Gulf Shores -- Spring Break 2013

In keeping with Spring Break tradition, we headed to the beach this year.  In breaking with tradition (instead of Navarre, Florida - last year's destination), we decided to drive two hours less and landed on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama -- where the skies are so blue (and gray sometimes in our particular case).  The weather didn't cooperate as much as we would have liked, and I'm still not quite up to snuff after my accident, but we're so glad we made it happen.  Family vacations are always, always worth it!

In the interest of being short on words but long on pictures, I'll get right to the pics:

First look at the beach

 Emma dug herself into quite a hole

Caleb loves nothing more than flying a kite with his dad

Rob

Seth

Emma spent two solid hours on this masterpiece

Me and Caleb -- this kid could win the world record for the best and the most smiles!

Rob and cousin Josh

 My dad, still recovering from his latest round of chemo, still made it to Gulf Shores and the beach.  He's my hero!

Kirsten

On a morning that was utterly too cold for the beach, we visited Alligator Alley -- where they "rescue" alligators from dangerous (for the alligators, that is) situations and where people can walk around on elevated sidewalks above swamps and watch them.  Hundreds of them.  I'm glad that my house is situated a few states away from Alligator Alley . . . 

Seth

Emma

Kirsten

Caleb wasn't quite brave enough to hold the alligator, but way to go for touching it!

Kirsten and Caleb

 Captain Crunch, the alligator who holds the world record for the most powerful bite.
Cousin Tyler, Emma and Caleb

My sister Jenn with Caleb & Emma

Kirsten, Rob, Cousin Josh, Grandma and Grandpa Boyce

Caleb was perfectly happy to hold this alligator.

The house we rented at Kiva Dunes Golf Club in the Fort Morgan area

Caleb and the view from our balcony

The boys, along with the Spencer boys who came by for a visit, played frisbee on the golf course.  Before we kicked them off (we figured that would be less painful than the golf course management doing so), we snapped a pic.

Grandma Boyce playing Ricochet Robots with Seth and Cousin Mason

Jeff's brother Mark chartered a deep sea fishing trip.  They caught 140 fishes, had to throw 70 back because they weren't in season, and had a truly grand adventure.  That night, we ate what was quite possibly the best fresh fish any of us had ever had.  We still have loads in our freezer -- call us to make dinner reservations.

Seth

Cousin Tyler, Mark, Jeff, Emma, Kirsten, Seth, Rob

Rob and Kirsten

Emma

Rob

Kirsten

We ate at Lambert's -- Home of the Throwed Rolls.  Not only do they throw rolls to you (or is it at you?), but the servers have several other pranks up their sleeves -- which I won't divulge and spoil the fun of any future Lambert's-goers.  The food was great and there was plenty of it, the atmosphere was super, super fun.

Emma and Kirsten, this world's greatest daughters

In the interest of not overeating and trying to be at least a little healthy in the face of all those rolls being tossed around, I ordered salad.  Check out the "plate."

On the small country road en route to church, we happened upon this tree.

 Last afternoon at the beach

Caleb

Rob and Josh

 Emma and cousins Mason and Tyler

Grandma wearing her fabulously red hat

Bob and Chris Boyce -- rock star parents and grandparents

Mason, Tyler, Jack, Lindsey & Mark

Caleb, Kirsten, Seth, Rob, me & Emma

I'm one lucky mom

And while driving, we were fortunate enough to experience this beautiful sunrise in Mississippi