Less is More in 2024 (Part 3)

This is it!  We've hit the end of the road (trip) with this recap post!  Hahaha.  Once we caravanned over from Thibodaux to Destin we spent the rest of our vacation lolling about on the beach, with a quick jaunt over to Harborwalk Village one evening and a mid-at-best waterpark adventure for our last full day before heading home. The added bonus of having Sarah's family there along with my mom, Amy, and Freddie made our beach trip that much more fun.  I wish we could have a beach reunion EVERY summer!  Hahaha.  The trip must have worn everyone out, though, because it was an awfully quiet drive home, with the kids either sleeping or zoning out for most of the 10 or 11 hours we were on the road.  Lol.  I feel like this last recap is going to be mostly pictures, with very little commentary to go along with it, but since I'm pretty sure half of my kids only skim through the pictures on my blog posts anyway, that shouldn't be an issue.  Hahahahaha.

Day 6 -- Hitting the Beach

Day 6: an Overview --> courtesy of Instagram...

Obviously, we were having way too much fun at the beach for me to bother with posting each day!  Hahaha.  On Day 6 (Sunday, June 1), we left Thibodaux mid-afternoon and caravanned to Destin, FL with my mom, Amy, and Freddie, where we met up with my sister Sarah and her family for some fun in the sun. LOL. 😜 Unfortunately, a few of us got a little over-baked on our first full day in said sun and were feeling the consequences for the rest of the week. Doh!  Hahaha.  #lessismorein2024theroadtrip #day6and7represented #thebeachismyfavoritewavemachine #uswhitebeansfromthecityneedmoresunscreen

And the collective thoughts and opinions of the others...

Scott (and Isaac):  Destin … Isaac sunburn. Spending most of day in pool. Late night food runs. Waterslides and lazy river were fun. Crashing into waves on the beach. Hanging with family. Drive home that was mostly smooth until last 1-2 hours. 

Ethan:  I think this was the first time I enjoyed going to the beach, and didn’t get so annoyed with the sand.  Overall -- 10/10 would recommend.

Sophie:  i got burnt in florida 😛  

(The requisite picture of someone taking a picture.)

I gotta say -- I love the warmer water of the Gulf compared to the east or west coast beaches we've been to on other road trips.

(The waves are my favorite!)

Day 7 -- Fun in the Sun...Not so Fun in the Sunburn

Isaac and I were the ones who got the worst sunburns on our first full day at the beach.  It was rough.  And took way too many trips to different stores before I finally found rash guards for the both of us so we could still enjoy the beach for the rest of the week.

These two... 😂

The rash guard and bucket hat on Isaac here really saved his poor little skin from getting a sunburn on top of a sunburn.

Day 8 -- Boardwalk and the Last Night with Cousins

Day 8: an Overview --> courtesy of Instagram...

Day 8 of our road trip continued on with some more fun in the sun at both the beach and the pool during the day and a brief field trip in the evening to HarborWalk Village in Destin Harbor. Unfortunately, it was still really hot and sunny while we were there (and some of us were still really sunburnt), so we only stayed long enough for a quick walk up and down the boardwalk and some ice cream/snow cones for the kids. And a turn on the bungee trampolines for Alex and Isaac. 🤣  Since it was our last full day with the cousins, we tried to squeeze in as much time together as we could, and finished the evening off with a night swim before everyone headed up to their rooms for bed.  It was so much fun having family join in for the last part of our road trip, and I just wish we had more time at the beach with everyone!! 

☀️🌊⛱️   #lessismorein2024theroadtrip #nightlygamesnotpicturedofsettlersofcatanwithfreddie #ethansaysthisisthefirsttimeheseveractuallyenjoyedthebeach #hedoesntreallylikesand #neitherdoesalex #familyfunatitsfinest #thankgoodnessifoundsomerashguardsformeandisaactocoverupwithfortheday #andahat #hispoorlittlenosegotsoburnt

I just love all these little faces!!!

He totally looked like a surfer dude all week with that hair.  Lol.

Last night with the cuzzies!

Night swimming is always so fun.

Day 9 -- Time to Say Goodbye

Day 9: an Overview --> courtesy of Instagram...

Our last full day in Destin saw us saying goodbye to the Whitmans in the morning and heading to the Big Kahuna water park in the afternoon. My personal take on the park was that it was mid at best, but I think the kids had enough fun that it wasn’t a total wash. LOL.  Seeing as to how we left the next morning and drove all day to get home, there’s not much more to add to this year’s travelogue. While I was planning the itinerary for this year’s road trip, I jokingly gave it the title of “less is more in 2024” because I had to scale everything back due to the crunched time frame we had to work with before Ethan needed to leave and start his summer job as an FSY counselor. Thankfully, having fewer days on the road and far fewer pit stops along the way for activities and adventure in no way inhibited our ability to have fun with the fam, and I can’t even articulate how much I loved having all 6 kids together once again.  It was pretty much the epitome of living the dream. 😍  And with that, all I have left to say is, peace out Less is More in 2024!  It’s been real. 😂.  #lessismorein2024theroadtrip #imallaboutmakingmemories #apparentlythesecrettoamorepeacefultimeontheroadisforeveryonetohavetheirownelectronicdevice #iwanttogobacktothebeach #familyfunisthebestkindoffun #solongsummervacay

I love how the palm tree photobombing this picture is positioned in just the right spot behind Scott's head to make it look like he's sporting a seriously crazy-looking, spiked hairdo.  Lolol.

Our post-water park dinner of Panera was a winner all around.  I'm not sure why exactly these four are just hanging out on the curb in the parking lot, but it made me laugh when I saw them.

Day 10 -- Home Sweet Home

Well, that's all folks!  The 2024 road trip is now in the books.  I'm so proud of myself for sticking with it and getting it done.  Hahaha.  Hopefully, it won't take too much longer for me to crank out the next (back) post of last summer's recaps.  Until then...

A friend of mine posed the question many, many years ago of what everyone's favorite tacky thing was that they loved.  As for this era of my life,  I guess you could say that having our car covered in bumper stickers is MY favorite tacky thing that I really, really love.  LOL.  Seriously, though.  One of my absolute FAVORITE things about road tripping all over the country is collecting bumper stickers from each of the places we stop to adorn the back of the Odyssey.  Sure, it's a little over-the-top and more than a little kooky, but it sparks so much joy and definitely makes finding our car in a crowded parking lot a whole lot easier.  Hahahahahahahaha.