Back in March we headed out for a very anticipated vacation with our three youngest children and our puppy Jazzy!

Blake and I usually get away in the early spring each year for our anniversary – and we usually go to Florida.

This year we decided to make it a family trip and we are SO glad we did.

We needed REST.

And that was the plan!

We left home on Friday, March 14th.

We stopped at my Mom and brother’s place in Indianapolis on our “way through” that area for one day.

I am so glad we got to see them!

We were traveling in Blake’s truck on this trip, so I had asked Blake if all of our luggage and things would stay dry if it rained while we were driving.

He said yes!

But he did not know we would travel through a literal monsoon!

It rained so much while we were in Indy that Blake and the boys headed to Walmart to get totes to put our luggage and other things in, because everything was getting soaking wet even under the cover on the bed of his truck!

We had a stressful drive when we left my brother’s to get to our next stop.

I was SO thankful we made it safely.

We stayed in Bowling Green, Kentucky that Saturday night.

The next day (Sunday) we made it all the way to our destination in Cape Coral, Florida!

Jazzy was THE BEST traveler – she is such a chill puppy when we are traveling!

We got to work on some important training while we road those miles too – and she now can go anywhere, sit in a parking lot full of people, and does not even bark at them!

Blake had rented an Airbnb for us for nine days.

It was SO NICE.

So clean!

Spacious!

And had a full lanai and a POOL!

We had even picked our location based on whether we could see sunrises and sunsets there!

Important stuff, you guys!

Of course I was out on that lanai the minute the sun rose on the first morning and every morning after!

But we had NO PLANS.

We let everyone sleep until they woke on their own.

We hung out.

We played games.

We lounged around that pool.

We cooked and ate GREAT food.

We watched movies and ate ice cream.

We RESTED.

It was soooooo good!

And now I want to go back!!

Tuesday evening we decided to go and watch the sunset at a near-by beach.

It was BEAUTIFUL.

And of course the children could not resist the water!

I LOVE THE BEACH!

And I love a sunrise and sunset!

I just feel so close to God under His beautiful skies!

I think Jazzy enjoyed this vacation more than we did – if that is even possible!

She lived outside on that lanai.

It was the most perfect set up – completely fenced – to where you could even keep the pool gate closed and just use the table.

She was definitely living her best life!!

We spent more days in the same way.

Some nights we would watch TWO movies and the children thought their parents had lost their minds!

It was SO relaxing.

So restful!

We enjoyed making good food everyday – but that is about all the work we did!

I did do one load of laundry everyday too – because we had packed really light!

I think that last photo says best how we felt after several days of vacation.

Tate was SOUND asleep in that float!

It made us smile!!

And then his dad did a butt buster into the pool to wake him up!

I have an awesome video of it – we were laughing so hard!

On Thursday we decided to have an outing to shark beach.

It wasn’t that far away.

And it is known for having tons of shark teeth there – which you can search for and keep!

The afternoon started out very sunny, but soon a storm was brewing.

The children did not care!

Please note how the mama of this crew felt about the change in the temperature, ha, ha!

We had so much fun that afternoon – and I have an entire jar of shark teeth on a shelf downstairs to show for it.

On Saturday we went to the local farmer’s market.

It was AWESOME.

We did not need much more food since we were leaving to go home soon, but I wanted to buy everything in sight!

It all looked so fresh and yummy.

We did get some lemonade shake-ups.

They were huge!

But delicious.

What a fun morning!

And then just like that it was time for the very long drive back home.

This is the first time I have been away and have not been in a hurry to get home.

It did help that we had some of the kiddos with us!

When we left that beautiful house on Monday, March 24th, and drove away I cried so hard.

I was already missing Blake and he was sitting right next to me in that truck!

At home we seem to always be ships passing in the night – and this twelve days with him WAS A DREAM COME TRUE.

We made it to Clarksville, Tennessee, that night.

We stopped very late at a Chipotle along the way, and even though they were closed, the manager opened the doors for us and let us order dinner!

The next morning started out at Black Rifle Coffee – which was something Blake enjoyed very much.

I enjoyed the coffee – it was so smooth and delicious!

Tuesday we headed the rest of the way back to Wisconsin and arrived home at 9:00 p.m.

We stopped at some fun places along the way!

We saw, got gas at, and shopped our first Buc-ees.

I don’t get the hype – just saying!

That place was NUTS.

We also stopped at our favorite coffee shop in our old hometown of Morton, Illinois.

We were very excited when we saw the welcome to Wisconsin sign!

We were so happy to be home!

But it was bittersweet for sure.

We literally jumped back into life here at full speed ahead!

We are already having conversations about a vacation this coming spring.

I am not sure if we will take one or not!

I also am not sure where we will go if we did!

I do know, though, that our vacation to Cape Coral is by far our favorite vacation we have had!

It was all just so, so wonderful.

I cannot end this post without thanking my hubby for ALL he does to make things like this happen.

Taking twelve days off work at his very busy job, spending his hard earned money on something like this, but most of all seeing the need we had for REST and making that happen in the best way possible.

I want to do it all again!!

Cape Coral, Florida, you are a beautiful place, and you were SO good to us!!

Maybe someday we will see you again!!