Vacation 2010

This year we took our first vacation since we had children. We went down to Gulf Shores, AL and gave some support to the people down there while their businesses are being hurt by the oil spill. Before you think that we are these wonderfully noble people, I have to admit that we already had this planned before the oil spill started.

Before we arrived in Gulf Shores, we stopped in Mobile at the Science Museum.

They had a great play area for L. He was ready to move around after riding in the car all day!

He loved the climbing and running and playing with other kids.

The Science Center had a huge dome IMAX theater inside. The boys had never been to an IMAX movie, and we thought that they would enjoy it!

But once we got inside, E was a little scared. He stayed this way until the movie started. It was a movie about dolphins though and once it began he loved it and watched the whole thing.

There were alot of fun gadgets to work and play with at the museum.

This section was about the body. E stood on here and it showed him how much blood was in his body.

This is L as we were walking back to the car. He was jumping over these lines every time we got to one. He looks at life with such a carefree attitude!

We arrived in Gulf Shores around dinner time and went to eat with my parents. This is all of us outside of the restaurant.

The next day we drove to Pensacola to see the Blue Angels. It was VERY hot!!

It was also very LOUD, but we all enjoyed it!

I would recommend going to see the Blue Angels if anyone travels down that way.

After the show we went to the Air Museum that was on the base. There were tons of planes everywhere that we enjoyed looking at.

The boys liked seeing some of the old trucks and the space stuff.

There was one section that showed what life was like during the 40's. This is an old washing machine.

These were planes like the pilots were flying during the Blue Angels show.

After watching the Blue Angels and going through the museum, we went to the beach in Pensacola. At that time, it was safe to get in the water and it felt really good!!!

This is L checking out the waves.

E rolling in the sand. What a mess!!

More sand.

More sand.

We had all of the sand that we could handle! It was everywhere! That was our only day at the beach, but it was enough. After this point, if we wanted to cool off we just went to the pool at the Ho and Tell. (that is what L called it all week!)

The condo had a wonderful pool area with a mini waterpark.

This kept the boys entertained for a long time.

We went to eat at a place called Lulu's. It is owned by Jimmy Buffett's sister and it is outside by a river. It was a little warm, but the food was really good!

We tried to go one night and there was a 2 hour wait to get in, so we tried earlier the next day and were able to get seated right away.

While we ate we watched a barge go through the river pushing several large boats full of what I think was coal.

After dinner we went to the pier. We could see the oil and some fish. It did not smell like we thought that it would, and we did get to see a sting ray in the water along with some jellyfish and other small fish.

This is our family on the pier.

Looking in the water.

Mom and Dad looking in the water.

That night L called grandma with some very exciting news! He pooped in the potty!! This was the first time, and he has not done it again, but we are hoping that we are getting closer!

On our last day we went to see the USS Alabama.

This is a hard one for mama's to see!

They are to little!! But I know they will be men someday and that is hard to take!

This is the bakery inside the ship. The boys thought of grandma and all of her bread baking while we were here!

There were a ton of stairs on this ship. It was kind of difficult, but we made it!

Here are the beds that the men slept on while they were on the ship.

This is where you went if you were causing trouble on the ship. This made a huge impression on the boys!!

It was very tall. You can see us in the bottom right side of the picture!!

The guns on the outside of the ship!

This chain was huge!

And this is the actual propellar that was used on this ship during WWII.

This ship was amazing! It reminded us of a different time in our nation's history. I took a picture of a sign that was inside that basically said that "We are in the war now, and through it all, the good news and the bad news, we are in this together." I honestly think that people back then were different than people today. Better even. Seeing things like this ship make me want to be a better American.

So after touring the USS Alabama we decided to drive all of the way home! It was a long day, but we were so ready for our beds!!

It is nice to be home!!!