Gulf Coast adventure

Last week, we spent a wonderful five days down on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. Luke's aunt and uncle rent a house for the month of October each year in a spot very close to where Luke's mom and aunt vacationed as children. This year we were so fortunate to join them for a bit (along with Luke's mom and stepdad) and see the beautiful beaches and natural areas we had heard so much about. It was quite a trek to get down there (a drive up to Baltimore, a shuttle bus, two flights, and another drive in the rental car) and we had so much STUFF (poor Luke looked like a pack mule trudging through the airport with two car seats strapped to his body!), but it was all worth it. We had a wonderful time swimming in the Gulf, basking in the sun (and sweating in the heat and humidity!) and eating lots of delicious local seafood with Grammie and Grandpa Mike and Aunt Bobbie and Uncle Buddy, who we don't see nearly enough!

Amelia hadn't flown since she was 13 months old, so I thought she might be a little scared. We had talked and talked about it ahead of time though, so she was very prepared for what would happen and ended up loving it. She was thrilled that she could put on (and take off) her own seat belt, watch a DVD, and order juice.

Here she is checking out the safety card before our first flight. I got to try my hand at explaining oxygen masks, emergency exits, and inflatable slides in a non-scary manner. :)

Isaac on his very first flight.

For an active nearly 18-month-old, Isaac did really well, although a long travel day with flight delays and no nap resulted in a lot of "Get down!" demands on our final flight home on Tuesday night. We all survived though. Can't believe I was even considering doing that trip alone with the kids!!

Our Delta airline pilot from BWI to Atlanta was so awesome! Not only did he let Amelia check out the cockpit before the flight, he let her sit in his seat and even scooted the seat forward so she could reach the controls. So nice. Also, you still get free drinks AND snacks on Delta -- woot, woot! (Almost took the sting out of paying $40 for our clothes to go with us on vacation.)

At the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores -- it was so HOT!

Amelia sitting very, very still for some face painting.

Checking out the results.

Loving her unicorn face paint!

Alabama beauty queens of all sizes. There was even an infant with a giant crown being held on her nearly hairless head. Where were the 'Toddlers & Tiaras' cameramen?

On the swing ride with Amelia in the children's area. I was shocked when she said she wanted to go on it and even more surprised when she actually enjoyed it!

Isaac and Grammie at lunch at the shrimp festival.

We were so glad to sit down and have a cold drink! Apparently it was ridiculously hot and humid for this time of year -- even for Alabama.

Isaac shows off the famous "pirate face" to anyone who will give him a reaction. :)

Back at the house, Amelia playing with Bobbie and Buddy's hat collection.
"Caps! Caps for sale! 50 cents a cap!"

A rare still moment at the house. Most of their indoor time was spent throwing and kicking balls with Grandpa Mike and all the other good sports.

Grammie and Amelia working on their collage of shells and found things.

Isaac got very attached to Luke's Aunt Bobbie on this trip. By the end of the week, he was calling her "Bob-oh" and asking her to pick him up. He will definitely miss you, Bobbie!

Isaac digging in the sand. Both of the kids are at such great beach ages right now.

Three seems to be an age filled with fears, and Amelia had told me ahead of this trip that she didn't want to go near "the loud waves." So she surprised us all when she quickly warmed to the idea of going in the ocean. She ended up spending a lot of time playing in the surf on her own and loved going out into the deep water with Luke. Hurray!


The family digs for coquinas, a kind of small marine clam found everywhere on Atlantic beaches -- and apparently Gulf of Mexico beaches, too. As a kid, my cousin and I spent hours collecting them and admiring their beautiful and tiny shells and then watching them dig their way back down into the sand. Amelia was equally fascinated.

Watching her coquinas dig down in the plastic container.

Aunt Bobbie and Isaac

Amelia getting buried in sand.

Isaac engaging in his favorite sport: throw the [fill in the blank]

Bobbie, Buddy, Grammie & Grandpa Mike out to lunch on our last day

We arrived to the Mobile airport to the news that our flight was delayed an hour and a half (meaning we were going to miss our connection in Charlotte and get home some four hours later than expected), so we were extra thankful for the kids play area -- and the adjacent bar -- right across from our gate. :)

They even had "Doh" (aka Dora) on the TV!