Back in February, the ritual begins. My father-in-law calls my wife and starts asking if we are going to the beach this year. There is a whole thing about teasing about waiting until we are driving down to book so we can get a good deal, texting the weather conditions and recently the beach warning flags. The date was set...June 24-30.
Fast-forward to the week before, I am finishing up summer school and seriously needing to get away. I find that when I need some sort of change, I begin to sigh a lot...and trust me, after the school year and then three more weeks of summer school, I was worn down and needing to recharge. We decided to leave Thursday when I got off work on the last day of summer school and head down to Tupelo and visit Kelly's family as the first leg of our trip. We got there Thursday evening and Aunt Cindy and Uncle Jack fed us and we all sat around visiting.
The next day we woke up ate breakfast and I read my book and visited with Jack while the kids played and watched some cartoons on their iPads. Kelly's cousin Katherine and her son Dylan met up with us and we went into Tupelo for a Mexican lunch.
Goofballs
After lunch, Aunt Cindy and Aunt Glenn wanted to treat the boys to arcade games and a bounce house. They had a blast!
A little team effort on this game
They took turns trying to make the most epic fall
Things got a little crazy with this one. Camden did that flip and wasn't expecting it.
We went back to Aunt Cindy's house where we all sat on the deck and talked while the boys played. Uncle Jack played catch in the driveway with them for quite a long time. It was the longest that they were all occupied all day long.
The boys and I walked around the house to the swing. This is honestly when I started thinking about taking some blog pictures.
Seriously two seconds after this picture...this happened
The top board was a little weathered and couldn't take me and the boys swinging on it.
Time to say goodbye to some good times with family we don't get to see as often as we'd like.
Off to bed...long drive tomorrow!
The GPS said it would take about six hours from Tupelo. With some really strong storms, traffic, and a couple of bathroom stops it took us the better part of seven hours. Paxton got an early birthday present from Aunt Glenn. Laurie Parker is a Mississippi author that Aunt Glenn knows.
We tried to measure the length in movies for the kids...we were off one move and an episode of Teen Titans Go. I used to think the "Dad are we there yet? How much longer?" thing was something that was just overplayed in the movies...WRONG. The number of times I was asked that is accurately portrayed in the movies.
Finally...PCB
(Panama City Beach for the uninitiated)
We came in a back way (big sign is on the main way into town) and I sure as heck wasn't going to stop to get a picture
The beach was a little rough when we got there. Double red flags, but we played in the sand and did a little splashing.
And of course, a little victory beach dancing.
(The floss and dab are starting to go out of style, but my boys still hit it hard)
This is the nicest condo we have ever been at. It is a lot more laid back atmosphere and not nearly as crowded. I don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn and drag stuff to the beach to claim a spot. There is nothing on the lot next to us so there is plenty of room to spread out!
We spent the next three days on the beach and in the pool. Since it isn't a mad dash out the beach to find a spot, we've opted for the late start method. Sleep in, bigger breakfast, snack at lunch and out to dinner. It actually feels like a nice relaxing vacation.
Loving their hats Scooter got them!
My Family ❣
Brotherly love/squeeze the life out of you
Break from swimming
Masterpieces
He was a good helper taking stuff down to the ocean!
Check out this Beach Babe!
Wearing Mommy's visor
¡Siesta!
Riding the waves
Camden caught a sea urchin
I got burned crispy the first day, I spent most of the second chillin' and reading in the shade!
(It was secretly wonderful)
For dinner, we ate at Scooter's and my favorite place in PCB...The Sandbar. It is an excellent place to eat. Apparently, they have awesome BBQ, but we are from Missouri, so when I am on the coast...I want seafood. Scooter and I get the fried Royal Reds Shrimp. It is the best fried shrimp I have ever had!
Camden sneaking in some pictures when no one is looking.
Another place we like to go is Buddy´s Seafood Market. Scooter runs and gets fresh wild caught shrimp and has it steamed for us. This is the best "not fried" shrimp I have ever had. It is also perfect because we stay late at the beach and just eat in the condo.
We found out that my sister and her family were going to be staying about 8 miles down the road from us while we were here. We met up with them on Wednesday for some waterpark action. Shipwreck Island was a pretty cool waterpark. We stayed all day and shut it down at closing time. I didn't take any pictures because I didn't wanna lug my phone around and chance it getting wet, but Erika got this one as we were leaving.
Cousins
After we left we went down the road to Camden's favorite restaurant Sharkys. It is right on the beach and the kids were able to go out and play while we waited for our food.
After we ate, the kids played and I hung out with Britt. We played "got your nose" and I taught her to burp and cover her mouth like she is surprised. #uncleforthewin
Camden and Nixon joined in on a wiffle ball game on the beach
Off the deck and down to the beach for a photo op
They had such a great time!
The next morning I got up and worked on my blog and the story I am writing.
As I wrote I watched this storm roll in.
Scooter surprised them with some shark tooth necklaces. Paxton said if a robber tries to get him, he'll just stick him with the sharp shark tooth. Look at that bleached out hair!
After hanging out with Tab and Erika, Kelly and I had a-hankerin' for some baked oysters.
After some oysters and fried royal red shrimp, it was a race back to the condo before the rain to get some family photos.
That's a keeper right there!
We got a few good ones. Pictures with kids ya know?
I guess I'll keep these boys.
Squall's out on the gulf stream...big storm's comin' soon!
(Jimmy Buffett)
Video with some commentary by Scooter. Crack me up when Pax says Camden is scared.
Still a couple days left...I will update later!
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