Destin Diary: Vacation Day 4

I am so sad that the title of this includes Day 4!  That means 2 more days of vacation bliss before it's back to reality.  How am I going to survive another year without this view??

I guess that's why you work the other 51 weeks, right?  So that you can spend a solid week thoroughly enjoying every second of being throughly removed from your regular life.  And the other 51 weeks that you're away from this place make this one week even more special.

There wasn't much to report from Day 4, but I think it was the most perfect day we've had so far.  Ryan and I hit the beach early and enjoyed some time without chasing after a seven year old who loves the ocean more than should be allowed.

We all traded off our time with Alli, boogie boarding and swimming so that everyone got their down time reading and tanning.  I've finished my second book of the trip and Ryan's done with his first.  I did my usual beach chick lit and Ryan read a Star Wars book.

Tata and Alli boogie-ing

The old man and the sea

We headed up for lunch around 1PM so that Alli could watch Finding Nemo for the eighth time this trip and I could take a nap.  Something about the beach is making me sleepy around lunch time - it couldn't possibly be the cold adult beverages.

After a full day of beaching and swimming pools, we decided to head to my mom's absolute favorite eatery in Destin, Dewey Destin's.  Like I said on day one, it's a shack on the bay, but they have hands down the best seafood in Destin.  We did some driving around and then hit up Alvin's Island to get Alli some flippers.  I swear she's part mermaid...

Destin Diary: Vacation Day 3

After all of the fun yesterday Alli got a little pink, so we knew it was the perfect opportunity to skip the beach this morning and keep her out of the sun.  The day started before 7AM when my mom came in with her annoying "Get up, it's morning!" voice telling us it was time to get to the Donut Hole.  [I love you, Mom, but your wake up voice is worse than an alarm clock.  Sometimes I still have flashbacks of that song you used to sing - "Good morning, good morning, good morning, it's time to rise and shine..."  Shudder.]  I scrambled up - it's no secret I love donuts - and went out on the balcony to see the first dolphins of the trip.  We've been waiting a few days for them and they finally showed up this morning!

Then Mom, Ryan, Alli, Lindsey and I headed to the Donut Hole where I had quite possibly the most perfect donut ever invented:  The Chocolate Angel.  A delightful confection covered in powdered sugar and filled with chocolate icing?  Yes ma'am.  We topped it off with some eggs and coffee, and I was a happy girl.

After that, we went back to the condo to pick up the rest of the family and we headed for The Gulfarium in Fort Walton.  We went there the first year we came to Destin, but we haven't been since.  It underwent major renovations this year and Alli is a little older, so we figured it was time to head back.  We were immediately greeted by photographers who took a group shot of us, and then we met a bird named Nibbler who was especially fond of Ryan the bird whisperer.

I also got a little one on one time with Nibbler, which was momentous as I am deathly afraid of birds.  I am a woman of very few weaknesses, but my fear of birds and love of donuts are two of them.  Birds are soulless, winged henchmen of Satan.  You can't tell what they are thinking.  However, I held Nibbler on my finger and even let her nibble me.  Maybe she wasn't so bad.

How stressed am I?

The minute you walk into the Gulfarium, you run right into the dolphin tank.  Oh happy day - I'm pretty sure we all know I love love love dolphins. We watched them from underwater viewing windows and then got a seat for the show.  The Gulfarium is no Sea World, but they had a pretty cute little show which Alli really enjoyed (I did too, I won't lie to you).  I'm not a huge fan of animals in captivity, but I think if it helps people to learn about them and appreciate them, it can be a good thing.  Plus, Delilah, Sebastian, and Lily were super cute and playful - lots of fun to watch.

The view from the dolphin tank was amazing.  You could see the pier and the ocean.  I don't think I'd ever get tired of looking out and seeing that water.

After that, we saw sea lions and got our picture made with one named Lola (I miss my Lola, sniff sniff).  We got copies of that, so I hope to scan and upload it at some point.   We also saw some really cute otters who looked like kittens playing, some rescued sea turtles, and manta rays.

