Anna Maria Island Florida 2010

I’ve been to this Island several times since I was in high school.  This was the 8th year in a row that Steve and I were able to bring our family.  I absolutely love it there and as soon as I arrive I usually announce that I’m never going home.  I enjoy the sunrise and the sunset every day, walking on the beach, lounging, reading, eating, collecting shells, watching my kids feed the birds.    We are tourists only in the sense that we are away from home, but we literally just live at the beach.  We truly consider it our home away from home as the same families usually roll in about the same time and we spend our week together catching up on what’s happened since last year.   Cooking (we only ate out once!) & laundry are the main chores and our only concern from day to day is whether or not we have on enough sunscreen.  We almost didn’t go this year….the typical excuse…”we should stay home, save the money…”.   But things changed, we felt the urge to go at the last minute and our usual spot just happened to still be available.  It was meant to be. I only have a few dozen images which is always shocking to people but I have to remind them that although I love taking pictures it is vacation and pulling out my camera isn’t usually at the top of my to-do list everyday.  But it is something that I have to be consciously aware of because I know that my kids treasure the memories  so here are a few of my fav’s from this year.  It was a shorter trip than we normally take but we are thankful all the same.  The weather was gorgeous, beautiful sunrises and sunset,  gentle gulf breezes, watching the dolphins in the gulf,  and seeing the sky lit up with stars at night. While I was there I was reminded of a quote I read years ago “My father took us on vacations he couldn’t afford to make memories we couldn’t afford to live without”. Our trip wasn’t anything fancy, there was no trip to Disney or an amusement park, I lived in a single pair of flip-flops for the entire trip, riding in a mini-van with 4 kids to Florida & back is not even close to glamourous……But for me it’s enough. I’m just so thankful to be able to unplug from “life” and savor the time with my incredible husband and our growing family. I’m so blessed.

Kristin - May 4, 2010 - 8:58 pm

Terri – your pictures are beautiful -so natural and so “you.” I love them. They brought tears to my eyes! Your family is so special to me and I love seeing you all so relaxed and happy. You inspire us young moms, you know. 🙂

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