Spring Break 2011

We had such an awesome Spring Break!!! We went to Navarre, Florida to visit my family.  The drive was super long, about 13 hours through Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and then finally Florida, but it was pretty fun because my step-sister Clara was with us.  Blanca loved Clara and was super happy to have someone to cuddle with in the back seat.  We got to Florida Saturday evening and went on nighttime stroll along the beach with everyone.  When I say everyone, I mean my dad and my step-mom, my little brother and sister, Adam and Delaney, and three of my step sisters, Clara, Savannah, and Sierra.  

We went to church on Sunday and recovered from our long drive. We also went to the Gulf Breeze National Sea Shore for a late Sunday walk.  Monday, Clara, Ryan, Adam and I all went to the Navarre Beach.  They live about 5-6 minutes from the beach.  It was so pretty! White sands, crystal blue water.  Ryan was amazed at how white the sand was, since he grew up going to northeast Atlantic beaches. 

Adam jumping over a wave and Ryan hunting for shells

Tuesday we went to Pennsacola with Adam and met my dad for lunch, and then went to the Naval Aviation Museum.  It's hard to say who had more fun...my six year old brother who is obsessed with jets, or Ryan, who used to be obsessed with all planes as a child.  There was a whole section where you could get into the cockpits of various jets.

We drove back along the Santa Rosa Barrier Island.  SO GORGEOUS!!! Miles of white sands and ocean! This was the view we had along the highway.  The ocean was only about 100-200 yards away from the roadside.

Wednesday we took Delaney and Adam to the beach.  They had fun burying Ryan in the sand while Clara and I had fun boogie boarding.  Then we all went to Destin to help Savannah find shoes for prom.  Driving into Destin, there is a huge sand bar in the bay.  It was the most gorgeous water I've ever seen!  It was sparkling turquoise and perfectly clear.  You could see right down to the bottom! 

Thursday Ryan and I went to back to Destin to check out the beaches there.  We went to the boardwalk first, and then made our way down to one of the state parks. When we got there, the purple and red flags were up.  The red is for strong currents and waves, and the purple is for "dangerous marine life."  We asked the ranger about it and they said there had been lots of Portuguese Man O'Wars the day before, but he had not seen any that day.  Needless to say this did not calm my fears, but Ryan paid the entry fee to the park and we drove on to the beach.  I have had a semi-irrational fear of jellyfish since childhood, although I have not been stung by one yet.  I asked Ryan if he still wanted to go to the beach and he said sure.  He had to drag me into the water, assuring me I would be able to see the jellyfish because they were bright blue, even though he ruined it by adding they were pretty poisonous.  To my relief, we did not see any, but I cut my boogie boarding short, not wanting to try my luck.  We had a delicious lunch out on one of the wharfs and went back home.  

Later I googled a Portugese Man O'War.  This is what they look like...

Probably a good thing I did not know what they looked like beforehand, because I most likely would not have gotten into the water.  Ryan went fishing early Friday morning, and then Clara, Adam, my Dad and I joined him later on the beach to fly the kite Adam had found at a garage sale.  The water was extra cold and it was super windy and cool, which did make for good kite flying, but was not so great for swimming.  There were tons of dolphins all along the beach and off the pier. We celebrated Delaney's 10th birthday later in the evening with pizza and huge four layer cake my step-mom made.  It was super yummy!!!  

Saturday came too quickly and it was time to leave.  We stayed for Delaney's softball game early in the morning and then left around noon.  The drive seemed even longer because we were headed back to cold weather and reality instead of sunshine and vacation.  We got in late last night and it was freezing and drizzly.  I woke up this morning homesick for three families; my dad's, my mom's, and Ryan's.  I wish I could be in multiple places at once.  I am not looking forward to school tomorrow, but at least there is only 6 weeks left, and then  I graduate!  

So onto reality and another month before all my family comes up for graduation.  At least we had an amazing Spring Break! I hope it finally warms up here in Fayetteville and stays warm!