Yes, it has been a while. I know, as Evelyn gets older, we will post less often….. so everyone says… 🙂
Last week, we took an amazing family vacation to Captiva Island. My birthday is the 20th, Chad’s is the 21st and Evelyn happened to be 15 months on the 19th – let’s celebrate! We had the extra treat of having the grandparents vacation with us too. Evelyn was in heaven, 5 people at her constant attention, doting, loving, kissing, and clapping at her every move! I loved that we had this opportunity to rent a condo with 3 bedrooms – it was a perfect set up for us. Everyone got their own room, we had a big kitchen and living area, but the best part was the view – we were oceanfront to the beautiful Gulf of Mexico – white sand beach and the beautiful water received a gorgeous sunset – each night, the sun would slowly dunk itself into the blue water, the white beach and soft waves would become enchanting, and sunset on Captiva was a memory to hold forever. On the nights when the enchantment of sunset was perfect, we ventured out to the beach and enjoyed ourselves, feeling the sweet presence of each other and the realization each of us was relaxed, content, and happy to be together.
Evelyn loved the sand on the beach. She would reach down and grab handfuls – either throwing it or occasionally trying a bite. At the pool, she learned to jump from the side. She would sit at the side of the pool with her adorable legs dangling in the water, and we would count off, “1…2…3!” – and she would jump into our arms and squeal with delight. Gran Gran brought a bubble machine – it created this really fun effect on the water with the half-moon bubbles – Evelyn would pop them and laugh! She learned to say, “Shell!” – and would proudly pronounce it over and over. Her vocabulary is growing each day – it is fun to see what she will say next!
Gran Gran, Gigi, and Papa were perfect companions – they got to spend time reading, biking, and relaxing, but they also got Evelyn time. Chad and I see our parents now more than ever, but it is always in the context of caring for Evelyn. At Captiva, we all got to be parents AND kids! The stocked bar (courtesy of Papa) and the special Tervis tumblers (courtesy of me!) made for fun afternoons. One day, we spent quite a few hours bobbing along in the waves and talking. Chad got out a few times and went back to the condo to get us drinks – well after hours of drifting out at sea, we had to get out – and recovering from sea legs after a few drinks was pretty funny for us all! Giggling and teetering back, we all decided that was a super fun afternoon at the beach!
Each night after sunset, we congregated in the kitchen. As you know, cooking is an art form in this family. We had arroz con pollo, mushroom risotto, sausage biscuits and gravy, mojitos, gnocchi, Mark’s famous hoagies, ribeyes grilled to perfection, penne a la vodka – we had so much fun preparing and eating dinner as a family each night – I loved the experience – the art of sit down dinner has been lost to so many families, it is something I believe is very special. It may not happen every night, but when you make the time and make it relaxing and fun – dinner with family is a beautiful thing.
Chad and I got to sneak away a few mornings and paddle on our kayaks in the Ding Darling Preserve. The paddle was gorgeous – heron, manatees, sharks, trout, redfish, mangrove snapper, mullet, cormorants, dolphins – the preserve was brimming with life each morning as we paddled through the clean waters. While Chad fly fished, I spent quiet time reading and relaxing – it is amazing how much I crave silent, outdoor noise! The occasional manatee would pop up for air, or a bird may call – the peace and contentment I feel on that kayak in the water is rejuvenating.
As Evelyn gets older and starts to form her own personality, it is fun to spend time with family and understand how much she is like each of us. Her laugh, her smile, her disposition, her expressiveness – each trait is a small part of us. I love to know Evelyn is surrounded by family that loves her – the confidence and security she feels will help her blossom into one amazing little lady.
Vacation is a time to reflect and enjoy – Captiva definitely fit that bill.
