dreaming of florida..

it's been so cold... and windy... and icy... did i mention cold?

i've been dreaming of florida...
we were so thankful to be able to take a trip to the beach this summer...

the last time we visited the ocean was when maizie was 3 1/2... she's now 13..

there's just something about the ocean that calms me... the waves, the smells, the sounds... so, so relaxing and good for my soul...

we stayed on treasure island beach at the thunderbird beach resort which is on the gulf side of florida...

 i had never been to the gulf side and i've always heard that the sand is white and powdery and the ocean is warmer... true and true...

looking at all of these photos makes me feel so happy!

so many memories!

 

praying as we drove through the mountains in a blinding rain storm...

 

eating lunch {and dinner} at britt's pizza...

 our air conditioning not working and getting an ocean front suite because of it...

 visiting with my aunt dee and uncle dean... seeing their house for the first time... swimming in their pool... cooking out...

 hanging out with my cousin laurie, her husband ramon and their little boy diego {my girls just love him!}...

john driving a little over an hour out of our way to find the silver dolphin alex and ani bracelet that maizie really wanted...

dinner with the family overlooking the ocean and walking along the beach watching the sunset {what a gift!}...

sand castles... shell collecting... early morning walks before everyone else was awake... toes in the sand... {so rejuvenating}...

lunch at bubba gump shrimp company on the patio... watching the dolphins jump up out of the water as we ate...

eating chocolate covered bacon for the first time... {it tasted like a crunchy candy bar}...

driving towards st. pete's beach and having john pull off of the side of the road so that i could take marina's picture by a marina sign...

i remember the afternoon that my mom, aunt and uncle met us at our hotel pool... my mom walked down to the ocean with me to see it all... she said "so this is what you love..." and i said "yes"... {she's not a fan of the ocean... finds it a bit scary...} if i was brave enough to move somewhere warmer, by the beach, i know i would love it {if i could only convince my parents to move as well!}...

trips are amazing... they're moments that no one can ever take away from you... memories that will last a lifetime...

i'm hoping to make it back there again...

i feel better just typing this post... it's almost as if the sun is jumping from the screen warming me right up and i can almost hear the waves crashing in and back out again...

what are some of your favorite vacation memories?

xo
angie