beach

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Dear Jack: The Worst Gift We Gave You for Your 5th Birthday

5 years.

Dear Jack: The Worst Gift We Gave You for Your 5th Birthday

Dear Jack,

Mommy and I bought your birthday and Christmas gifts months ahead of time. It’s funny because I had actually completely forgotten what your birthday gifts were, since they’ve been wrapped and in storage for so long.

So when you opened them a month ago on your 5th birthday, they were just as much as a surprise to me as they were to you.

While you truly loved your gifts, there was one dud; though fortunately, you didn’t really seem to notice. You were very excited to open it, as it was your first one we let you open:

A couple of months ago, Mommy bought a “3D Pirate Ship” kite from Zoolilly; knowing that we would be celebrating your birthday on the beaches of Destin, Florida. We had never considered the assembly process, though.

Granted, I’m not good about figuring out how to put things together, but this kite barely come with any instructions; in addition to being quite complicated to begin with.

Dear Jack: The Worst Gift We Gave You for Your 5th Birthday

The instructions were very cryptic and minimal. (Without surprise, the kite was made in China.) Mommy and I spent an hour figuring out how to assemble the thing; and we barely got the job done.

On my own, I would have just given up and immediately thrown it in the garbage. Mommy’s help is what saved the kite from instant destruction.

Once we finally got the thing built, I had preconceived ideas on how it would fly: Amazing, but short-lived.

I was accurate in my prediction.

By the time I got the kite flying high enough for you to hold on to the string, it began self-destructing in the air.

Dear Jack: The Worst Gift We Gave You for Your 5th Birthday

Its life lasted about 2 minutes. You never got to fly it.

Fortunately, you were too distracted by running in the sand and waves to realize that I snuck in the kite into the garbage can.

Yes, it was the worst present you gave you for your birthday, but it fortunately was also the most forgettable; especially in a beach setting.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: The Worst Gift We Gave You for Your 5th Birthday

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Dear Jack: We Who Live on Dry Land are the Minority

5 years.

Dear Jack: You Got to Go on the Southern Star Dolphin Cruise in Destin!

Dear Jack,

Last month during your “destination birthday party” Mommy and I had for you for your 5th birthday party in Destin, Florida, you quickly took to the water.

The thing about it was, it wasn’t a warm, sunny day. Instead, it was the beginning of a windy, chilly day.

Yet you didn’t seem to notice at all that the climate conditions were not idea for swimming. As I pointed out in an Instagram out of the event, it must be your genes that enable you to be able to have that much fun.

Must be his traces of Norwegian blood on his Mommy's side keeping him warm. You won't see me in the water this morning...

Must be his traces of Norwegian blood on his Mommy’s side keeping him warm. You won’t see me in the water this morning…

As for me, I’ve never been that interested in descending too far into water that I can’t see the bottom of.

We as a family love being at the beach. But whereas Mommy and I are perfect content barely letting the later graze our toes as it washes up on shore, you would rather be in it.

You’re not concerned with jellyfish or cold water or whatever else is in that ocean. You have the ability to just enjoy playing in it.

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

Though we as a human race seem to forget this, we who live on dry land are the minority. Only about 1/3 of our planet is land, but about 71% of Earth is actually water.

The ocean is the most unknown part of our planet. Without proper breathing apparatuses and/or means of transportation, we can’t survive very long in the ocean; especially not down deep inside of it.

If we don’t drown, or starve, or die of starvation, or are crushed by the air pressure miles below the water, then we easily serve as prey to sharks.

Sure, if you take a shark out of water and put it in the middle of a busy street, it’s not much of a threat.

But that same analogy reversed shows how physically vulnerable we are out in the ocean.

Ocean animals, whether fish or mammals, are created to not only survive, but to thrive, naked in the ocean.

Dear Jack: You Got to Go on the Southern Star Dolphin Cruise in Destin!

Not us humans. Our survival rate out in the ocean is solely based on how not naked we are out there.

We humans live on about 1/3 of the earth’s surface, while all marine life lives on 2/3s of the planet.

I’m sorry, but ocean life is superior to us who live on land.

Even as we overfish and pollute the ocean, it only hurts us in the long run.

But as a 5 year-old, you’re not concerned with such grandiose concepts. All you know is, you love playing at the beach.

Love,

Daddy

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

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Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

This year for our son Jack’s 5th birthday, we decided to do a “destination birthday party” in Destin, Florida; instead of having a party with his friends back home in Tennessee.

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

We figured if we were going to spend a few hundred dollars either way, we might as well make a fun family vacation out of it; especially right now, before the new baby arrives in April.

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

Something that made the trip extra special is that we were able to drive a 2015 Lexus GX 460 there and back! Therefore, our road trip was luxurious, large and laid-back.

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

Since we currently only have a family of 3, we kept the 3rd row seat folded down and used it for cargo space instead. Therefore, we packed our largest suitcases for the trip.

Usually on a road trip like this, we all try to pack light- but with all that room in the Lexus GX, we were able to pack liberally:

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

So in addition to the 2 giant suitcases, there was also my camera tripod,  2 of giants beach toy buckets, our plant-based food supply (we’re a vegan/vegetarian family), and all of Jack’s birthday gifts from us. And I was able to fit all of this under the cover too; which maintained the wonderful driver’s seat visibility, which I shot a quick video about.

We had so much fun on our trip. I’ve actually highlighted the main events in previous blog posts. (I put them in bold links below so you can click on them to read those separately.)

