Vero Beach Wedding Weekend

We had so much fun this Memorial Day Weekend in Vero Beach, Florida with the Vander Maten's.   After receiving a text notification of a delayed flight that would cause us to miss our connection and lay us up in DFW for the night, we made several phone calls and managed to get on a flight from Omaha through Chicago to Orlando with Uncle Justin.

Cruisin' through O'Hare (just wakin' up from a nap on the plane!)

We arrived in Orlando around 10:30pm but the Hertz rental car line was long and s-l-o-w!  Just after midnight we managed to get one of the remaining cars in their lot...  Wade didn't tell us the full details of the car they had left for us until we walked up to this... which, of course, is fun unless you have four people with a car seat.

Sweet ride for the weekend!

We drove to our hotel in Vero and arrived around 2 am.  On Sunday we slept in and met Grandpa, Grandma, Whitney, Josh and the rest of the Draayer's at The Lemon Tree for breakfast.

Walking to breakfast in downtown Vero Beach

Then it was time to head for the beach.  The second we set Saylor on the sand she went straight for the waves, which knocked her down, but she had no fear and went back in for more squealing and lovin' it! (And her lift jacket went on immediately.)  

First time in the ocean - LOVED it!

       

Then it was time to get ready for Wade's Cousin Tyler's wedding on the beach.

Grandpa and Saylor ready for the ceremony

Vander Maten Cousins Saylor, Sage & Sori

Grandpa and Grandma Vander Maten & Grandkids

Watching the Pelicans

We met Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Vander Maten at the wedding.  During the reception we sat with Wade's cousins Michael, Danny, Bill, Hudson, Dave, Andrea and John Andrew who are from Atlanta, New York City and Washington D.C.  We enjoyed catching up with them since we don't get to see them very often.  The highlight of the night was when the wedding dance started around 10:45pm.  Saylor went crazy.  She stomped, jumped, ran, twirled, spinned, stood on her head, somersaulted all over the dance floor while Sage was busy schmoozing the flower girl into dancing with him.  They were lovin' the dance and we all enjoyed their entertainment.

Going crazy on the dance floor! 

On Monday everyone ate breakfast at Mulligan's on the beach.  We walked through a few shops in downtown Vero and picked up a new shirt for Saylor.

Out for a walk in downtown Vero Beach

Then in Saylor's words..."Ocean, now!!"

Beach time with Aunt Whitney

Fun in the sand with Dad

After another fun afternoon at the beach we went to Uncle Randy and Aunt Barb's house near the beach.  We grilled and hung out by their pool.  Saylor went for a swim asking to go "under, under."

Pool time in Uncle Randy and Aunt Barb's pool

Then we all headed back to our hotel and walked to an ice cream shop.  Saylor, of course, was very willing to trade cones with anyone who had a bigger cone or more ice cream left than her.

After ice cream we all went for a walk on the beach looking for sea shells.

On Tuesday we all went to breakfast at Mulligan's again before we had to leave for the airport. Saylor loved watching the planes take off and land in Orlando. "More airewpanes, Mommy, more!"

Ready to go home "In airewpane, now!"

We had a layover in Dallas-Ft. Worth.  Saylor loved riding the skylink above the airport watching all the airplanes land, take-off and taxi.  A girl after her momma's heart.

Skylink at DFW

Passin' through DFW

Saylor loved her trunki suitcase from Grandpa and Grandma that she could, ride, pull and store all her fun toys for the trip!

We are so glad we were able to make this quick trip even though we missed the last day of school.  Saylor was a rock star on every flight and was the happiest little girl during the entire trip no matter what we were doing.  It was so fun to attend Tyler's wedding and see family from around the country.  And it was priceless for Saylor to experience the ocean for the first time with family.  We made so many fun memories with Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Josh, Aunt Whitney, Uncle Justin, Aunt Justine, Sage and Sori.  We had so much fun!  

THANK YOU GRANDPA AND GRANDMA!!