We do love our Aunt & Uncle, but after being gone over a week it was time to get back home.  Don’t get me wrong, spending a week in beautiful Destin, Florida was amazing.  But, there comes a time when you’re ready to sleep in your own bed – without sand and 6 little feet poking you in the back, where the springs don’t poke through the mattress and gouge you when you sleep.  Our vacation was perfect otherwise.  I got all the sun and sand I could wish for.

Ever bought a car off eBay?  My Uncle has!  Although, I can’t remember where he had to pick it up from.  I’m pretty sure it was Florida, but then again I could be wrong, very very wrong.  It’s a pretty neat little car, only a 2 seater and hummmms when you go down the road.

Since Oklahoma is such a long drive from Destin, FL we stayed over night with our awesome Aunt & Uncle.   We just had to cross Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and then make it to Arkansas to our destination.  After 8 hours of driving, which included stopping at Dairy Queen, a few gas stations and of course for dinner we made it Arkansas.  The drive home wasn’t near as fun as going.  Chalk that up to never going to Florida perhaps, but when you’re ready to get home, you’re just ready.

Coming home to Oklahoma from Florida, you go through these awesome tunnels.  I say awesome and guess they are, but maybe only to the passenger.  I was better prepared for these tunnels coming back than I was going to Florida.  Roomie just wanted to fly through them as fast as possible, something about claustrophobia or something?  Poor Roomie, she’s afraid of so many things.

Hold your breath!  We’re goin’ in!  Back to Oklahoma we go.  The tunnels just symbolize being home or closer to home.  I miss home, but these tunnels are really something to see.  Especially if you’re not used to seeing things like this back in your home state.

What happens when you have a car wreck inside the tunnel?  Well that was one thought that crossed my mind while we were driving through.  I’m thrilled we came out on the other side without having a wreck of any kind.

I see light!  There’s light at the end of the tunnel.  The saying is actually true.  I believe this is the very first time I’ve been through an extremely long tunnel like this one.  It honestly was sort of scary coming out because we had a hill to climb and it made you think that you were going to hit the top of the tunnel.  I mean we didn’t, it just appeared that way.  I’m very very ready to get home. Can you tell?

Tommy Boy looks confused, doesn’t he?  Well, he’s not.  I promise.  He actually changes colors according to if it’s daylight or not and even when you’re underground!  He looks sort of cool being underground and all.

….and we’re out!  We came out of the tunnel with flying colors.  Making it out alive with Roomie still driving.  This is a huge accomplishment, making it out of the tunnel.  We’re that much closer to home, to sleeping in our own beds and to seeing Ellie.

Being the big History nut I am, I really wanted to see the USS Alabama.  On our way back, we planned that, just didn’t follow through.  Who knew it would cost $30 for Roomie & I to tour the ship?  Really?  She isn’t into history like I am and I knew she wouldn’t enjoy it, so I snapped pictures from inside the park.

I really wanted to eat here.  The parking lot was packed, but I was saving all of my hunger strength for Copeland’s.  Yes, their food is speechless good and if it were anywhere near me, I’d eat there on a daily basis.  They have the best Crawdad tails a girl could ever wish for.

There it is.  The USS Alabama.  I was thinking I was about to tour this awesome ship, instead all I got was shock over the cost to tour it.  Maybe some day I’ll make my way back to the USS Alabama and tour the ship.  One day.

The entrance to the USS Alabama.  There were so many planes inside  the park it was unreal.  I don’t think I’d ever seen that many planes in one location that were just on display.  I just snapped photos of all the planes and then looked each one of them up just as soon as I got home.

A gunner just inside the park.  The thing was massive, I mean even more massive than what you would think of in the movies.  I have no idea how you could control a gun like that in battle.  It’s hard enough turning some of the knobs and wheels they have, but ones built 60+ years ago I can’t even imagine what it would’ve been like to fight in a war like that back then

The Coast Guard plane on display.  It was a change to get to see some of these planes on display, especially after seeing The Guardian with Kevin Costner.  Yes, I saw an actual Coast Guard plane, maybe next time I’ll take a tour of the ship too.

Thankfully the only day it really poured was the day we left.  Florida is beautiful, but we were ready to get home.  Although, I can’t wait to go back again.  It had already rained a lot before we could get out of the state.  It even came a torrential downpour while we were loading our car to go home.

Getting out of town.  Driving out of Destin was much easier than driving into the town.  The roads were soaked and so were Roomie & I.

This is where all 4 kids wanted to go.  I had to ask them why they wanted to go to a water park when they had a beach and 2 pools to jump in anytime they wanted.  Little Man replied “because it’s cool”.  Yeah, Little Man it looks cool until you actually go and freak out over the massive slides that look so much smaller from the road.

