Thursday, Aug 4th Franklin and I loaded up the boys and started our way down to Florida. Let me just say.. packing for two kids and myself is a LOT of work. I didn't have to take a ton because the house we go to has a washer/dryer and that helps a ton. We have been going to this same house on Santa Monica Beach (basically Panama City) for 3 years now. My Dads best friend, Jon, and his wife, Jan own the house and they are gracious enough to let us stay there. Thursday afternoon we drove 5 hours to Greenville, AL. We got a room at the Holiday Inn and it was by far the best move we've ever made! It was so cute seeing Grant get excited about his first hotel experience!
Friday morning we got up early, had a little breakfast and we were Florida bound. It took us about 4 hours with a few stops to potty and nurse. As soon as we got to the house Uncle Tol, Aunt Kelly, Papa G, and the boys were already out swimming in the pool. Grant was eager to see his cousins and I just wanted out of the car!
As soon as I got everything unloaded we hit the pool!
Cole and Aunt Kelly swimming
Cole lasted about 45 minutes in the pool and was ready for nap! I thought he looked so precious and cuddly here!
After some swimming we all got ready and headed out to dinner. It was a nice HOT hour long wait and a few meltdowns later we got some yummy food!
Yes, go on and laugh, I matched the boys often on this trip! Hey.. they are only small for so long, I plan on taking full advantage of it!
I find this picture hilarious. Tol decided to "rest" with the boys as they were winding down before bed... notice.. all 3 kids are awake and he is OUT COLD!
Yates ended up sleeping with Tol and Kelly because he was being a jabber jaw! So funny
The next morning Dad went in to check on the kids to find this... you couldnt even see Grant's head! I now remember why I dont sleep with my kids!
The next morning Tol, Dad, Franklin, and little Tol all went deep sea fishing while Kelly, Yates, Grant, Cole and I stayed at the pool. The guys had a great time and caught a ton of king mackrel.
Meanwhile at the house..
Thankfully the boys all tired out at the pool and took a great afternoon nap, leaving Kelly and I to some much needed sun/girl time! We never get to hang out just the two of us, so it was nice.After a nice meal of grilled fish, shrimp, salad, and potatoes the little boys decided to go skinny dipping! YES, Tol and Papa G are dressed!
You should've seen Little Tol and Grant eat this grilled shrimp... they nailed most of that plate!
Sunday morning, Tol,Kelly and the kids headed back to TN. So we decided to load up the boys and go across the street to the beach. And unfortunately, Grant hated the beach for the 3rd year in a row. He didnt mind the sand, it was more the ocean this year. I don't get it, to each their own I suppose.
The wind was terrible, blowing the umbrella over and the water was so rough you couldnt even get in, so back to the house we go. That was the 1st of the next 6 days that it rained.
Monday morning we got up had breakfast and just stayed at the house. We went to Schooners for the BEST grouper sandwiches ever and then waited on DeeDee's flight to arrive
You should've seen Little Tol and Grant eat this grilled shrimp... they nailed most of that plate!
Sunday morning, Tol,Kelly and the kids headed back to TN. So we decided to load up the boys and go across the street to the beach. And unfortunately, Grant hated the beach for the 3rd year in a row. He didnt mind the sand, it was more the ocean this year. I don't get it, to each their own I suppose.
The wind was terrible, blowing the umbrella over and the water was so rough you couldnt even get in, so back to the house we go. That was the 1st of the next 6 days that it rained.
Monday morning we got up had breakfast and just stayed at the house. We went to Schooners for the BEST grouper sandwiches ever and then waited on DeeDee's flight to arrive
. Poor DeeDee barely got up the next morning before Grant was all over her. I went outside to check on him and he had her in the pool in her PJS. For lunch we went to Margaritaville for lunch! They have my favorite Nachos and Pink Cadillac Ma
Franklin bought the boys matching Salty Pup shirts, here is Cole in his!
Grant was so cute on this trip, he is getting so big. Everywhere we went when the waitress would come by for our drink order, he'd say "I'll have a sweet tea please". He's never ordered tea until he heard his cousin order one.. and from then on, its all he wanted! So sofisticated!
The next day, more rain... so we swam in the rain and then got ready and headed to Pineappple Willies. I love the experience there!
The next morning we had a few hours of spotty sun so we gave the beach another try. Cole did geat, he slept the majority of the time. Grant built a few sand castles, found some shells, and covered my feet with sand.. that was about the extent of his time at the beach.
Oh.. and a little bit of "Crush", Notice the orange stache!
After the beach, we got ready and headed to Sharkey's for dinner.. which unfortunately was a huge disappointment.. but at least we got some good pics!
Grant was really in to swimming at night or when we got home from dinner .. so before it got dark we went for a little dip!
That afternoon we got dressed early and went to one of our all time faves, Captain Anderson's.
The next day.. guess what? RAIN AGAIN... so what did we do? We ate again! We went to Shuckum for some oysters... let me rephrase... THEY went and I got cheese sticks!
I could NOT believe it... GRANT EVEN ATE THEM! GROSS. However I was so proud of him, he ate a ton of seafood on this trip: Oysters, Crab Legs, Shrimp, Group and Red 
Cole really enjoyed himself too... so much so that he fell asleep on the table!
After an appetizer we went back to Schooners for a Grouper sandwich, yes they are THAT good!
