Every Summer Needs a Vacation

And ours looked a little something like this...

It was only 41 miles from our home, but at any given moment you would have thought we were somewhere in the Caribbean. We knew we wanted a beach vacation and threw around some different ideas, but when someone suggested Captiva Island we stopped searching. It's about an hour away, has a family friendly beach resort and they had some great summer deals going on.

A few weeks earlier, I started panicking as I made list after list of all the things we'd need for the trip. There was no way we were going to fit everything into my car. Fortunately, my grandmother keeps a minivan down here at her winter home that she let us borrow for the trip. I don't know what we would have done without it! A minivan is looking better and better each day! Here we are, all packed and ready to go!

Here's our very first family vacation basket! I have to thank my friend, Lindsey, for this fun idea. The basket was filled to the brim with new things for the vacation. Bridget loved tearing into it the morning of the trip!

We stopped for lunch in Sanibel and then finished the short drive to Captiva. Our room was perfect and exactly what we needed. And what's the first thing my kids wanted to do? The pool? The beach? A trolley ride? Nope, watch a movie on our little DVD player on the pull-out couch!

We did a little exploring the first night and then we were up bright and early the next morning for a full day at the pool. Ross napped on and off and even Bridget couldn't help but pass out on a lounge chair by mid afternoon. For the next three days we hit the repeat button and did it all over again.

We checked out the beach a couple of mornings too where the perfectly calm water was like a giant swimming pool to Bridget. She's so fun and fearless. She swam in the ocean with her daddy like a little fish. She would spend just few minutes playing in the sand before she was ready to get back in the water. Ross hung out under the umbrella most of the time, but enjoyed his dip in the water just as much as Bridget did.

Our room had a kitchen and it was easiest to eat in most nights, but we would often catch the resort trolley after an early dinner to have ice cream or play in the sand at dusk. Bridget loved the old fashioned candy store and on our last night we treated her to the big lollipop she had been eyeing. And in true 2 1/2 year old fashion, she took a few licks and was ready to toss it aside!

Our first family of four trip was perfect! I know neither of the kids will probably remember this trip, but Todd and I will and can't wait to tell them all about it someday. It feels great to be home though and we are all looking forward to good nights sleep in our own beds!