Happenings of The Stanford Family: Our Trip to Florida ... part 1 of a 4 part blog

Its been two weeks since we have been back to Florida and I've finally found a little time to share our trip.

As I tell most who ask "how was your vacation" -- I don't really classify our trip as a "vacation" just a nice trip. A vacation to me is peaceful, lazy and includes beaches and hot weather. While we definitely hot weather and a little time of at the beach, we were pretty much on the go at all times and fighting the theme parks isn't exactly peaceful.

We were thankful to have BOTH Nana and Uncle Ben join us on our trip. Having them along made it so much more enjoyable for Randy, me and most importantly...the kids! I don't know how much chaos would of played out if we didn't have the both of them with us. Thank you doesn't say how much we appreciate them joining us on this trip. I kind of wonder though, what their response would be if we asked to go on another one though?!?! ;-)

The kids LOVED every part of Florida.
When I asked them what their favorite part it all centered around Disney, no surprise...
Leighton - seeing Minnie Mouse and going to the Princess castle, Ryan - Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy, Grant - Me too.

Our trip started out as one could expect it to with 3 kids -- we arrived 2 hours early (you never know how things will be at the airport even in Cedar Rapids) only to be greet with a 2 hour delay. 4 hours to kill in an airport. NOT AWESOME. The kids actually did pretty good and luckily our delay wasn't for the full two hours!

Day 1 -- We spent at Coco Beach. It was a great day for a beach day. Everyone enjoyed it. L went running for the waves as soon as we go there -- Ryan, who we figure would be timid went right for it too -- Grant just enjoyed being a beached whale.

With the kids enjoying the beach and being entertained the whole 2 hours we were there, we have decided this opens our possibilities of doing just a "beach" vacation, music to my ears! I could only imagine this would give Randy and I more of that feel that "on vacation" feel -- no early to rise/hussle to get everyone ready to beat lines at theme parks in the mornings, no Randy walking in "mission mode" to get somewhere...just nice, relaxed, no hurry pace. We have actually started looking for next summer into heading to either Myrtle Beach, SC or Panama City, FL...taking recommendations on either spot.