Washington, DC welcomed us home, from another fantastic Beach Week(end) with my family. It was exactly everything I could have wanted for a mini Southwest Florida vacation: plenty of sunshine (yet walked away with no sunburn, a serious win!), warm ocean water, built a sandcastle, learned a fantastic new guacamole recipe, slept enough to feel refreshed, back to back game nights with the family, and so much laughter.
The house my family rented was a gorgeous, two story, five bedroom, right on the canal, and a quick three minute walk to the beach. The view from the upper balcony was incredible, but it became simply shy of breathtaking as we watched the sun descend behind rows, and rows of palm trees.
THE MORNING ROUTINE
I slept in (for me, that usually means 8am), and with a cup of coffee, I joined my mother on the upper balcony as we both read silently in the warmth, until everyone else started to trickle into the kitchen. The two cooks (me and my brothers girlfriend) would promptly begin preparing breakfast for our party of eight: a massive vegetable frittata, turkey bacon, toast, melons, berries, and mimosas.
Ice, waters, beers, and Gatorades were packed into coolers, beach towels and chairs were folded and distributed out, sunscreen was vigorously applied, and our group was out the door, and began the 3 minute walk to the beach. Within a few hours, everyone started making their way back to the house, to jump off in the house pool to cool off, and grab last nights dinner left-overs for lunch.
AFTERNOON DELIGHT
Back to the beach for some, while others got a jump-start on showers, naps, and Netflix, in that order, until it was time to begin dinner again. We took advantage of the built-in grill: steaks, chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, and grilled vegetables, oh my! Post dinner consisted of a family game time. Old college card game favorites, Cards Against Humanity, and a bizarre version of Mafia. We played well into the night, bellies full of good food and drinks, and smiles still plastered on faces from the laughter. Bed, and repeat all over the next day.