Sweet P Gracie: Girls trip 2011 to St. Augustine

What another great trip to St. Augustine with Violette and Julianne. Their friendship is something to be cherished and grows every year with our trip. This year the weather cooperated a bit more, we had a little more time together, and there was even time at Jacksonville Beach.

Who doesn't like a run at sunset on the beach?

This trip in addition to visiting downtown St. Augustine we took a pirate boat cruise, shopped a lot (including some extra pants for the potty training lady), ate great meals, relaxed at the sunny beach, danced, and had too much laughter to count.

To start Gracie was a huge hit at the airport since she was wearing her purple cowboy boots that she loved, and was a great flier.

Learning the seat belt

Ride'm cowboy

We started the trip in Jacksonville with a little beach time there with Jeff. Gracie wasn't too sure about the ocean at first since we arrived at night she could only hear the crashing waves not seeing what fun the ocean could be. The next day she changed her mind after some sand time, pony rides up and down the beach on us, and chasing after the birds. Then we drove down to Vi's place with a pit stop along the way at the carousel. Gracie couldn't get enough of the ride for her or her baby, you can see it in her lap on the photo.

In St. Augustine....

Showing Vi the castle book, I love that view

Reading about the sandcastles to build

When we arrived at the condo Gracie needed to think about the sandcastles she wanted to build. There was a book to give us ideas as to what an impossible sandcastle would look like when it is built by a 3 year old.

No trip to St. Augustine would complete without something to do with pirates. This trip we got to actually go on a pirate ship with actual pirates putting on a show. Of course the highlight of the trip was the mermaid painted on Gracie's face and the sugar-filled lollipop pushed through her usual nap time.

The ship and new mermaid face paint.

Then we had to continue the sugar high with a trip downtown for some ice cream to help us power through a little window shopping.

Most days consisted of having our feet in the sand for part of the day at the beach. Here are our toes enjoying the sand and surf.

Of course with the four ladies together who wouldn't want to go shopping, okay I have a good idea who wouldn't but we made the best of it. This is the trip Gracie got a new pair of shorts due to potty training, the ladies got the same dress, and Gracie made friends with Kermit. The outlet mall people were smart!

Loving the kids time while shopping

The evenings usually consisted of girls time either watching some good chick-flicks, painting nails, gabbing, and of course the fun game night. This year Gracie introduced Vi & Jules to her love of Glee music videos. Julianne joined in the fun of Umbrella/Singing in the Rain mix.

Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh.

These two photos show how much Gracie has grown in one year as well as the difference in weather. We actually enjoyed a little sweat this trip not sweatshirts. The second set of photos show how much she has changed compared to the lack of change to the oldest town in the US. We also had to show proof of her favorite shoes ever...purple cowboy boots. Always the talk of the town by anyone who sees them.