The Vacations Continue...Back to Florida!

We've arrived...and now its Wedding time!

Back to Florida for the second time in one month! I promise that we didn't plan to cram all our vacations into the same month; however, you'll never find me complaining about having to take a vacation:) Although the cruise was planned over 9 months ago, we didn't anticipate our niece Nichole moving her wedding up to the same month! This trip would be entirely different from the first one as now we "get" to travel with Ashlyn and Preston, no more "honeymoon"! The ironic part is that this is the third time we'll be able to visit Kendall's sister Carla in one year, within two months actually, when we typically don't see them for 3-4 years at a time!

Since this would be the kids first trip we decided to add a couple of extra days and make it an official "family" vacation. It cost the same in airline tickets and the rental car, so why not make it count is my philosophy:) So we extended our stay until Wednesday and booked a great hotel, food and park package deal for Disney! Kendall's parents were also along for the trip, so it was just as cheap to rent a condo for the weekend as it was to book two hotel rooms. I found this great place called "The Sandcastles" which was right on Cocoa Beach. It's worth its weight in gold to have multiple rooms and a kitchen when traveling with kids, being able to walk to the beach was an extra perk!

3-2-1 Blast Off! Kendall's brother-in-law Keith works for NASA in their rocket program, it turns out they were preparing to launch a rocket into space the morning after we arrived. The best part is that we could watch the launch from our condos balcony! It was such a great experience to wake up right on the beach, watch a rocket launch from the balcony in our pajamas and walk out to the ocean after breakfast!

The whole reason for our "vacation" to Florida, Brian and Nichole's Wedding on the beach. This was the first time I had been to a wedding ocean side, it was beautiful! Ashlyn was a flower girl, so since she'd never seen the beach before we had to practice walking in the sand barefoot as soon as we arrived in Florida. Preston's first sight of sand wasn't until the wedding, as you can see in the pic, he enjoyed playing with it during the entire wedding (lots more sand pics to come). As you can see pictured above Ashlyn was a beautiful flower girl, a first for her, she walked perfectly down the beach throwing her flower petals. Pictured top right corner, Nichole's Dad, Keith, in his full military uniform with Kendall's parents. Bottom left corner, Nichole's brothers; Alex, Nathan, and Lance appear to be having the time of their life:)

After the wedding the kids enjoyed running through the ocean, Preston wasn't quite sure what to do when the waves washed came onto the shore. I'm sure he didn't expect the water to chase him onto the shore! They finally got the best of him and he went down, he was more shocked than anything and thereafter very cautious of even getting in the water. Remember this is just day one, as you will soon read he became very fond of the ocean...A picture with Cousin Alex, one of the few who could keep up and entertain Ashlyn and Preston non-stop, makes him one of their favorites!

There was a small reception afterwards near the beach on the patio of a nearby building. It was of course dark by now and they couldn't find anyone to turn the outside lights on, which is why there are no pics from that gathering. Apparently the groom's cake slid in the car on the way over and was a heap of chocolate when if finally made it to the beach. Nothing fancy, just a chance to visit and eat cake, so we didn't stay long. Turns out Brian, the groom, couldn't find his keys to the car that was not only their ride to the hotel, but had all of their clothes, etc. for the entire weekend locked inside. Finally, he went back to the beach and was actually able to find them in the dark, amid the sand, without a metal detector, what luck!

The next day we drove about an hour to the town where they actually live for an official reception for the rest of their friends. It was held at their church building and Nichole and her Mom had decorated it quite nicely. There was lunch, and of course more cake and punch, but the highlight, at least for Preston and Ashlyn, were the bubbles! Armed with bubbles and Cousin Alex to entertain the reception was fun for everyone. It was a beautiful wedding, we're so glad we were able to attend and truly enjoyed all the time spent with family. Nichole and Brian already have plans to be sealed in the Orlando Temple this summer when Brian has been a member for a year....Sounds like another vacation for us!!!!