Family Trip to Florida

This trip was a last minute "Plan B" to make up for the RV and epic National Parks road trip we had booked for May but had to cancel because of Corona. Luckily, because of all the travel restrictions, flights are really cheap right now. We couldn't go to any theme parks or movie theaters, but at least we could sit on a beach for four days - and that's what we did! We flew into Sanford and stayed in a Marriott hotel right on the beach in New Smyrna. Scott and Cheryl drove down from South Carolina to spend a day with us. We were able to squeeze in some bocci ball, a couple's seafood dinner, ice cream out with the kids, and late night card playing before they left again.

Reed is a much stronger swimmer this year so he was really able to enjoy the ocean and the waves (even the boogie boarding) with all his brothers and sisters. We kept having to bring him back in from wandering out too far - big change from our last beach trip! He gave us a big scare the evening we were on the shopping streets outside the hotel getting ice cream - got a call from the hotel lobby saying that we had left Reed behind and he was looking for us. Poor guy was still putting on his shoes when we all walked out and ended up locked out and alone in the hallway (until a nice family stopped and asked him if he needed help). Scott ran and brought him to us and I squeezed his guts out and then didn't take my eyes off him the rest of the trip! Not ashamed to admit that we bought him a king-sized guilt gift of Starbursts at 7-11, ugh! I could never keep track of all these kids if our merciful God didn't have my back!

Mae was her best self as a little beach bunny with her pink shovel and pail, busy as a bee 100% of the time - gathering shells and beach junk, manicuring mounds of sand, incessantly running to the water and back, and befriending everyone in ear shot. Some of the names I recall from the many friends she made are Jeremy, Amy, Isabella and Jack. I think I'll go out on a limb and predict that she is going to be a big-time social butterfly when she grows up.

We did branch out from the beach a little bit and visit the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum in St. Augustine, which was super weird and very entertaining. We love the history and charm in St. Augustine. We also took a sunset Pirate Ship cruise from the marina there, walked through the shops, got fudge and caramel apples and more ice cream, and ran around at the Castillo De San Marcos Fort. Pretty magical for a "Plan B!"