Destin Beach

After Brad’s Ironman we left from Augusta and drove to Destin, Florida. After a lot of navigational questioning from one another we finally got there 8 hours later. 

We went with the Blankenship family and when we got there they were making the best of a cloudy day on the beach so we joined them.

 

Full glass front and side views on the 8th floor!

They look so tiny on the beach.

 

 

Everyone doing random  things!

 

Bradley and Taylor

 

One night we went crab hunting and found absolutely nothing!

Easton has a love for Noah their middle son.  He is his little shadow.

 

We never did our Castle Wars but we did make creatures in the sand.

Easton is such a Daddy’s boy. My only complaint is that Easton and Gavin were overtired by all that went on each day and they were cranky even if they had naps.  They were so excited about the beach the first day but its luster faded quick for them. Once they had sand in their eyes or sunscreen.  Hoping as they get older they will be easier on the beach. It is also never fun trying to keep my fare skinned boys burn free.

Uncle Brock had this inflatable paddleboard that the kids loved.  He would push them in on a wave and they even would stand up like they were surfing!

 

Jens sister n law, Shelley, buried Gavin and he loved it!

We played many games of ultimate Frisbee.  I had never before and it is a really fun game for the beach if you get over the fact that you are jiggling in a bikini.

 

One of the PJ units is in Florida right near Destin so we had some guys and their families over for a big “crab boil.” Also a new experience. Here is my friend Priscilla. We were stationed with her and Keith in Las Vegas.  She is one of my very first military wife friends! When we left Vegas she was pregnant with her son so it was nice to meet him and their daughter.

Don’t mind the creepy mermaid behind them. Brock gets a kick out of her and kept  moving her everywhere.  Like when Brad was in the shower he put her right in front of the door so when he opened it he practically fell on her! He also moved her closer to Shelley and Brian while they were sleeping at night. She stares funny and she has one boob bigger than the other, totally freaky!

The crab boil I speak of.  You cook everything and then dump it one big pile.  Alaska snow crab legs, shrimp, corn, potatoes, sausage.

Shelley, Jenn and I. We were headed out on the last night for a girls night.

We even split a date night in there too so Brad and I got to go out to McGuire's famous restaurant.

 

 

Our family picture! This is as good as it was getting.  Easton was too little to stand on top.

The whole vacation gang!

I was very thankful for this vacation.  This was our first ocean trip as a family.  We really enjoyed it!

Family Beach Photos and Frontier Town

I always have higher expectations of my family pictures and as usual I was disappointed.  I guess I need to learn with kids of this age it is to be expected.  Everyone waited until the last minute so we had to do it in the morning at 9 when the sun was already hot, too many umbrellas were already on the beach and future evenings were planned already and could not be changed.  So here is what we got.  It was an experience to never be forgotten but I am glad we still took them so all the kids and grandma were in the same picture.  Whether or not they were crying, running away, whining or rubbing their eyes, they are in the picture!

Andrew, Jen, Aubrey and Olivia.  I love this one of Aubrey looking up at her daddy. 

Nathan, Joanie and Jackson.

The “big” kids!

After Gavin hit me in the head with a rock and I got pissed and scooted him away, we regrouped and got this only keeper.  Gavin had to be the king with his cup and that is the only way he would sit still. 

Aunt Dar, Grandma and my Mom.

Gavin getting Diet Pepsi for a pick me up.  My Aunt Dar always comes prepared with his giant cup.  It has gradually gotten bigger as I have grown up. 

Katelyn in Disgrace.

Allison and Katelyn with their Grammy.

After that we went to Frontier town for all the shows and went to a water park they have their too.  I didn’t take any pictures at the water park.  I just relaxed in the lazy river and had some fun going down water slides.  My mom took Gavin and Easton back to the beach house so I got to spend fun time just with Bradley.

Getting on the Carriage ride and we were given a bag of gold and along the way we got held up by outlaws trying to rob us at gunpoint. 

This was Bradley’s face when the guy held out his gun.  He kept it cool but later he told me he was scared. 

OK Corral reenactment on Main Street. 

By the end of the day he got a cowboy hat and a cap gun and a leather holster with his name engraved on it.  He really felt like a western cowboy. 

Watching the Rodeo

He broke this stick out of the girls mouth with his whip.  I would never want her job!

Getting swung by a pony that is pushing them around.  That was the way it used to be. 

Panning for Gold.

The ultimate way to play guns and robbers, in the dust of a wild west town and running in and out of the saloon and other stores while shooting the bad guys with their cap guns.