Entirely Emily: Florida

We finally made our plans for our vacation. We are going to Pensacola Beach, FL and will be staying right on the beach.It's been four years since I was last at the beach and that is four years to long.

Different beach but still awesome.....Treasure Island, FL back in 2007.

After I made the reservations and things were definite, we told K that we were going to the beach and showed her pictures. She's never been and this will be her first time to see the gulf/ocean. I'm so excited for her to see it for the first time. I can hardly stand it. I can't decide if I should have J hold her inside while I run outside with the camera to capture those first shots as she sees the beach from our condo.And do I use the still camera or the video part to get the priceless audio? Hmm...decisions, decisions.

Now everyday since we told her, she wakes up or at some point during the day asks " Mom,are we going to the beach today?" And when I say " No" ,she says" Are we going to the beach tomorrow?" To which I then say " No, in a few weeks"

At this point, I started thinking we need a way to count down the beach that is very easy for her to understand and grasp. I have a bag/bottles of sand/shells that I saved from every beach trip J and I have taken.

I like to save sand from beaches that I have been to. I know, weird. But looking at it makes me happy. It's actually right here on the computer desk. I have one from every place we have been and one that is waiting for this trip. All the sand actually has a different look to each place. It's kinda cool how that is.

I figured we could use that sand/shells in a hourglass kinda way. When we were at Walmart the other day (oh, I know...while we were there someone's car horn actually did the"Dixie" song....only at Walmart) I found this vase/hurricane that I liked ($2.99), I had a green paint pen from another project, and great blue ribbon that came on a present.

I measured and marked the days on the side with numbers in the lime green paint marker.

Then I added the cool blue ribbon. What color is that anyway? I love it. I used double sided tape so that if I ever needed to take it off , I could.

I also had some foam craft letter left from K's Valentine's Day Box so I spelled the word "beach" on the top of the ribbon.

I gave K a scoop,a bottle of sand ,and told her to fill it to the first line and then a bunch more.

Now every day she adds the sand and shells to the next line. She of course wants to keep filling but I told her she and S get to fill it every day until we leave and when it is full... it's time to hit the road.

At dinner the other day she asked:

" Mom, is it a long car ride?"
"Yes..it is long."
" We will have to bring books, and toys and snacks."
" Yes and dvds and maybe even take some naps so we get there even faster"
" Ok... I'll take a small nap for you."
" Thank You. That would be great."

I will have a downloadable packing list for you all very soon to use for all of your vacation fun this summer. Stay tuned!