In June, we took an eight day family vacation with some good friends of ours to North Captiva Island. One can only access this island by ferry or small plane and once on the island, you travel from place to place via golf carts.
We rented an amazing four story home that was right on the beach and very close to the north point of the island, so we were surrounded by beach on two sides of the home. Thus, the name of the house....the North Pointe Beach House. The owners use this home as their personal beach house when on the island, so it was decorated impeccably with no expense spared. You really should go check out all the pictures of the home
HERE.
The home also had a pool, so when we needed a break from the snorkeling and sand, we would hop in the pool. There is also an island club and we would frequent there during the day for lunch, drinks and a little change of scenery. It was also a great place for the girls to play with other kids staying on the island. With several small restaurants, we were also able to eat out a few times.
We really had a fabulous vacation and plan to return for years to come! Here are some pictures from our great vacation.
(And since it was a beach vacation, we washed and wore the same outfits multiple times. After all, when you're on the beach, you live in bathing suits and cover-ups and the clothes and makeup don't matter. :-)
Here's the view from the main living area and kitchen, the third floor. Yes, we were worn out the first two days (especially with a 22 pound non-walker!) By the eighth day, we were flying up those stairs!
The girls had a room on the fourth floor with their own little loft area complete with a large couch and TV. Much down-time was spent up there (and at one point, they had a flash store sale. I purchased the couch for $1. Husband had to spend much more, buying a toothbrush for $500).
Best friends. LOVE these two.
Beach and sun kissed. Fresh off the beach for some margaritas.
Like I said, golf carts were our mode of transportation.
Have you ever heard of a game called Settlers of Catan? We are addicted and HUGE lovers of this game. Every day, we played no less than three or four games. We'd spend the mornings at the beach and pool and then come in for lunch, H.G.'s nap and downtime. The kids would watch TV or complete art projects (shells, glue and glitter paint make for hours of fun) and the adults would enjoy game.....after game.....after game.....after game.....of Catan. Husband and Man K won pretty much every game.
Lady K won a few and I think I won only one. I used to dominate but not on this vacay!
Man K received a new camera right before we left for the island, so he was our in-house photographer. He really did a great job at capturing shots. They were hard to choose from for this post!
After many attempts, this is the best we could do at getting the kids together. Nearly every picture has either Little K, Little E or Lolly making silly faces. These girls kept us on our toes (including each child's breakdown on one day of the week. H.G. had Friday, Lolly had Saturday, Little E (grey dress) did pretty well the whole time and Little K had Monday. The life of drama with girls!
Sunset watching from the fourth floor. It didn't rain at all the entire time we were there! It was sunny and gorgeous but I'm afraid the sunsets were mostly overcast.
It did rain the day we arrived so a lot of our things go wet from the drop off point to the house (the delivery of our luggage and food for some reason took over an hour).
Last day. Man K and Lady K found this amazing tree on the beach. They took Lolly and the girls there to take pictures while Husband and I prepared for departure. What a great spot!
I should mention that wild dolphins were EVERYWHERE! So numerous that by the end of the week, the girls quit looking for them as they were always there. Man K got a chance to snorkel around them. He got within fifteen feet of them or so. Amazing.
Here we are heading out to dinner on the first night (I think it was the first night....maybe the second).
Like I said.....shells, glue and glitter paint make for happy kids and relaxing mommies.
More sunset watching.
Group photo on the front porch before we left.
Bye-bye North Captiva. Until next time!
Happy Friday Y'all!