Family Vacation - Last Day on Anna Maria Island

Day 4

We started this morning off with a stroll down the beach. It never even occurred to me to bring our stroller out on the beach until I saw another family do it! It worked out great because it was hard to take a walk with Sid on foot. I collected a few seashells and we got to watch the sun come up over the beach. He loved being up close to all the birds on the beach.

We went back in for breakfast and then it was nap time. As soon as he woke up we hit the beach! The water was perfect on this day. Very calm, with no white caps. We were able to put his pool float in the ocean and oh my gosh, he absolutely loved it! He got to feel the waves lift him up and back down, we played motor boat with him (he tried but ended up drinking the water - yuck!).

Sean kept splashing bubbles to tickle Sid. He loved it!

We ventured back on to the beach where he played with his bucket and had a quick snack.

I was amazed at how much he was content just sitting on my lap on the beach. I guess with all the people and other things to look at he was totally happy just sitting still. We built a tiny sandcastle with a moat. He had fun getting the water from the ocean to fill it with. Eventually our castle turned into some silly face. Then later, once we were inside, I looked out to see that some man had stuck his beach umbrella right in the middle of our creation!!! Ha! O'well :)

Unsure. A Cool Hippo maybe?

We ate lunch in the condo and then we ran to the Island Trader souvenir shop so I could get us a Christmas ornament for our tree to help us remember our first family vacation :) Then it was nap time! While Sid napped, Sean and I got busy packing our stuff and getting showered and ready for our family photo session we had that evening during sunset.

I found a photographer 2 weeks before our trip on Instagram. It took me that entire time to figure out our outfits and even on this day, one hour before photos I was going over it in my head - wondering if I brought anything else that would be better. Omg! I drive myself cray!!! The pictures turned out better than I could've ever imagined! Here is a quick preview...

Photo by Everence Photography

After our pictures we got Sid ready for bed and then picked our last meal on the island, from Lobstah's. I finally got my gulf shrimp that I love! They were massive and I was in seafood heaven! 

We called it a night after one last Pina Colada. We had to be out of our condo by 10 the next morning.

Our last night on our patio enjoying the sunset.

Family Vacation - Days 2 & 3

Day 2

We all made it through our first night with good sleep. We woke up refreshed and way more relaxed than we were when we went to bed! Sid woke up at his usual time, 5:50 (we have been keeping him on central time, so it was 6:50 on the island). I got his usual breakfast made and then we headed out for his first footprints in the sand!! The sun was just starting to come up. It was perfectly beautiful.

First time putting those toes in the sand. 

"Waddugh!!" said Sid

We should've put him in his swimsuit but we hadn't planned on staying out too long or him getting wet. Both happened. O'well!

He took his usual morning nap. I couldn't believe how easily he went down. No fight what so ever!! When he woke up, it was raining. We had to sit out the rain before heading back down to the beach. This time in proper attire.

Reading a book on daddy's lap while waiting out the rain. 

I like whatever happened to this photo.

Once he discovered the water rushing up, there was no going back!

Happy & loving life :)

First time to plop down to play in the sand. 

He had the best time chasing all the birds!

We spent a good hour, maybe a little longer, outside playing. There was quite a bit of cloud coverage so it was perfect out. We ended with a dip in the pool to wash the saltwater off of us. We went in for lunch, and soon after we all three relaxed & took a nap.

Later that afternoon we ventured out to a few souvenir shops, the liquor store, and another grocery run. We needed to pick up some steaks for dinner :) When we got back to our condo we got dressed to go back down to the beach for sunset.

I didn't take my camera because I wanted to just enjoy the moment without a camera stuck in my face. This was great, except that the sunset was so beautiful all I could think about was wanting my camera :/ Technology has really ruined us! We bought Sid a little bucket with a shovel, and a small ball to play with on the beach. He thought it was really fun to fill his bucket with sand. Between that and needing to say "HI" with his standard hand wave, he was a very busy little boy!

Sean grilled steaks for us and I baked potatoes and made some broccoli. It was a little crazy trying to figure out how to light the grill bc it wasn't lighting on its own. He ended up finding a lighter in the front desk after asking the valet guy across the street for one.

We were tired. It was late by the time dinner was done. We went to bed.

Day 3:

We stuck to the same morning routine. Breakfast and then the beach! Sid was getting braver and braver each time we took him down to the water. It is so cool seeing him explore and experience things for the first time. The sand, the water, the waves, the sea gulls, the shells. He is a big fan of it all!

Chasing his ball, but don't worry, daddy was on the other side ;)

Has anyone seen Sid? (Kidding!)

Sleepy boy ready for his nap.

While Sid napped, Sean surprised me with breakfast outside :)

After Sid's morning nap, we went to the North part of the island (about a 9 minute drive) for lunch. The lady at the souvenir shop told us to go to Rod & Reel Pier. It was a great experience. We sat out on the water and got to watch the fishermen fish off the dock.

We went back to the car to get the stroller - I'm sure you can
see why! (NO RAILING!)

Here fishy, fishy

Pretty bird

We sat next to a table with two German men. They were extremely friendly and loved playing with Sid, who of course gobbled up all the attention.

Silly silly!

During his afternoon nap Sean and I took the monitor to the pool for a quick dip. 

Feeling rebellious b/c we weren't in our condo while Sid napped. 

Once he woke up, we watched the Rangers lose to Toronto :( , and we FaceTimed with Grammy. The sun was blazing and it was way too hot for our little guy (& his mama!). He was also heavily entertained by playing peek-a-boo around the curtains.

Once the sun started to set, we hit the beach again. This time I took my camera. There were no clouds, so though it was no doubt a spectacular sight, the pictures didn't turn out great. O'well. I will forever have the image of our first sunset together on our first family vacation engraved in my mind.

Trying to wind down before bath. Silly boy having fun!

Sid went down for bed and we ordered take out from Hurricane Hank's. Local CHEERS type of bar & pub. I got chargrilled shrimp with rice & veggies and Sean got wings! Both very good. We hung out with a glass of wine before going to bed. We somehow started watching weird science experiment YouTube videos - like - how to make ocean waves in a bottle. Don't ask! We were talking about one of Sid's toys and that's where it took us. Odd, but entertaining nonetheless:)