My dear ole’ cousin Nicole misread the sign earlier in the week, which led to a very heavily detailed explanation about the Pubic bone and Pubic hair.  I wish I was kidding!  Poor Nicole for misreading the sign.  Maybe she needs to get glasses, because I can’t see how you could just throw out the “l” in Publix.  Although Pubix has a nice ring to it.

In Florida, the water meets the edge of the road.  I would’ve thought there would’ve been barricades or something separating the road from the ocean.  Nope, not here.  However, I’d love to see what would happen if a hurricane came, do the waves come crashing into the road?  That’s something I’d like to see, I just don’t want to be in the hurricane while it’s happening.

The Blue Angels in Florida.  They’re amazing in person, I’ve seen them perform once.  I was amazed by them, I even think my jaw dropped while watching them.  I love watching planes, especially those that do acrobatics and crazy things in the air.  I would hate to be the one riding shotgun, I’m sure I would throw up everything.  Even the take off when flying makes me a little green.

Goodbye, Ocean.  See you again some day soon.  Hopefully that’s before I decide to tie the knot or have my house full of kiddos.  I definitely might have to talk Roomie into going back or at least a few friends so we can have a few wild nights.  I still have those left in me, you know.

Thankfully, I didn’t leave town without collecting some of this stuff.  It’s now sitting in my garage and there is some in Roomie’s trunk.  …Wonder how long it will be there until she decides to vaccum it up.

Roomie & I laid out constantly while we were in Florida.  I was either at the pool or the beach the entire time we were down there.  I hardly used sunscreen and didn’t burn a single time.  It was marvelous.  Roomie on the other hand, burnt.  Not to worry, she was darker when we finally arrived back in Oklahoma.  The redness had subsided.

Poor Roomie.  I’m sure her back must’ve seriously hurt.  Oh the other hand check out how dark I got.  Marvelous isn’t it?  I still have some great tan lines left over from Florida now.  Hopefully they’ll stick around awhile longer, I love my new darker skin.  The pool and beach jumping really did some good in the week I layed out.  I might have to do that more often to achieve this effect again.  Now, my dark hair is au naturel not dyed.

I braved my hatred for shrimp and dined on Coconut Shrimp for dinner one night.  It was amazing…and so were the drinks I had to go with it.  We had an amazing view looking out at the beach for dinner & even saw an airplane show….you know…the ones that were in Pearl Harbor…yes those planes…oh it was fun watching them fly across the water.

Pompano Joes has the best seafood hands down.  This little restaurant sets right on the beach.  The wait wasn’t too long to eat.  We mostly people watched and washed the waves crash into the beach.  It was a peaceful setting waiting on dinner that evening.

People watching.  Just look at all that white sand.  I love walking on the beach with my shoes off and only with my shoes off.  I did try walking in the sand in shoes, but it didn’t work.  It was awful having sand fly up my calf and then into my shoes all while I was continuing to walk, walk, walk.  I tried flip flops too, but even they didn’t work.  It was horrible, which leaves me to say I love the sand between my toes and not in my shoes.

My very yummy Strawberry Margarita.  It was definitely different getting a drink in a plastic cup.  I mean I’m a College Girl, I’m used to drinking Trash Can punch out of a Solo cup and things like that, but never from a restaurant.  That was definitely a different experience and an enjoyable one at that!

Our view for dinner.  We were able to continue our people watching skills.  Oh how I thoroughly enjoyed dinner that night and the view from dinner.  We even were able to watch a few planes do loops and plane acrobatics.  Not just any planes though, ones from the 1950s, just like the one in Pearl Harbor; the one towards the end where Ben Affleck and the little boy are flying.

Sisterly love.  We do love each other, despite our knock down drag out fights.  Roomie and I were civil for photos which only lasted a hour or so.  We both walked away with some exceptional photos from the beach and we’re thankful we found someone in our condos to take our pictures of us together.

She’s red, I’m tan.  Nothing beats one of the best sun tans of all time.  I believe this tan out does all the ones I had in the past, including those I acquired at Camp Cavett so many years ago.

Starring off into the wild blue yonder.  The ocean is truly an amazing experience and  watching those wave crash in, it’s just breath taking.  I do hope to one day stand in that same spot and watch those waves crash in one at a time.

So I live with a copy cat.  I know how to have fun and evidentially Roomie knows how to copy off me.  I really do love how this photo turned out.  It wasn’t anything we planned to turn out this way, it just did.  Don’t you just love candid non-planned moments like these?

