Radiance

They Add a Splash of Color to Everything

Fun at the Zoo

Our last day in Destin

Our last morning in Destin, the girls got a special treat of eating some ice cream after breakfast (since we were trying to either pack or eat the food we had left in the fridge).  Ha ha!  So here's a little view of our condo's living room.

After we were all packed up and checked out of the condo, we did a little more souvenir shopping.

The girls each bought a shark tooth necklace.

After that, we headed over to Gator Beach at Fudpuckers. 

We didn't tell the girls anything about it because we'd heard mixed reviews, but for a fun little place to see alligators (for free), it was really pretty fun.

You could buy food for the alligators, but after watching another boy try to feed them for several minutes, it was clear they weren't hungry...so we skipped on that.

The kids had fun running around at least...and they even had a little playground.

After Fudpuckers, we stopped by Bass Pro Shop...which is like an amusement park for outdoor dads like David!  LOL! 

While David was checking out all the boats, skis, and fishing equipment, the girls and I occupied ourselves checking out the huge fish tank.

And I'm guessing that only a Florida Bass Pro Shop would have this in front of it.

The girls were hilarious goofing off with it.

After this, we started our long trek home, reading, and working on homework in the car.  Along the way, we stopped at Whataburger...my first time.

I had no idea that a Whataburger would add to the appreciation of my vehicle.  (LOL)

The last day of our trip was super fun.  I must say that the girls' antics kept David and me in stitches.  And so they can do the same for you...I leave you with these. 

Our Destin Vacation - Day at the Beach - Take 2

On Sunday, we hit the beach again and had a great time again. 

 

After playing in the water for a bit, the girls decided it was time to build a sand castle.

The whole family got involved 

and we worked really hard at our little castle compound. 

Bekah and I added some sand-drizzled towers on top of the corners Lydia and David were adding. 

It was pretty fun teaching Bek a new trick. 

After a bit, we went back to playing in the sand and surf. 

David and I had fun with this game for a bit, and then Lydia and I played it.

(Lydia was better at it!)  Ha ha!

Bekah and David did some more boogie-boarding and snorkeling, and Lydia got stung by another jellyfish. 

Only this time, she announced she wasn't getting back in the water.  That was okay, considering we were about to leave, but she sure made a big production out of it.  But then, I guess I wouldn't accept any less from my little drama girl, Lydia!  =)

She put some ice on the sting and she was fine.

We finally got out of her that she was angry more than anything.  Angry that the jellyfish stung her when she wasn't even a predator!  I mean, didn't they know that she wasn't a predator?  Why did they have to sting her?

The ice made her feel better, and she helped me start toting things to the car while David and Bekah finished their snorkeling.  After getting cleaned up again, we headed out to the souvenir shops 

and picked up a couple of things. 

And soon our stomachs were growling.  A local police officer told us we should try to the Donut Hole for dinner.  We had passed it the night before, but didn't stop...assuming (naturally) that they only made donuts.

But no...they make SO MUCH MORE! And it was SO GOOD!  I got a HUGE burger, David got a Philly cheese steak, and the girls got the biggest plates of French toast and pancakes I've ever seen! 

Can you say "sugar high"?

Wow.

It was a beautiful evening and we wanted to walk the beach at sunset. 

David bought some glow sticks for the girls, so we could keep track of them if it got too dark.

They loved this!  (And Lydia used hers to watch out for the jellyfish that had washed up on the shore by the dozens!!)

There were so many jellyfish in the water on Sunday and then so many on the beach that night!  We were trying to figure out what made them so much more numerous on that day, rather than the day before.  Lydia decided that there must have been a shark out in the water, so the jellyfish came to shore to get away from it.

It was a positively gorgeous evening. 

David found crabs in the water with his flashlight and showed the girls ghost crabs (something he'd loved catching as a child). 

We even saw a couple of herons. 

And if that wasn't enough of a full day, we had promised the girls a trip to the pool as well.  The property had six of them, so we found one and hopped in! 

The girls used their glow sticks as diving sticks. 

When we got back to the condo, it took no time at all for these two little ones to be out like a light!

(And it didn't take too long for this mama to be out like a light as well!)