I was so disappointed because the ONE night we chose to not "get ready" was the one and only clear night with a magnificant sunset. So unfortunately, our "beach pictures" are in our crummy clothes and no makeup :( OH WELL.
This was the opposite side of the sunset with the full moon coming up. PHENOMINAL!
The next day, our last day, was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, barely a cloud in the sky. Papa and DeeDee hit the beach early that morning and came back around noon. We fed the kids lunch and I put Cole down for a nap and Grant stayed in the pool. They offered to let Franklin and I go to the beach ALONE! WHAT... A.... TREAT! It was so nice!
Franklin bought the boys matching Salty Pup shirts, here is Cole in his!
Grant was so cute on this trip, he is getting so big. Everywhere we went when the waitress would come by for our drink order, he'd say "I'll have a sweet tea please". He's never ordered tea until he heard his cousin order one.. and from then on, its all he wanted! So sofisticated!
The next day, more rain... so we swam in the rain and then got ready and headed to Pineappple Willies. I love the experience there!
The next morning we had a few hours of spotty sun so we gave the beach another try. Cole did geat, he slept the majority of the time. Grant built a few sand castles, found some shells, and covered my feet with sand.. that was about the extent of his time at the beach.
Oh.. and a little bit of "Crush", Notice the orange stache!
After the beach, we got ready and headed to Sharkey's for dinner.. which unfortunately was a huge disappointment.. but at least we got some good pics!
Grant was really in to swimming at night or when we got home from dinner .. so before it got dark we went for a little dip!
That afternoon we got dressed early and went to one of our all time faves, Captain Anderson's.
The next day.. guess what? RAIN AGAIN... so what did we do? We ate again! We went to Shuckum for some oysters... let me rephrase... THEY went and I got cheese sticks!
I could NOT believe it... GRANT EVEN ATE THEM! GROSS. However I was so proud of him, he ate a ton of seafood on this trip: Oysters, Crab Legs, Shrimp, Group and Red 
Cole really enjoyed himself too... so much so that he fell asleep on the table!
After an appetizer we went back to Schooners for a Grouper sandwich, yes they are THAT good!
I was so disappointed because the ONE night we chose to not "get ready" was the one and only clear night with a magnificant sunset. So unfortunately, our "beach pictures" are in our crummy clothes and no makeup :( OH WELL.
This was the opposite side of the sunset with the full moon coming up. PHENOMINAL!
The next day, our last day, was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, barely a cloud in the sky. Papa and DeeDee hit the beach early that morning and came back around noon. We fed the kids lunch and I put Cole down for a nap and Grant stayed in the pool. They offered to let Franklin and I go to the beach ALONE! WHAT... A.... TREAT! It was so nice!After we got back we went to The Salt Water Grill, very nice and yummy!
This is my favorite picture of the trip! Click on it to enlarge it and look at the kids faces!
A few of the mornings we were there Dad would run down the street to Thomas', they have donuts and biscuits etc. He brought Grant a chocolate covered donut with M&M's and you can imagine his delight! Grant LOVED IT!
Since it was our last night, and he had asked us EVERY SINGLE DAY we took Grant to Pier Park, or as Grant called it "Peter Pawk". I am so mad at myself for not taking my camera to his first amusement park, so these pictures are a tad blurry due to the fact I took them with my cellphone. He loved the merry-go-round (rode it 3 times, barf), the train that went around the park, and then the airplanes. The airplanes cracked me up because when we got to the top he raised his hands and yelled "ROCK AND ROLL". Not really sure where that came from but it was funny!
This is my favorite picture of the trip! Click on it to enlarge it and look at the kids faces!
A few of the mornings we were there Dad would run down the street to Thomas', they have donuts and biscuits etc. He brought Grant a chocolate covered donut with M&M's and you can imagine his delight! Grant LOVED IT!
Since it was our last night, and he had asked us EVERY SINGLE DAY we took Grant to Pier Park, or as Grant called it "Peter Pawk". I am so mad at myself for not taking my camera to his first amusement park, so these pictures are a tad blurry due to the fact I took them with my cellphone. He loved the merry-go-round (rode it 3 times, barf), the train that went around the park, and then the airplanes. The airplanes cracked me up because when we got to the top he raised his hands and yelled "ROCK AND ROLL". Not really sure where that came from but it was funny!Grant and Daddy on the Merry-Go-Round
We had a FANTASTIC beach vacation, despite the rain! Thanks to Jon and Jan for sharing their home with us and to Papa and DeeDee for inviting us. Oh and Jessica, thanks for letting us use your baby float for Cole and taking care of that miserable excuse of a pet, Pal! Its good to be home!
We had a FANTASTIC beach vacation, despite the rain! Thanks to Jon and Jan for sharing their home with us and to Papa and DeeDee for inviting us. Oh and Jessica, thanks for letting us use your baby float for Cole and taking care of that miserable excuse of a pet, Pal! Its good to be home!
2 comments:
such great pics!!! you're right...that family one towards the end with you in the coral dress is AMAZING!!!!
love C in that floatie with his chubby cheeks! I miss those cheeks!
glad ya'll had fun despite the rain.
oh and GO G! for eating all that seafood. oysters....yuck
Looks like you hit about every restaurant there!:) Glad you were able to have some family time! Love the pictures of your sweet matching boys!:)
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