Gulf Shores Part 1 -- Condo Time

It didn't take long for our annual Morgan family Gulf Shores vacation to become the highlight of our summer! For the 2nd summer in a row, our entire extended family returned to our favorite condo resort in Orange Beach, Alabama to enjoy a week of family fun. My parents graciously gifted us with this amazing trip, and this year it coincided with their 44th wedding anniversary. Wow! We are so blessed by their example over the years!

Mom and Dad on their 45th wedding anniversary

Mom, Dad, and their 4 kiddos -- So amazing to be all together again like this!

Our Gulf Shores vacation was so AWESOME that I just wouldn't be able to fit it into a single blog story. So I've decided to split it into different sections. Plus, I'm the family photographer so it's my job to make sure these photos get shared with everyone, ha! My apologies to the non-family members out there...these next few blog posts will be HEAVY on the family photos! :-)

First up, our Condo Time! Last year was our first time to visit Gulf Shores, and we had a LONG list of requirements. We wanted multiple condo units for our big crew, large enough to house 21 people this year! We also wanted easy beach access, awesome outdoor pools with slides and lounging, lazy river, indoor pools and activities, and even onsite café if possible. We found an amazing resort, Caribe, that met all of those requirements and then some. So we couldn't wait to get back for our 2nd visit.

This year was even better than last, because Jeff was able to join us this time. We stopped at a hotel on the way there, just to break up the drive and make sure we could arrive early for check-in the following day. Our kids LOVE staying at hotels -- are most kids like that?

Connor and Kaitlynn in our hotel on the way to Gulf Shores.

The following day, we arrived early to our resort and had lots of time to explore the condo, get our grocery shopping done, and meet up with our cousins. We were all on Cloud 9 -- so happy to officially be on vacation with our family!

This year, our extended Morgan family included Ben's wife Charlotte's parents, Regina and Charles. We were so happy to have them join us. With our crew of 21, we stayed in 3 separate condos. There is SO much room in these units. One of the condos is a 4-bedroom unit with a HUGE wrap-around balcony and tons of kitchen/living space. We all congregated in that unit most nights for a group meal, and we took turns being in charge of cooking dinner. It worked out great!

The two musketeers, Kaitlynn and Marissa.

Renee, Connor, Ryah, Makenna, and Madison.

Jeb and Alli.

Charlotte and Ben.

Jeff and me.

Regina and Charles.

Michelle and Chris.

Two of our condo units were side-by-side to each other. One of them was designated for the early-to-bed, early-to-rise crew, while the other one was for the late-night, sleeping-in crew. (Mum's the word on which condo we were in, although anyone who knows me would know that answer!) Each morning, the early-risers would congregate for breakfast and cousin time while the late-sleepers were given extra beauty rest.

This is how Connor and Kaitlynn slept each night. I took this pic at 5:20 a.m., the room flooded with light already!

An early morning game of Uno with Granddaddy.

Uno tricks.

Relaxing in the condo.

Relaxing on the balcony.

Our adjacent condos were on the 11th floor this year, so we spent a lot of time in the elevators this trip. The kids, of course, didn't mind that a bit! We had some fun with all those elevator rides.

How many cousins can we fit in 1 elevator car?

More elevator fun.

Uncle Jeb showing us how happy Marissa was at the moment ;-)

Morgan cousins.

Ready to head out for some sun and fun!

Ready for their next adventure.

 

Headed out to the pool.

Headed to the pool this time.

Back inside the condos, the kids really enjoyed the downtime with each other each evening when we congregated for dinner. We took turns cooking and always made sure to include dessert! ;-)

Marissa and Kaitlynn enjoying dinner.

The rest of the cousins lounging while waiting on dinner.

Pre-dinner balcony time.

Balcony selfie.

More Uno, this time on the balcony.

Another family favorite, Dominos.

Kaitlynn with Granddaddy.

Ben and Charlotte enjoying a beautiful evening on the balcony.



Connor and Renee enjoying some Minecraft.

Charlotte and Regina cooking dinner.

Only part of our crew, waiting on dinner.

Me and my brother Ben.

These two!

Such a sweet friendship they have.

The condo resort is just so perfect for our gang! We had such a great time and truly enjoy the accommodations there.

But this post only showed the fun we had in and around the condos; there's so much more to come, stay tuned!

One of our beautiful condo views.

Mother's Day and Father's Day

I think I've posted in years past about the difference in our family between Mother's Day and Father's Day. My Mother's Day gift usually consists of something to get AWAY from the kids, while Jeff's celebration always involves activities to spend more time with them. Ha!

This year was a little different. Maybe it's because I've been working more this year, but I actually didn't have the desire to RUN AS FAST AS I COULD TO A LAND FAR FAR AWAY spend time away from the kids for once. Instead, we spent the day together as a family, enjoyed a nice lunch and an ice cream treat, and I managed not to do a single load of laundry for the day. That's a good day for me!

Pic with my babies before church.

Another pic, this time at Pappadeaux for lunch -- my favorite and SO SO crowded on Mother's Day!

To celebrate Mother's Day at school, the kindergarteners hosted a "Mommy Makeover" event. The kids were able to use their Mom's makeup and hair accessories to give their Mommies a makeover. Oh my, Kaitlynn was in heaven! She was literally squealing and giggling through the makeup portion, ha!

Kaitlynn greeted me with a huge smile and big bouquet of flowers at the Mommy Makeover.

This was Kaitlynn's Mother's Day interview about me.

Quick selfie before the makeup application.

Blurry pic -- but this was how excited she was to apply makeup on me. Hilarious!

But my favorite part of the Mommy Makeover event was the PRECIOUS song that the kids sang for us Mothers. Oh so sweet!!







And now for Father's Day.

Before school ended, the kindergarten classes hosted a Playground with Pop event for all the Dads to spend some time with the kiddos at school. Unfortunately they had to move the event to the gym due to weather, but that didn't stop Jeff and Kaitlynn from having a special time together.

Kaitlynn and her Sweet Daddy enjoying time together at school.

While at the Playground with Pop event, the kiddos shared their special projects that they had made for their Dads. This was similar to the one they made for the Moms, but instead it was focused on "My Dad's Superpowers."

Now, let me just say, Kaitlynn's completed paper had to be "censored" by her teacher. It was actually quite hilarious -- Mrs. Wright texted me in advance with a picture of Kaitlynn's work because she was having a hard time keeping a straight face. I must say, it's possible that she was RIGHT ON with what she wrote that Jeff was the best at... :-)

Jeff's superpowers according to Kaitlynn.

When the summer hit and Father's Day rolled around, I secretly booked our TV/stereo guys to come out and install an outdoor TV and stereo speakers for Jeff. It was a surprise for him since I knew he'd never spend the money himself, despite spending so much time outside and always listening to music out there. The whole family has been enjoying the new outdoor addition!

We had a nice morning at church and then Jeff picked his choice for lunch -- again at Pappadeaux for some seafood, but not nearly as crowded as Mother's Day, ha! Later in the day we enjoyed some Baskin Robbins, always a fun treat.

The kids both shared a coke with Jeff for Father's Day.

Reading his Father's Day card.

Sweet picture before church.



Quick pic before our Father's Day lunch.

A Baskin Robbins treat before calling it a day.