La Playa...Lopez Style!

It's August, which means that the Lopez clan is 'Destin-ed' for their annual beach trip to Destin, FL!  Last year (2010), I was very pregnant with Camilla (just shy of 5mos), but showing enough to have quite the baby bump.  It was great to wear a bikini (sans baby bump) and run along the beach with Sophia and not tire so easily :)  However, because it was deathly hot, we all tired very easily!  Our first (and, wait for it...our ONLY) day spent on the beach was on Monday - it was ridiculously hot and as a Mama with an infant, I worried myself sick over keeping Camilla out in the hellacious heat/sun.  Both kiddies were slathered with sunscreen, and forced to wear everything but a wool sweater!  Luckily, we did remember to bring the fun little sun tent and it worked great for Camilla to sit & play in.  Until the heat was too much - so I whisked her away to cool off in the A/C inside the nearby restaurant (Finz) on the beach.  Ahhh...not going to lie, the a/c was happily enjoyed by both mommy & Camilla.  Rod, Sophia & his parents stayed beachside to swim, dig, snack & play.  After that, we vowed that the pool was the way to go for the remainder of the week.  When you have little bitty babies, you go to the pool rather than the beach.  No matter if the entire point of the vacation was to "go to the beach".  Heat index down there all week was basically forecasted for 110 degrees.  Beach? No thanks.  Pool?  We're on the way!

We enjoyed dining at some of our favorite restaurants in the area like Vin-tij Wine Boutique, Bistro Bijoux and a new favorite, Cuvee Bistro.  Yum!  I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story...fun was had by all...and both Rod and I were SOOOO excited to be able to remove ourselves completely from work and relax!  We both adored the fact we could completely unplug and give the girls our undivided attention - it was the absolute best.  It made me simultaneously sad to realize that I miss so much of their sweet little lives each and every day while I work...to all of you moms that can stay home with your kids (big or small), know that moms like me envy you and only wish we could have days like yours (good, bad and/or ugly)! Cherish it.

We had so much fun, it should have been a crime!

Camilla our newest beach babe

Sophia + Beach = shady snack time!

Sophia finally got to do the
bungee-jump thing in Baytowne!

Daddy, Sophia & Mommy
(Camilla was busy snoozing!)

Sophia also got to try out the "Hampster Ball" - hilarious!

Abuelito, Sophia, Daddy & Camilla

Camilla had a case of the crazies...
just look at that 'do!

I could just snuggle this chunky monkey ALL day :)

Mommy, Camilla & Sophia basking
in the rays at the pool

Just us girls: aren't we cute?

Mommy's GIANT peanut butter cup from the sinful candy
shop in Baytowne...and it was devoured in under 15mins!

Camilla fell fast asleep after Sophia sang
a sweet lullabye one afternoon


We have more C-U-T-E photos to come since Rod & I both snapped some on our iPhones...so stay tuned...Beach update #2 will post soon!