Family, Fun, Food, and Firsts

We just got back from a week in Gulf Shores, AL with my dad's side of the family. The trip was planned as a gift for my grandma's 80th birthday. It was Nolan's first vacation, her first time to the beach, and first time to meet some of her extended family. There were about 20 of us staying in a large house across the street from the beach. We split the drive up on the way there and drove it all in one day on the way back. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

The drive there:

our first stop on the way there: Subway, and Nolan thought it was the greatest place on earth

singing in the car

Nolan's first hotel stay, she was pleased

on our second day of driving, letting Nolan take the wheel

The house:

The stairs:

A three story house on stilts makes for a LOT of stairs.  Also, the house has 2 sides that can be rented separately, and the sides only connect on the middle floor, so it felt like we were constantly going up and down the stairs (at least I wasn't completely lazy on vacation).

Pool time:

 she LOVED Nemo

why use a glass when you can drink out of the bottle?

Family time:

 outlet shopping!

goofing around with Uncle Mark

 her first tooth is starting to poke through!

 walking on the beach with my love

 in her blow up rubber ducky bath tub

Lots of yummy food:

fried and grilled red snapper, caught by the family that day on their deep sea fishing trip

 poolside dining: crab and shrimp boil

 Beach time!

putting on lots of sunscreen

first time in the sand, and of course, all she wants to do is eat it

fun with Poppa Z

The drive home when surprisingly well.  As long as we stopped every few hours so Nolan could chew on a table, she was pretty happy.

First family road trip = success!