Weeee!  I can’t help it if I get a little excited on the beach with my amazing Roomie.  I’m sure Roomie thought I was crazy for acting the way I did and I’m sure the girl we had taking our pictures thought we were both crazy.

Would you check out how dark my feet got during vacation.  Comparing my feet to Roomie’s white feet I really had no idea I got so dark until I saw the photos of exactly how dark I did get while hanging out on the beach every day.

Like all people, there is that one day where you must take photos on the beach…you know…all dolled up.  Roomie & I chose to wait til the very last possible day to do this.  We caught as much sun as possible before we decided to take photos.  I think they turned out amazing and I even got to act a little crazy during them.  After our photo op’s we hit up Pompano Joes for some yummy Pina Coladas.

Would you look at those waves.  The night we choose to have our beach photo-op the waves were bigger than I had ever imagine.  It would’ve been great to bust out the boogie board I bought and see what I could’ve done out there, but I didn’t.  I figure the board will come out next time, on our next big trip to Florida.

Think you all can guess where I’m headed?  Just wish I had my swimsuit on instead of my dress.  I just might be able to pull off the swimsuit under my clothes next time we do a beach photo shop.

I love the water.  Try to keep me out – I dare you.

A toe goes in.  I was a tiny bit afraid a wave would splash directly up my dress.  That happened later, but I was happy that it didn’t happen off the bat.  It gave me awhile to warm up to the water.

I flip flopped back & forth between the 2 pools at our condo and of course, the beach.  For a solid week I worked on my tan, listened to my ipod, and read a few books.  Not to mention I did hit up the Outlet Mall a few times too.  It was a great vacation and I’m glad I got to spend it with my cousins & the Roomie.

About to show us all what she can do.  It was a week spent perfecting the front flip in the water.  I had to show off exactly what her daring cousin could do, which was a perfect back flip as well as a front flip.  After I did that, I was the coolest cousin alive.

There she goes.  She’s funny to watch because of how she plugs her nose.  Which just so happens to be something her mother does as well.  She loves the water and nose plugs.  Yes, I said nose plugs.  Another mother/daughter thing.

The pool at the other side of our condos.  It was a much deeper pool and I hung out here too, catching all the rays I could.  It was phenomenal having two pools to hang out in and just float and float all day.  I loved not having to worry about a shark coming up from the depths of the pool and biting a chunk out of my raft.  That I truly enjoyed not worrying about.

The pool right outside our condo.  I could’ve jumped from our balcony and landed in the pool, that’s what I mean by it was just outside our room.  Then again, we were on the 3rd floor and I wasn’t going to risk my life for a little fun, so I kept my jumping feelings at bay and stayed on the balcony.

I’m thrilled that we only had one major rainy day in Florida the entire week that we were there.  Just one.  I mean I know there would come a day in our vacation where we’d have rain and such, so the rain was a much welcomed surprise for all of us.  Roomie & I were able to watch the storm roll in.  It was just like being in Oklahoma and watching those storms roll in, except this time there weren’t any warnings of tornadoes popping up which was great because I had no idea where the tornado shelters were.

Would you look at that picture.  The ocean is still sunny, while our condo is engulfed in clouds and what looks to be rainy weather headed our way.

Looking back at the storm headed our way.  It doesn’t look that bad.  It rained for hours and when it finally let up, I hit the beach.  You bet I hit the beach in my bikini after the rain and it was cold.

I was surprised there were still people on the beach after that storm rolled in.  Rain gushed for a little over a hour, which is why I was so shocked there were people still out and about on the beach.  Some of those people were even dry which was even more fascinating to me.  Clearly they didn’t go in for shelter because a majority of everyone’s things were still strewn all over the beach.

This guy was fishing.  I sat and watched him awhile just to see if he’d catch anything, like a shark!  That was a huge negative, he didn’t catch anything while I was standing there.  Thankful again for him not catching anything because I would’ve hated to have seen what would’ve came out of the ocean and what I would’ve been swimming with.

Fisherman casting out again.  His bait looked massive compared to the bait I use here in Oklahoma.  That could be because we don’t have huge fish in our lakes, let alone sharks.

Check out those skies and the sea foam green water.  I never knew the beach was pretty after it rained.  It wasn’t anything I expected to see, it was a nice surprise.

The ocean itself was a different color after the rain.  I didn’t get in, the water was very cold so I just walked around and snapped pictures and people watched.  I love to people watch, especially while on vacation.

Super sweet.  Too bad I didn’t have anyone to send this home to.  Maybe next year I’ll be able to send something like this back to the person I am in love with, better yet, I hope that next year I’m with the guy I’m in love with.  A girl can dream, right?

