The Donoghue Family: Florida Vacation

VACATION!!!!!!! Oh man, did we need a break from life!

The four of us drove down to Florida to stay with my parents for a week in Tarpon Springs. Surprisingly the drive was not too bad at all; Evie had some screaming tantrums, but I’m pretty sure it’s because we woke her up at 4:30am and she didn’t fall back asleep in the car. We stayed in a hotel outside Atlanta on our way down, and the girls were thrilled to go swimming finally!

Let's go swimming!!

Fierce

Dinnertime shenanigans

We got to Tarpon Springs on Good Friday and had a lovely dinner and relaxation time. The next day we colored eggs and hung out around the house. Maggie and I went exploring around town while Evie napped.

Whipped cream coloring magic

Hamming it up on the playground

Making an Easter cake with Grammer!

Testing the water

Sunday we went to church where the girls behaved pretty well, and then got to look for Easter Eggs at the house!

He is risen, Alleluia!

On the hunt

A pool and the ocean in the background...
what a luxurious hunt!

Checking out her loot with Grammer

Later that evening we went for a walk around the peacful bayou...

Maggie puts her hand on her hip like this every time we take a photo
(eye roll)

Two sassy girls

Miss Chievous

I get it from my mama

Coolest child swing ever - parent and kid swing together!

Playground fun

The weather was a little cool the first couple days, and then perfection for the rest of the week! We loved hanging out in the pool, which had an ocean backdrop – amazing!

Hey hot stuff
(talking to the hot sauce float)

Happy in her ruffly bathing suit

Gun slinger

Maggie was so obsessed with this mailbox
(not at our place), so we took a sketchy photo

This girl was up before dawn every. single. day.
But we saw some beautiful sunrises.

We took the girls to Tampa one day to check out their awesome children’s museum. The girls had a great time, each doing their own thing.

Kind of scary and awesome climbing platforms.
Maggie conquered her fear by the end of the visit.

Grammer and Pops took the girls for the night so Jamie and I could spend the evening in St. Pete’s. We hit a couple great breweries and grabbed dinner and ice cream!

Jamie is happiest when tasting new beers

A beer that tastes like Peeps? It was weird, but fun to try!

My favorite day was going to the beach, where Bobby’s family joined us.

Grammer and Pops and the wild ones

Evie was just so happy to be in the ocean, a place where she could be in “deep” water all by herself. More than anything on this trip, I think that is my favorite memory. She and Sarah kept egging each other on to go a little deeper and walk a little further. They have a sassy relationship and I love it!

Come on Mama

Pretty soon after this she took off the water wings
and let go of their hands

I can do anything you can do!

Strolling along the shallows

My man

My kids love to stop playing to take a photo

Life's a beach

Bobby and Jamie took the kids out on a paddle boat… turns out it’s really hard to paddle when there’s an ocean current! They got a good work out, and the kids had a blast! Afterwards Grammer treated them to some snow cones.

Voyagers

Ready for adventure

Mostly ready for adventure

I'm amazed that Sarah didn't climb out and jump
in the water!

Which color to eat first... decisions, decisions

Snow cone joy

By some miracle, Sara and Evie actually
napped together! (The miracle is named Allison
and I hear she is a great cuddler)

Luke found as many lizards as possible

Girl time

Bobby and Luke trying to work Pops' drone.
Maggie and Claire are wary. Rightly so.

Best picture ever?

Jamie took Maggie to a cool old-school arcade while Evie napped one day. He's very proud of her eye-hand coordination.

Pinball princess

Proud Daddy

We tried to do the sponge docks on our last day in Tarpon Springs, but everything closed early for Greek Easter… doh! We still got to check out the aquarium and have a yummy dinner though, and got to spend the morning at a splash pad!