Fischer Memories: Sanibel Island {Family Vacation}

We had our first family vacation with my parents and my sister and her husband. My parents took all of us to our favorite vacation spot, the place I have been going to ever since I was a little girl ~ Sanibel Island, Florida. Sanibel is SUCH a special spot, and the absolute best family vacation place, in my opinion (It was also just ranked #1 family vacation spot by Family Fun magazine). Marcus had been to Sanibel twice before with my family, but it was before we had children. I have been waiting for the day I could bring the girls to this beautiful island! We had such a wonderful trip. The weather was perfect (80s/90s, no clouds!), the shells were of course amazing since it's the #1 shelling beach, and the ocean, water and restaurants were all perfect!

** Warning: TONS of cute family vaca pics below! **

Here we are - ready for our first family road trip in the Minivan ( see Dixie's ear sticking up in the third row?!)

On Friday we spent the night in a hotel in Indianapolis by the airport after we dropped off Dixie to spend the week with Marcus' parents. (THANK YOU T & SARAH!) I won't lie - staying in a hotel with the girls was miserable. It was Cora's first time NOT in a crib, and even though I bought a "suite," it wasn't really two separate rooms. The pull-out sofa was basically across the way from the beds, so we just shared the beds. Cora had a terrible time going to sleep and was completely wild and running crazy. Once we made it to our condo in Sanibel, she did a better job of falling asleep because the girls had two queen beds in their own big bedroom. However, Cora fell asleep faster if Sonoma was in a different room when she first went to bed. It took some adjusting, but by the last night, the girls did great!

Here were the girls in their double beds at the hotel before our night of no sleep!

We had so much luggage, Sonoma had to push Cora in the stroller! She did a great job at the airport.

Ready for take-off

Cora finally fell asleep on the drive from Ft. Myers to the island.

As soon as we checked in our condo, we changed and hit the pool and the beach.

Having lunch at the main pool bar and grill.

We stayed at our favorite beach resort, the Sundial. There were a few years after the Hurricane in 2004 where we had to stay at a different place because the Sundial had so much damage. It was great to be back here though - it had been a long time for me and Marcus! We love that a few feet from our condo is the pool, and then a few feet from the pool is the beach. It was just perfect and so convenient.

Mom and Jake are on the top floor in their condo waving to us. We were on the ground floor which was nice to come in and out to the pool and beach.

This is what every day on Sanibel looks like

Sonoma and Cora did great in the pool swimming. By the end of the week Sonoma was swimming! Pa and Marcus did a great job working with her.

We had a great routine of waking up and hitting the pool and beach all day and then every night we went out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants. One night we went to the Sanibel Light House and Pier - a tradition!

Thanks for the wonderful trip, Mom and Dad!! :)

The girls loved playing with Auntie K and Uncle Jake!

Dinner at Matzalunas!

Pure joy

Dinner at the Bubble Room! I had been craving the White Christmas Cake for yeas now!

Daddy and Cora were the only ones who swam in the ocean! There has been a LOT of shark activity lately in the Gulf, so we had to be very careful!

Showing Mimi her treasures!

Just a girl and her shells

Family swim time

Obligatory matching outfits

Swimming lesson with Daddy!

One of the best parts about the trip was spending Mother's Day with my Mom, daughters, Krista and her sweet baby girl that we will get to meet in a few months!

Happy Mother's Day!

Marcus and I got to spend some time together one afternoon while Mom watched the girls for a little bit. It was very nice! :)

So blessed to be these girls' Mama

The girls were SO proud of their sand castle that the 4 of us built together. It was hard work but it turned out great!

It made me so proud to watch this girl swimming by herself!

Some more Bubble Room pictures from our night on Captiva Island:

I forced Marcus to take a selfie with me.

My heart <3

No problems getting this girl to take a selfie!

Sunset!

Sonoma begged for Daddy to shake a palm tree so she could crack a coconut. On our last night, a girl at our resort had found a coconut and Jake helped her crack it open. Sonoma loved it!