Spring Break: Orange Beach, Alabama

Back in April we packed up for a week on the Gulf coast. We stayed in a condo on Orange Beach, between Gulf Shores and Pensacola. The weather was unusually cool and windy for April, but thankfully there were plenty of indoor swimming pools and water slides for times when the weather wasn't great for being at the beach.

We had one day of rain and used that time to explore the National Naval Aviation Museum at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. It was a full and fun day of planes and air craft carriers - and had us all feeling very patriotic.

Jaxton saw this plane on the other side of the hangar and ran across the room yelling, "I see Captain America's plane! It has his shield symbol on it!" and then promptly attempted to stand at attention like a soldier.

Totally worn out from a full day of climbing in and out of planes! And I didn't mind one bit because it won't be much longer that he still fits on my shoulder to sleep.

With so many pools, water slides, and lazy rivers to choose from the kids never got bored of swimming. And, thank you Jesus, we've reached the point in family travel where all kids can swim independently and Grady and I can take moments to relax and read.

We enjoyed a couple of times at the beach, but because of the wind the sand was blowing hard and the air temperature felt colder than it was. But, the sand was velvety white, the water clear and bright, and the shoreline full of shells to collect.

I spy three handsome boys playing Spikeball... or attempting to in spite of the wind gusts. 

Our evenings involved mini golf, tennis, bocce ball, and walks on the beach. Family togetherness!

When the sun was out and the wind was calm, Grady and I actually got in the water. My kids had no trouble daring each other to various polar bear swims during rain and wind, but I wasn't having it. I was happy to stay dry and warm and watch you, thank you very much.

Like every other fun vacation, all good things must come to an end. We said goodbye to the surf, sand, and incredible sunsets... until we can steal away to the beach again later in the summer.