Over mine and Kayla's Spring break we went on a family vacation to Siesta Key, FL and, oh my heavens, it was such a g.r.e.a.t trip. All 7 of us went - my parents, my sister and brother in law and their baby girl, Brandon and me. It was so insanely gorgeous there. We spent day after day lounging in the sun reading a good book or playing in the sand with our sweet niece, Elliette. It was Ellie's first time at the beach and she l.o.v.e.d it! She ate quite a bit of sand but it never seemed to phase her. She wanted to dig in the sand and stand in the waves all day. We just got back a week ago and while it's been hard getting back to the grind, it's so nice to have these photos to take us back. Just look at this sunset ... this was real life for 6 days. Absolutely amazing. Sun, sand and salt water were SO needed!

My mom's birthday was a couple of weeks before our trip (happy birthday sweet mama!), and for her present we told her we were going to try to get a family photo of all 7 of us on the beach and then she's going to choose some to print and have in her house. :) So, one evening while we were there, we set up the tripod and tried our best. (This is also how Brandon and I took our own engagement photos 3 1/2 years ago). I think we got some keepers!

And when you're a photographer and have your camera at the beach, you then get a little carried away. My poor family ... they were troopers ... we took photos until the sun was nowhere to be found!

How precious is this sweet baby at the beach? I could just eat her up.

She sure loves her LaLa & Papa too ... and I think it's mutual.

I'm moving to the beach . . . as long as my whole family moves with me!

Kayla took these next pics for us ... she's a pro already! Thanks KK!

Just a few more . . .

Heaven on Earth. A B.I.G thank you is in order to my mom and dad. They were the ones who took us on this amazing vacation and we are so incredibly blessed by them. We sure do love you both! We can't wait for our next family vacay! :)