of Daddy sitting on one of the fountains and spraying Leighton.

Grandpa and Grandpa Ludemann got to play in the water with the boys.

THE BEACH

Luke and Leighton loved the beach. I think it was for different reasons, but they both enjoyed our mornings there nonetheless. We would spend a good hour of family time down there.

The beach was Leighton's favorite place to be. He would pick up shells and throw them into the water, throw huge handfulls of sand up in the air, make and destroy sand castles, and giggle a lot.

Sweet little McCabe made a new habit of rising early in the morning and then taking an hour long nap on the beach. I guess I wouldn't have minded that schedule myself!

When we got there the first night, we watched the sunset on the beach so that Leighton could play and burn off energy since he had been sitting all day in rides to and from the airport and sitting in the plane. These videos catch him in action.

RELAXING TIME

Luke is a professional relaxer when it comes to vacation. He wanted Leighton to relax with him a lot; That never really happened. As Leighton prepared for nap, we tricked him into a picture with his pacifier and blacket.

McCabe was a wild man. He was so happy on vacation (during the daytime hours at least!). He made his way around the condo and tried to keep up with Leighton.


When it came time to nap in the afternoon, both boys were totally out the minute they layed down.

Those pictures don't do justice to how much fun we had. Time spent together as a family was so precious. Luke loved getting to spend every moment with the boys for several days in a row.

Our Quiet times and naps were enjoyed with waves rolling in the background and a nice breeze. Sometimes we even had a smoothie in hand!

Our condo was fantastic with a huge balcony, a nice kitchen and big fluffy beds. Leighton got his very own Queen bed all to himself!

And the food ... well, I think we all gained a little bit of weight eating out everynight.

We are so thankful to have gotten to go on this vacation and for the time we got to enjoy with grandma and grandpa and my sisters family.