My grandparents have been making this trip at the same time every year for 30+ years. And, up until a few years ago, they stayed at the same hotel…even the same room. Every. Single. Year.
When I was a kid I remember the entire family making this trip and spending the week playing by the pool, our feet in the sand, fireworks, and of course for all the men in our family, the races at the end of the week.
I am pretty sure it has been a lot of years since I last went on this vacation. At least seven, but I am thinking closer to ten. That is a long time to go without being a part of the family tradition and earlier this year my Grandma convinced me that it had been long enough, and I was the same age as Elliette when I made my first trip to Daytona.
So, I spent two weeks preparing for my daughter’s first plane ride and my first real trip staying in a hotel away from my hubby. Luckily, I had lots of family around to help out if I needed. But, Ellie spent most of the week clinging to me.
This was the first time that some of my family had even met Elliette, so it was pretty exciting to be spending some time with family away from the distractions of “home”.
I made lots and lots of lists. I took over our dining room table. And I checked two bags, a stroller, and a car seat. And I was alone. Oh boy.
But, I made it. Successfully. And the plane rides, both ways, were pretty much a piece of cake. She fell asleep within 30 minutes on the first flight and on the second we hadn’t even left the runway and she was out.
She really wasn’t sure about everyone and everything when we got there. But, by the end of the week she was LOVING the ocean and the baby pool. She was also enjoying sleeping with me every night. The hotel had a crib, but she wasn’t feeling it…so, I enjoyed cuddle time. A first for her at this age. My husband was so jealous when I told him!
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| First time on the beach! |
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| She didn’t really want to swim, she just wanted to stand up and sit down on the ladder to the pool. |
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| We walked every night on the beach. |
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| Such a character! |
I did take other pictures…not just my pretty little girl.
It was a fun filled week full of lots and lots of family time!
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| Grandkids and Great Grandkids |
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| She loved watching the planes fly over our hotel. |
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| Finally, LOVING the sand. |
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| And jumping the waves with Grandpa! |
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| Cousins |
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| Cousins |
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| Happy 4th of July! |
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| The last day on the beach.
Finally at the end of the week I got the chance to lay out by the pool and read my book. Only for about an hour, but it was a peaceful one hour.
  The week was pretty fun and overall a really good trip. Elliette had fun and so did I, it had been way too long since I had seen my family and it was much needed. It was the perfect little get away me and my little girl needed, only downside was missing my husband. And Elliette walked around quite a bit saying “DaDaDa”. When we got off the plane we were both ready to run into Daddy’s open arms for lots of hugs and kisses! |
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