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

Before we even left for our trip, Jack drew and colored a special map so his Mommy and I would know were to drive.

separately

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

As for some highlights of our trip; first, my son got to pet and feed dolphins at the Gulfarium.

See Dear Jack: You Got to Pet and Feed Dolphins at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park!

Dear Jack: You Got to Pet and Feed Dolphins at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park!

Then our family took a dolphin cruise out in the Gulf of Mexico…

See Dear Jack: We Went on the Southern Star Dolphin Cruise in Destin!

Dear Jack: You Got to Go on the Southern Star Dolphin Cruise in Destin!

Not to mention, we let him spend his $100’s worth of gift cards on whatever he wanted during the trip.

See Dear Jack: What Happens When You Give $100 to a 5 Year-Old Boy for His Birthday?

Dear Jack: What Happens When You Give $100 to a 5 Year-Old Boy for His Birthday?

The whole time, we stayed in a really fun resort condo that was right across the street from the beach. We could see the ocean from the living room!

See Our Amalfi Coast Condo Rental in Miramar Beach Near Destin, Florida.

Our Amalfi Coast Condo Rental in Destin, Florida

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

And we had so much fun playing out on the beach. There was a lot of water underneath the sand and it kept sprouting out the more we would dig trenches for our sand castle.

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

Having a destination birthday party for my son’s 5th birthday was the right decision for us! It was such a special time for our family.

Lexus GX 460 Family Road Trip: My Son’s Destination Birthday Party in Destin, Florida

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Our Amalfi Coast Condo Rental in Miramar Beach Near Destin, Florida

Our Amalfi Coast Condo Rental in Destin, Florida

Last weekend our family stayed at a condo rental called Barefoot by the Sea, which is part of the Amalfi Coast Resort on Miramar Beach. We had such a great time that I felt it was worth sharing with anyone out there who is considering staying in the Destin, Florida area.

We chose to stay there as part of our son’s “destination birthday party” for his 5th birthday. Things were made extra special when I learned we would be able to drive a 2015 Lexus GX 460 there and back, from our home near Nashville, Tennessee. (That’s a perk of being a blogger!)

Because rentals in Amalfi Coast Resorts not directly on the beach, but instead, just across the street from it, prices are more affordable than most Destin resorts we looked into.

r4

However, we still had a great ocean view from the kitchen and living room; as well as the deck, where we could enjoy the fresh beach at any time.

Our Amalfi Coast Condo Rental in Destin, Florida

Additionally, the place contains 2 full bathrooms, as well as a master bedroom and a set of bunk beds in the hall, where our son slept. It was his first time to get to sleep in a bunk bed.

We had plenty of room. We are already trying to figure out when we can go back and stay there again. The place was perfect for our family’s needs.

Though we never took advantage of it, we also had access to the 2 swimming pools on the property.

Instead, we spent much of our time at the private beach, which was just right across the street. We had access to a gazebo which grants access to the beach.

It was very private. I think we were the only ones on that private beach each time we were out there.

Not to mention, it’s location within Destin itself was a good central location to plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, as well as fun family activities, like the Gulfarium and the dolphin cruise; both of which we participated in.

IMG_5129

In closing, please check out the casual video tour I made using my Samsung Galaxy S4:

I totally recommend this place. In fact, please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about it.

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Dear Jack: The Treasure Chest You Found Buried in Pensacola

4 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack: The Treasure Chest You Found Buried in Pensacola

Dear Jack,

Leading up to our recent mini road trip to Pensacola, you announced to me, “Daddy, when we go to the beach, we need to dig in the sand because maybe there is a buried treasure chest… and dinosaur bones too!”

So thanks to a quick trip to Dollar Tree and Party Central, I was able to obtain the treasure chest (a lunch box), plastic coins and jewelry, and some dinosaur bone puzzles; all for less than 10 bucks.

Mommy packed them up in our beach bag, and from there I loaded them up on the back of the 2015 Toyota Sienna we drove for the trip.

https://familyfriendlydaddyblog.com/2015/05/07/dear-jack-our-homemade-jack-man-commercial-for-the-toyota-sienna/

When we arrived at Casino Beach during one of our trips there, you and Mommy immediately began playing in the sand. I snuck over, just about 50 feet away from you, and dug 2 holes: one for the treasure chest and one for the dinosaur bones.

Right as I finished, you ran over to me in excitement. I explained to you that I thought I had just found a good place where someone might have buried some treasure.

Of course, from there, the magic began…

Here’s my video I made, capturing the whole event:

You were mesmerized by your finding for the rest of the weekend; proudly wearing your jewelry in the van and during lunch at the restaurant.

I could actually see this becoming a new tradition for us each time we go to the beach. I’m even imagining you getting old enough to figure out that it’s really just me hiding the treasures but where I would simply hide gifts that you want anyway.

https://familyfriendlydaddyblog.com/2015/05/07/dear-jack-our-homemade-jack-man-commercial-for-the-toyota-sienna/

And it’s all because in your own 4 and a half year-old creativity, your faith led you to believe that there truly would be hidden treasure there at the beach with Mommy and me.

Yes, the hidden treasure is definitely there if you’re looking for it.

Love,

Daddy

https://familyfriendlydaddyblog.com/2015/05/07/dear-jack-our-homemade-jack-man-commercial-for-the-toyota-sienna/