After the Gulfarium, we stopped to pick up more shrimp for the seafood lovers (everyone but me and Alli, unless incorporated into pasta or bisque), and then Alli and Ryan hung up into the condo watching movies.  I think it was the perfect call for Alli to stay out of the sun today so she's in full form tomorrow.  Mom, Dad, Lindsey, John and I hit the beach.  I got a little annoyed when I was sleeping on my towel and someone started blaring music on a boom box next to me.  Yes, we're one of those weird families who like to sit on the beach and enjoy the ocean.  I don't want your loud talking, your cigarettes, or your music interrupting that (I'm glaring at you, vacationers in the Redneck Riviera).  So Mom, Lindsey and I went on a walk looking for more secluded beaches we could relax on next year.  We went pretty far, so by the time we came back the chairs were almost completely put up.  Lindsey and I swam in the ocean for a long time, and then the rain started so we headed up.

Waterspout over the ocean

Tonight is our annual breakfast-for-dinner known as SupFast.  It's one of the few nights we hang in.  I'm looking forward to pancakes, wine, and a rousing round of cards with some of my favorite people.  Happy halfway point!!

Destin Diary: Vacation Day 2

Oh vacation diary, you surely are a labor of love.  As I write this, I am sleepily snuggled up in my bed, ready to rest up from a very long day of vacation bliss.  My eyes are half closed and my brain is fried, but I know I need to get this all done before I replace it with another day of more of the same.

We spent most of the day on the beach, of course.  Alli spent a lot of time boogie boarding and playing in the surf while we grown-ups traded time laying out, reading, and out in the ocean ourselves.  One of my favorite things to do is boogie board, and the waves had just kicked up enough in the early afternoon to make it worth getting out there.

How much do I love this hat?  This much.

Once we all got in from the beach, we headed down to the HarborWalk to eat at AJ's.  We've never been there before, so it was a great chance to try a new place.  Most of the places down here are pretty standard fare - fried fish baskets, fruity drinks with clever names, and "world famous" t-shirts.  AJ's was no different, but my she crab bisque and seafood pasta were especially delicious.  The pasta had sundried tomatoes, a personal favorite, so I was in heaven.  The restaurant overlooks the harbor so we got to see lots of boats arriving and the sunset cruises boarding.

After AJ's, we headed out into the HarborWalk Village to hit up the shops.  Mom, Lindsey, and I went last night, but the rest of the family wanted to wander.  There's so much to see and do, I don't think we'd have a problem spending several evenings there!  Alli and Buddy did a bungee bouncing thing.  Alli bounced extremely high and refused to flip.  She giggled most of the time, but when she got quiet and pale, I was afraid we might have a puker on our hands.  However, as soon as they brought her down, she got color back in her cheeks and asked to go again.  John Patrick actually did flips thanks to our insistent encouragement (I believe my mom has a video of us screaming "FLIP!!! FLIP!!  NOW FLIP AGAIN!!!!").

Ryan snuck away at some point to go get the pink crab painting by Don Sawyer that I spied last night.  I am so excited about it!!  I have no idea where I am going to hang it, but I can't wait to get it home.  Or maybe I can wait because that will mean I have to go home, and I've only just begun this adventure.

After HarborWalking, we dropped Mom and Dad off at the condo and Lindsey, John, Alli, Ryan and I split for The Track, a go kart/bumper boat/video game feast for people like us.  Everyone except me did the bumper boats (and got soaked, may I add) then we all had a great time in the bumper cars.  Alli drove a go kart all by herself, and Lindsey and I appeared to be in last place on go karts.  I really could have used a blue spiky turtle shell or a turbo boost, because if that had been Mario Kart, I would have been toast.

As you can see, today was crazy busy, and tomorrow is looking packed as well.  Ahh vacation...

They asked me to be in Blue Crush, but I decided to go to college...

Destin Diary: Vacation Day 1

We made it!  My family has begun our annual beach vacation in Destin, Florida.  We got here last night around 6:30 and we immediately ran out to greet the ocean.

We unpacked pretty quickly, and then we ladies (sans Alli who had to hit the pool the second we arrived) headed to Wal-Mart to get the groceries.  The Destin Wal-Mart at 8PM on a Saturday night is a mad house!!  I've never actually gone Black Friday shopping, but I have to imagine it's something like that.  Instead of elbowing people for flat screens, you're elbowing people for ketchup and frozen pizzas.

Once that was done, we came back to the condo (which is just gorgeous, it's probably my favorite one we've ever stayed in) and unloaded while Mom fried up crab cakes and made the corn and crab bisque that I will be enjoying every single lunch for the rest of the trip.  I'm a soup girl, what can I say?

