Panama City Beach Trip 2013

This summer we had the opportunity to fly to Florida and meet up with the Georgia Moshell's for an amazing beach trip in Panama City.  We haven't seen our Georgia kin since Ross and I went out there 10 years ago! Thank goodness for Facebook.  As cliche' as it sounds, it keeps me up to date with what's going on in the lives of our family out there.  The boys were so excited and could hardly sleep the night before.  Ross's cousin Michael and his wife Jeanie, who also have three children: Tanner - 5 years old, Tyler - 3 years old and Ainesly - 13 months old, saved us so much hassle and grief by bringing double the baby gear for Cade so we wouldn't have to fly with it. It was a huge win.  We flew Southwest from Dallas to Houston, where Grams and Granddad got on our plane to finish the rest of the trip.  We were so excited to see them and have their extra hands with the boys (CADE!). Michael picked us up from the airport in their minivan (already with carseats) and took us to the Moonspinner Condominiums where Uncle Phil, Aunt Ann, Jeanie and the kiddos were getting settled in. Ross two other cousins, Chris and Mark and their wives and kiddos came the next day.  Chris and Diane have two kiddos, Daniel and Emily, and Mark and Tracy also have two kiddos, Jack and Megan.  It actually works out great because their kids are similar ages and then ours were the same age as Michael's kiddos.  Luke hit the sand running!  To say he was exited was an understatement! I don't think he has ever played this long continuously, or been this happily exhausted!
One morning Grams and Cade stayed at the condo, while we took Luke, Reid, Tanner and Tyler to a real pirate ship!  The big boys loved it and the little boys did for the most part, although they were a little nervous with some of the action.  It was a lot of fun and the crew did a great job!
We had lots of beer, "mom capri-suns", seafood and cornhole, which is a beanbag tossing game, and surprisingly one that gets a little competitive. ;)
It was a great trip!  Exhausting but so much fun to get to visit and hang out with the Georgia family.  Hopefully next trip the Florida Moshell's can come too!

Crash and burn after a long flight.

They loved their buckets Jeanie hand painted for them!

Bam-Bam did too!

And who doesn't love sweet treats courtesy of Tracy!

They dug the biggest hole and played in it the whole trip.

A buried pirate, or as he said a "mermaid".

Corn-hole game

Ahhhh!

Getting ready to board the pirate ship.

As I read this outloud, the captain said "The same goes for parents!".  Who me?

Impressive rope ladder climbing skills

Water gun time!

Washing the deck. 

For some reason this wasn't their favorite activity.

Tanner's hook

I dare not tell him what a cute pirate he is.

The 'stache.

Our condos

These guys: Granddad and Uncle Phil

Pulling in the sunken treasure

The pirate ship, although I can't remember the name of it.
 The lady in the corner looks like Kurt Russell in "Captain Ron." 

 The last night we took family photos on the beach which is such a circus trying to get three boys to look at the camera, much less smile.  Needless to say I bribed them with lots of Mike & Ikes.

The boys.

Reid hardly ever looks at the camera.

These picture options work so much better because you have no idea what expression is on our face. 

Oh Reid! Over here!

There we go!

Wishing Uncle Ryan was here!

Granddad and Luke

Although he didn't love the waves, he loved finding seashells.  

Handsome boys!

He loved all aspects of the beach!  Can you tell how sunburned and tired his little eyes were?
 It's a sign of a great time!