Watercolor, FL

We’ve been going to Watercolor Inn & Resort for years now (last year’s post, two years ago) and since I’ve covered where to go and dine the last two, this year’s post is less of a travel guide and more about the memories made during one hot, fun-filled week in June.

Traveling with kids is so sanitary.

It takes us two car rides and two flights with a layover to get there. This was the halfway point. Can you sense Zach’s fatigue?

Again, completey contamintaed but freaking genius. Why doesn’t every airport have these?

Like last year (and every trip we go on), I filled her backpack with all new books and surprises for the plane ride. This year’s loot included a Paw Patrol, her latest obsession, sticker book.

After an 8 hour travel day, the only thing on me that was acceptable to photograph was my bag and my hat.

The next morning in our complementary palm prints. In a few years, the mere idea will mortify her, I’ve got to take advantage now!

Love this shot of three generations in a golf cart.

To say she was excited, is an understatement.

Lilly named her gecko “Daniel”, her of-the-moment crush at school. She is boy crazy! At 3. Help me.

Swimming with splashing her cousin.

Stealing a sip of my tea. Of course I snapped a photo first, scolded second.

Ahhh…

This was the first and only moment she stepped on the sand the whole trip. The beach was not her thing this year.

Something that did stick? 10am popsicles by the pool.

I snapped a few cute shots in a row only to discover the Polaroid doesn’t work in the bright sun. Or does it? What am I doing wrong?

My cocktail coasters quickly became Lilly’s favorite new friends. She named them “Avi” and “Riyan”, two more of her boyfriends.

Cookie and her girls.

And then there was dear old Flammy.

We stalked this truck on the daily, flying around in the golf cart at full speed, taking corners, scaring bikers, all in the name of a cold “vamella sandwich”.

One of my highlights of the trip was when the boys went golfing, her cousin was in camp and we did a girls day date, just the two of us, filled with shopping at the toy and book store and 10am ice cream followed by a spaghetti lunch. It was so much fun.

A new sticker book that she took as an opportunity to accessorize my romper.

Every morning, she played outside in her PJ’s, watering the flowers, swinging, running through the sprinklers.

Back to the pool…

Getting an octopi spa treatment.

Trouble!

Riding a wave while eating bacon and listening to surf tunes DJed especially for her by her grandfather.

Lilly discovered Jacuzzi jets on this vacation.

Twinning again.

The night we attempted group beach photos. A.k.a. The night we all needed a stiff drink.

This photo, however poor, will forever crack me up. Lilly was over us and the photos so she pretended to be asleep as soon as the phone came out, even making snoring noises. How does she learn this stuff?!

I definitely fulfilled my seafood quota on the trip. This shrimp roll is from The Hub, a fun new outdoor dining facility with food trucks, stands, bars and a big open space where live music is played, movies are shown. It’s a great place for big groups and families. Everyone can get what they want, run around in an enclosed, safe environment and be entertained. I highly recommend it.

Another place we tried this trip (that I can’t believe we hadn’t before) was The Candy Bar. We’d passed it a million times but never popped in. It has every candy you can imagine, nostalgic and new, and a great ice cream stand to boot. Such a fun spot.

She had to jump off that sugar. Can you spot her disapproving dad in the background?

We came home to a casualty. Flammy had to have surgery by the good doctor. The kids loved him all the same and took him that way to the pool the next day. The looks we got were amazing.

And, then, on the last day, this happened: Lilly requested Mommy drive, saying I was a better driver. I’ll never let Zach live that down. Thank you for that gift, little one.

One last pink lemonade popsicle.

Followed by utter exhaustion. Six days straight of sun and splashing tires even highly active bunnies out.

Again, with the germs. We all went home and power washed ourselves. But Lilly was so proud for carrying that bin full of bunnies all by herself.

Plane time is some of my favorite time, believe it or not, cause she always wants to snuggle.

Unpacking… that’s another story.