Just a random beach condo right on the beach.  I would’ve love to have rented from here, but there is no way I can afford to do anything like that now or until I’m employed.  This college girl is on a budget.  Yes, college girl and budget may not fit in the same sentence, but it’s a word I must live with for awhile now.

Now this is what I really wanted to say.  Rent out the entire house and live right on the beach.  I could only imagine falling asleep to the ocean sounds at night.  Waves crashing on the beach and peering out the windows and seeing what’s lurking outside cause you never know what you’re going to find.

This was the very first time the kids ever saw a beach.  I mean any beach.  They were a bit ecstatic to say the least.  I mean they ran across the street from where our condos.  Then proceeded to run down the stairs and onto the sand for the first time.  Seeing the kiddos react to feeling the sand between their toes and seeing the ocean for the first time was priceless.  It was great getting to experience that with them and seeing the reactions of their faces.  Hopefully they will all remember their trip to the beach with Roomie & I.

My Shadow going Oh My Gosh, this feels amazing.  She didn’t want to leave the sand and the huge smile on her face was priceless.  I don’t think she could quite get over just how good the sand felt, she had to squish it between her toes and wiggle her feet beneath the sand.

All 4 kiddos enjoying the sand between their toes.  This was the first time they had beach sand between their toes.  Soooo happy I got to experience this special moment with them.

Puhlease can we go see the water?  Wish granted girls, wish granted.  I mean we absolutely don’t have to go change into our suits, let’s just go full force into the ocean in our clothes.  Yes, that’s a grand idea!

Sisters.  They crack me up sometimes.  I think they were both shell shocked they were at the beach and had the ocean behind them.

Little Man wanted to get closer to the water, so off we took to walk down to the water.  First the kids all were lectured on the ocean and swimming and such.  They were really ready to go change into their swim suits and jump in the ocean.  They were really ready to do this, instead their father had different ideas!

What was the bright idea?  Just go stick your toes in!  Anyone wonder how well that idea worked out?  Let’s just say I was the only one who left the beach drenched.  Only because the guy with the bright idea decided it would be fun to run into the water Baywatch style and knock me over.  All I have to say about that, guy with the bright idea, is that you’re lucky I didn’t have a camera in my hand!

This is cool!  That’s all I kept hearing the entire time we were in the water.  I think he really enjoyed experiencing the ocean and I loved getting splashed…while I was still clothed.

Video equipment rolling,  fancy smancy camera snapping away and 2 awesome cousins to keep the little ones happy and content; check, check, check.  I thoroughly enjoyed getting to act like a big kid again and do things I wouldn’t have otherwise.

After the Arkansas clan left the condo, Roomie & I had our own down time fun.  We went parasailing, rented wave runners, and even did some more shopping.  800+ feet up in the air is breath taking.  It wasn’t windy and it was super quiet.  Roomie & I talked and looked at the marine life from up in the air.  We saw lots of fish, sting rays, and lots of other marine life.

800 feet above the ocean water.  It did cross my mind about what would happen if the rope snapped.  I didn’t want to experience that, but I’m the risk taker so I welcomed the big risk Roomie & I took on our Parasailing adventure.  I’m very thankful she chose to tag along and took the big risk, despite her play it safe attitude.  Now do you see why I’m the wild child?

We weren’t flying too long before our guides started pulling us back in.  I wanted to keep going.  The views were amazing from where we were.  You could see for miles.  I didn’t want to be pulled in, I wanted to keep going.  Still chatting away.  It was extremely peaceful while we were up there.  Roomie & I talked about our next game play and what we needed to do for the remainder of the week.  We did spot a few massive stingrays while we were up there and I must say I’m happy I wasn’t in the water down there with those huge aquatic animals.

If you’ll notice the helicopter behind Roomie & I, it was out hunting for sharks.  No, I’m not kidding.  Just before we going to get dunked in the water a helicopter is hunting sharks just behind us.  Roomie & I had no idea this was happening until we got back to the condo and saw this photo as proof.  Then it was a little unnerving.

One night after dinner, Roomie & I made all the kids ice cream sundaes, actually Roomie did.  I was off galavanting at the pool or the beach.  I’m telling ya’ll that’s all I did my entire trip, I was either at the pool or the beach the entire time.  All of the kids enjoyed the topping selection and ice cream too.  Just check out their faces.  We took them swimming in the pool after this just to “wash” them off.  The Ice Cream Sundae fun was a great success, I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the dip afterwards was an even bigger success.

Little Miss hates ice cream toppings.  Really, what kid hates ice cream toppings?  I guess plain is just as good as anything though.  I mean I like plain ice cream every now and then just to mix things up every now and then.