The best part about the new condo is the wet bar where Ryan has set up shop for the week.  How awesome is this?  (Home decor friends, please note the white seahorse at the top of the bar...love).

We got up this morning around 8AM and started prep for the beach.  Ryan fired up the Maragaritaville machine to make the ladies' drink of the vacation - the innapropriately named but ever so delicious Sex on the Beach.  I lathered up Alli and packed the beach bags, and we headed down around 9:30AM.  Alli immediately ran out to the ocean.  Ever since her first trip when she was 3, Alli has been a big fan of the ocean.  She's oh so brave and I am constantly having to call out "Don't go any further!!"

I love beaching it up with my family because they are all so good about rotating shifts with Alli so that Ryan and I can have some down time too, because Alli just doesn't quit.  She goes nonstop.  Pool, sandcastles, boogie board, swimming in the ocean.  It never seems to end!  I got a little downtime on the beach myself to work on my tan and read my book.  And sip my dranky drank.

After about three hours, several of us headed up to the condo to eat some lunch.  We reheated Mom's soup (yum), and then I ended up taking a nap on the couch.  I haven't been sleeping well, so I guess I needed the rest!  Everyone else spent more time on the beach, but then we all got dolled up and headed to The Back Porch (Alli's favorite place to eat in Destin).  We ate at the same time my grandparents used to sit down for dinner, but we beat the crowd and had a great meal.

After that, we went back to the condo where Alli, Ryan, and John swam and Mom, Lindsey and I headed back out. We first went to see the Marler Memorial Cemetery where the founding families of Destin are buried (my mom has a weird thing with cemeteries, and my love of all that is old is well-documented).  Mom then took me to her favorite place to eat in Destin - Dewey Destin's.  It looks like a shack with a dock and a trailer for cooking food (because that's what it is), but the view is to die for.

The we hit up the HarborWalk where I bought another beach bag (it has a crab on it - obsessed!) and Mom got a crab wine bottle stopper and some artwork from Don Sawyer.  When we came back, everyone was winding down so I knew it was the perfect time to document our first day (my goal is to document every day, we'll see how well I do).  I'd say today was a complete success, and I'm looking forward to more of the same tomorrow!!

Midweek Holiday

Since the 4th of July is making its appearance midweek, we are getting a rare Wednesday off today.  I for one am planning to use it to tan by the pool a little and get ahead of the game on washing and packing for our upcoming vacation.  I am going to work hard to appreciate the day off and not see it as an annoying sidestep interrupting my pre-vacation workload at the office and my countdown to beach bliss.  (Repeats sentence to self three times).

I called around a few nail salons, planning to get us Lowe girls all set up for the beach with pedicures, but would you believe they are all closed?  So we decided to go last night.  I can't get over how cute Alli is sitting in the little chair and getting her piggies done in the "foot bath."  I had to let them give her a manicure too.

After that, she and I went on a dinner date to Dixie Cafe - her pick.  Ryan had Ultimate Frisbee (Ultimate Frisbee is to Ryan as Horseback Riding is to Lauren, something else I have to repeat to myself a lot...), so it was just us girls.  I had to be at work at 6AM yesterday, so by 7PM that night I was a little restless to get settled in at home, and she was dragging the meal out.  When I asked her for the 50th time to eat, she said, "Wow, Mom, you sure know how to rush a dinner date!"  Consider me shut up.

When we got home, I got busy cleaning while Alli played Legos in her room.  Then we went outside and she ate an orange popsicle - have I said yet how much I love summer?

Happy summer, and a very happy 4th of July to you all!!!

Weekend Recap

Now that summer is in full swing, our weekends all seem about the same.  Pool, movies, church, pool, horseback riding lessons.  I'm not complaining though - our family loves going to to the pool.  Ryan and Alli get to perfect their diving...

 And race down the slides...

While I read books and tan.  (No pictures...obviously.)  We usually spend about 2-3 hours there each day on the weekend (carefully reapplying sunblock to the pale ones).  There's so much to do at the Springdale Aquatic Center that the time really does fly!!

