Sweet Blessings: Family Trip to Pensacola, Florida

Monday, August 13, 2012

Family Trip to Pensacola, Florida

Oh, how I wish we were still on vacation!!! We went to Pensacola, Florida at the end of July and met Nana, Papa Doc, Uncle Jim, Aunt Mary, Uncle Tim, Aunt Kara, Nate, Zac, and Ben. With Richard still in a cast and on crutches, we knew it would be a bit of a different trip than usual for us. He was such a trooper and had the best attitude...thanks honey! Each day he would have breakfast with us and then go out to the pool deck until lunch time. The upper pool deck was shaded until noon, so it was perfect for him (since he couldn't sweat and get his cast wet). The kids and I would either swim at the pool or head down to the beach for some boogie boarding or digging in the sand. Molly and Ben tended to enjoy the pool, while the big boys spent most of their time at the beach. Uncle Tim, Uncle Jim and Papa Doc spent lots of time out at the sand bar boogie boarding with the boys. Molly and Ben even ventured out with Aunt Kara, Mar-Mar and me a time or two! The first two nights we were there, Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary headed up our annual "crabbing" adventure. When we left Texas, Matthew said he was most excited about crabbing. Mar-Mar and Jim...looks like this tradition will have to continue for a while! Nana and Papa Doc went with us the first night and we caught around 50 crabs. On night two, Uncle Tim joined in and we got our all-time record of 70 crabs! I was amazed at those crab catching boys!

The first night we were there we ended up ordering in for dinner because the kids were so ready to get out on the beach! Every other night we went to our favorite restaurants...Peg Leg Pete's, Crabs and Flounders. Yum! The kids' favorite place was Peg Leg Pete's because they got to use nets to catch crabs off the boat dock. Molly and Ben loved the playground there as well. At Flounders, all the kids (minus Nate) got up on stage and danced while the band played. After they left the stage they continued dancing in front of the stage and put on quite a show! Ben and Molly were precious. They danced holding hands and Ben kept spinning her around. At the end of the song he even tried to dip her! There were random strangers taking video of them...it was too cute.

One evening after dinner, Nana and Papa Doc let the kids pick out a toy at Alvin's Island. All of the boys ended up buying big shovels and spent the last two days digging huge holes down on the beach. Amazing that this activity kept them so busy...thanks Nana and Papa Doc! We were sad to see Uncle Jim and Mar-Mar go a few days before we left, but had a great time with them while they were there. We always make such good memories on this trip and I am so thankful we have to opportunity to do this! On our final day at the beach, the weather was overcast and Richard got to go out to the beach to see the kids boogie board and help them dig. So thankful he got to be a part of it. We are already looking forward to our trip next year. Love you all and thanks for loving my kids so much!