Getting there. (Gulf shores!)

 

We went to Gulf Shores, Alabama a few weeks ago, and it was absolute BLISS. We seriously didn't want to leave. Jordan's family met us there, and it was so fun to hang out with everybody on the beach--especially since we hardly ever get to see them! Literally just heaven. (To see the family photos we had taken while we were there, click HERE. Still not over them!)

But let me back up. 

Going on a vacation is always amazing, but getting there is usually quiiiiiite a process. The day before we left for Alabama, we were running around trying to get everything ready for the trip and the kids were playing in the yard. Holland suddenly flew off of a skateboard face first onto the sidewalk, and got super scratched up. The poor guy looked pretty rough, and it added to the pre-trip stress/ chaos we had all been feeling. Also, it was so sad!!

^this pic doesn't even do it justice. He was looking ROUGH^

But he was a good sport, and it healed up after a lot of time (and sunscreen at the beach!). 

We left to drive down the next day at like 4:30 in the morning, which is literally the only way to do it when you have young kids. Getting a few hours behind you while the kids are still half asleep makes things A LOT easier. 

...but don't get me wrong, there's still a fair amount of caffeine (and meltdowns) involved. Haha

^somewhere around 7 am^

^9 am^

^1 pm^

And then finally, WE MADE IT.

And when we pulled into the beach house, every minute in the car was suddenly worth it (as it always is).

 

^ so happy to be out of the car!^

^exploring the beach house^

Then the Mac fam rolled into town!
And this pic of Terri laughing at Kadan  with 100 cans of Mountain Dew is seriously my favorite ever.

We unloaded our stuff in the house, and then changed into our suits for the beach as fast as humanly possible. Because we couldn't wait another second to get to the ocean!!

B  L  I  S  S.

^Monroe's first time meeting Grandma Mac!^

^Finding seashells with Grandpa Mac!^

^Can you even get over her?? Such an angel!^

It was Monroe's first time at the beach, and it was baby Bo's first time, too! It was so fun to see them feel the sand in their toes and see the ocean for the first time--and to see them interact!

Both of them were like, whoa. This is a lot. Haha. But by the end they warmed up to the beach/ each other.

^baby cousins^

^This fisherman saw Boston and Cam eyeing his fishing pole, so he let them help! It made their day.^

^CUTEST^

As the sun was going down and we were walking back to the house, Jordan and I said the thing that we always say after a long day of driving.

"It was all worth it--even if this was our only night at the beach."

Because it really is. All of the stress and driving and meltdowns and potty breaks are always worth it.