Alli and I are riding on Sunday evenings now so that it's cooler - though 95 degrees at 6PM isn't exactly breezy and pleasant.  This past weekend, I rode Freedom and jumped 2'6".  That's the highest I've jumped in a long time, and it felt awesome!!  Alli did some pretty complicated riding herself, navigating a course of poles around the entire arena on Dice.  She really is progressing well.

Ryan is ever the good barn dad and water boy, and he's getting to be a pro at helping groom and hosing the ponies off.  Now if I could just get him on a horse...

Nini: Love Defined

In the interest of keeping with the goal of the original Pawpaw post, I'd like to continue by telling you about my Nini.  Nini is my last living grandparent, and I know God has a plan for that.  My Grandaddy taught me unconditional love, my Grandmama taught me unconditional strength, and my Pawpaw taught me unconditional joy.  My Nini is still teaching me another lesson  - unconditional sacrifice.  It's a lesson I've struggled with all along, but it's one I'm trying so hard to learn, and Nini could not be a better teacher.

Pawpaw said that his song for Nini was "Wind Beneath My Wings."  It was his lasting legacy for my family's relationship with my Nini, I know it.  When the song says "I was the one with all the glory, you were the one with all the strength," I see it so clearly.  You couldn't not love my Pawpaw.  His joy and vivaciousness knew no bounds.  His thirst for life was contagious.  But he left this for my family so that we would know that all along, he would have been nothing without Nini.  She was his hero, his rock, and the reason he was as wonderful as was, which makes her infinitely more wonderful.

She gets her words mixed up sometimes.  She pronounces things funny - "cry-stial" instead of crystal, "breaksfast" instead of breakfast", and "aluminumnum" instead of aluminum.  Things don't always clearly translate from her head to her mouth.  I see so much of that in Alli - her mind is working so quickly that her mouth can't catch up.  I know Nini is the exact same way.  She is so analytical, so attuned to the needs and feelings of others, it just doesn't always translate to us mere mortals.

No one person in my life has ever loved me as much as my Nini - that would be impossible.  She truly is capable of a higher level of love than anyone I know.  I think she's on a whole other plane.  I can only think of one time I've known that she's ever been mad at me - I wandered off in the mall, and I think it was more fear for my safety than anything.

I think all of these warm clothes were hers - the perpetual mother hen

Oh, my Nini loves babies.  She still loves us all as if we were babies, but she really loves babies.  I remember my brother calling her secretly on the phone when he was under the age of four and then hanging up the phone quickly when my mother walked in.  I remember sitting in her lap to claim her when my cousins walked in the door.  And I remember Alli clinging to her the exact same way.  Nini loves babies, and babies love Nini.

If Pawpaw is the beacon, Nini is the anchor.  Nini means constant love and constant encouragement.  If you want a reason to get up and fight, Nini will find one.  But if you want an excuse to lay on the couch and cry, Nini will find one of those too.  The day I wrecked my dad's truck, I ran to Nini.  One of the hardest times in my life, the time when I told my family I was pregnant with Alli, I spent a solid day curled up on her couch.  No questions, no judgement, no anger.  Just love unfailing.

A one year old gets to dip her finger in her own cake, after all

Oh my, but Nini is strong.  She's feisty too.  She can be sassy, but you aren't always sure if she means it because it sounds like sugar.  But if you cross her or her family, she will show you just how much business she means.  I think her sweet demeanor and constant love can lead people to think she's weak, but she is so incredibly strong.  You don't get to call yourself a Rachel unless you're tough.  You don't marry a man like my Pawpaw and raise three bright, intelligent, and wonderful women like my mother and my aunts without a little spunk.

Nini is a constant lesson for me in sacrifice.  In being the person who brings out the best in others, which in turn brings out the best in oneself.  I tend to be focused on me and my needs, but knowing Nini is to know a person who is focused on others and their needs above her own.  She raised a family while my Pawpaw pursued his career across Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.  She has a shopping problem.  She doesn't like to cook or clean, unless it's for her family's sake.  She can rock any baby to sleep.  And it still feels like I'm five when I hug her.

I know now exactly how Pawpaw felt about Nini, and I couldn't agree more.  The professor keeps teaching.

It must have been cold there in my shadow, to never have sunlight on your face. 

You were content to let me shine, that's your way.  You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory, while you were the one with all the strength.

A beautiful face without a name for so long, a beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?  You're everything I would like to be.

I can fly higher than an eagle, you are the wind beneath my wings.