Vacation Memories

Here are the last of our beach vacation photos.  It's only been a month since we were there, but it feels like much longer to me.  Now, our summer is over. We have been experiencing fall-like temps for the past couple of weeks and Big Sis is about to head to 1st grade tomorrow.

For her summer assignment, she is supposed to write about something she did over summer break.  Much like her mom, she is turning out to be a procrastinator.  So today, she will be writing that paragraph.  Maybe she will write about how our family just cannot seem to take a decent vacation photo.

This is our condo, where we stayed on the 17th floor.  Great view of the Gulf!

This shark was outside of Sharkey's, the restaurant where we ate our first night there.  We didn't take photos then, but stopped on our way out of town.  Girl Twin begged to stop every time we passed by!  And, of course, what you do for one kid you have to do for all three.

Now THIS.  This is the most awesome vacation picture ever.  Right?  I love those family photos when everyone dresses in white and khaki and poses all pretty on the beach.  But that's not for us.  This is what we get.  Note to self: remember to bring the kids' sunglasses to help keep the sand from blowing in their faces.  I suppose we'll never be asked to model for any travel magazines now...

More Vacation Fun

Here are some more pictures from our vacation.  We spent one great, sunny day on the beach playing.  The other really nice weather day we had, we went on the Pirate Cruise.  It was something I'd read about online and in travel brochures. Most of the comments said this was a "must do" and well worth the price of tickets.  It was a two-hour cruise with lots of sight-seeing and activities for the kids.  I also say it's a "must do!"  Once the kids got over their shyness, they loved it! And they even participated in most of the activities.

Grammy and Girl Twin with their toes in the sand.



 

Big Sis is too cool for school!



Off to the pirate cruise we go!  This photo below was right before the

water gun fighting began. 

 

 

For the entire two hours, the crew kept the kids busy so the adults could relax and enjoy.  There was a story below deck, followed by a treasure hunt using clues from the story.  The kids got face painting and tattoos, they played a mean game of Limbo and danced the Chicken Dance on deck.  You can see Boy Twin mopping up with the other boys after the water gun fight; the girls were in the galley getting face paint.

Vacation, Part II

So now I feel guilty.  Apparently after my Facebook posts and my one vacation blog post, it seems that I've made our beach vacation sound like a total bust.  I really didn't intend that; we did have some fun.  It just wasn't all listening to the waves, reading on the beach and sipping cocktails kind of relaxing.  It was busy. And tiring.  But so is everything else, right?

After giving it some thought, I decided this vacation was a lot like having a baby.  The more time that passes, the easier it is to forget the crummy parts.  That's why women keep having babies...and that's why we'll keep having vacations, too.

The weather was hit and miss the whole week, but we did manage to get some good beach time.  It was the twins' first time at the beach, and they were super excited about digging in the sand.  Lee was happy to assist with the obligatory burying in the sand antics.  This, of course, was hilarious to the kids.  

With there being double red flags the whole week, we really couldn't get in the water very far.  And really, I'm OK with that. Both girls seemed to like the water but Boy Twin wanted nothing to do with it. He said it was "too loud."  I think he just wanted to dig anyway.

We woke up to rain on the second day of our trip.  We hung around the condo until it let up enough to get out.  Then we ventured on down to Pier Park, which is the popular shopping/dining area in PCB.  We didn't dare look in the shops because of our three grabbers, but we were able to stop at the carnival rides in between rain showers.  I think Big Sis rode almost everything, including that crazy Sea Dragon thing (then nearly barfed).  The little kids would have ridden it if they could.  They obviously don't take after me.

We finished our rides just in time for an afternoon downpour, when we ducked into Pompano Joe's for some lunch and ten trips to the restroom.  The food was excellent, by the way.  The restroom was small.

I have more pictures to share, but it will take me a while to get them all posted.  I know you will all be anxiously waiting some more of our family nuttiness.

Our Beach Vacation

We spent the whole last week on vacation at Panama City Beach, FL.  I'd like to say that it was the most fun, relaxing time ever.  I'd like to. I'd like to say I spent the week with my toes in the water, my butt in the sand and a cold drink in my hand.  Well, some of the week I did.  But, more accurately, we spent a week chasing our flyaway beach umbrella, buckets and hats down the beach.  We spent a week dodging thunderstorms every morning and every evening.  We spent a week waiting on a slow elevator to the 17th floor condo.  We spent a week begging the Universe to take away the double red flags on the beach.

It was our first beach trip since the twins were born; actually, our first trip since Big Sis was about 16 months old.  We were all excited and ready to get there for sure.

 

Now, I will share with you What I Learned on My Summer Vacation--

 

 

THANK GOD for my mother.  Even with the 3:3 adult to kid ratio, we were still barely able to manage.  After having mom's help for a whole week, I've decided that our life would be easier with another wife.  I will be taking applications for a sister wife ASAP.

 

Tiny butt cracks can hold a lot of sand.  Actually, so can bigger butts.

 

There was absolutely no reason for me to pack two magazines in my suitcase.  Reading on the beach? Ha! They never saw the light of day.

 

Um, yeah. That time I said I wanted to skip the sunscreen on the front of my legs so I could "get some sun".....it worked.

 

Driving through the night is the Best. Idea. Ever.  The kids did great on the way there because they slept most of the way.  Not so much on the way home, driving in the daytime.

Going on a 16-hour road trip provided many opportunities for geography lessons.  For example, answering the question "Are we still in Florida?" about 50 times in the first hour of our trip home.  

It took getting caught out in the brewing storm one time for Big Sis to develop an intense fear of storms.  Everyone on the beach heard her frantically wailing, "Hurry and get inside!" over and over and over.  In the elevator and up all 17 floors of the condo.  Geez.

 

Lesson learned: the next time I see an unopened packet of ketchup lying beside the curb, I will not point out that packet to Big Sis.  I don't particularly like having ketchup splattered on my face and in my hair.  No more stomping ketchup packets!

* more photos and fun stuff to follow...stay tuned.