Living in a different state than my family has always been a challenge. A few years ago, my dad started Schmidtfest. It was his way of getting all the kids and family together. The first one was at our family farm. The second annual Schmidtfest was also at the farm, but it was at this one my dad and step-mom decided we needed a beach!!
After lots of excitement and talk, they rented an amazing house on the beach in Gulf Shores! We packed up the kids and headed down on Friday. The car was PACKED!!!!!
They didn't make it far before they were snoozing...
Both kids were so good. We stopped in Memphis for the night and finished the drive early the next morning.
As soon as we arrived, it was right to the pool and the beach!! We (selfishly) had never taken them to the beach. It just seemed too hard with diapers, feedings, naps and "baby" type stuff. This year, they were BEYOND excited to put their feet in the sand!!!
Dujuan learned you don't want to fall asleep with others awake...
On family vacations, all diets and most healthy eating goes out the window...
This happened for Cohan on day 2 when our friends, Jeremy and Ashley, met us for the day and brought yummy donuts!
Sunday, it was Father's Day. When we celebrate Father's Day at home, we are still home, so there are chores that have to be done, or normal house projects.
When you are at the beach... this is what you do on Father's Day!
We didn't all get to be together this year for Thanksgiving. Everyone loves my dad's turkey and meal he cooks. So, on Father's Day, we had Thanksgiving!
There were LOTS of beach days...
And even more time was spend in the pool. Day and night...
The sun can take it out of most of us, others do hair during quiet time.
Ireland was pretty obsessed with my step-sister, Michelle's new baby, Alissa...
There was lots of domino games in the evenings...
One day we all went out for late afternoon appetizers and drinks to a cool little place called Tacky Jacks. The kids AND adults enjoyed frozen drinks.
Another day, we went to lunch at a neat place called The Hangout.
The kids loved this souvenir shop.
Dad and Chris bought a karaoke machine. The kids AND adults loved it!!!
Ireland wouldn't stop and wanted to sing every song.
One morning we decided to try a three story go-cart track.
I am not sure who had more fun, the adults or the kids...
That afternoon, the men went deep sea fishing. Abby, Sarah and I took the kids on a dolphin cruise. We saw lots of dolphins and wild life.
The guys had a great time too!
That night, everyone was on their own for dinner. The Schmidt kids and our kids all went out to a beautiful dinner together.
Ireland was so tired, she fell to sleep as the rest of us sat and visited.
Cohan and Ireland collected LOTS of shells.
The day after the fishing adventure, my dad went out and bought everything to have a fish fry for lunch. We ate their catch. My kids couldn't get enough!
This little lady was styling the whole trip...
Dad, however, not so much!
Our house was amazing. We had an awesome private pool, great view of the ocean and lots of room for everyone. There was a cool spiral staircase that led to an amazing lookout on the top of the house, room for kite flying and lots of views.
Our family LOVED the beach and ocean...
The guys loved diving for "ship wrecks." Unfortunately, this is all they found.
One morning, Chris, Abby and my other step-sister, Missy, did a yoga class on the beach.
We also celebrated Dujuan's birthday one night with a surprise Mexican night.
Tyler's family left one night early. We were sad they missed our spontaneous windy beach pictures after a long day of sun, beach and pool, lots of drinks and dinner.
I know that I am biased, but I seriously pinch myself with how beautiful my kids are.
We had the best vacation!!!
There were two little kids that were VERY sad to leave. Cohan kept hiding.
They didn't want to go home.
But the beach left them VERY tired!
The ride home was LONG and had lots of unexpected stops, puking kids, melted M&Ms others mistook for poop in gas station bathrooms and more. Scott and I passed time by keeping track of all the states on licence plates we saw. We missed less than 20 states.
After 14 LONG hours, we made it home.
Thank you to Dad and Chris for an amazing family vacation.
We can't wait for next year!!
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