summer vacay

I decided I was going to catch you up on what we've been up to this summer, so far...

We have already been on our annual beach trip to Destin, FL with Bill's mom, dad, and sister. This is our 3rd year to make the trip. Every year we've been, we've gone at a different point in the summer. This year was by far my favorite! We went early May, and it was cooler, less crowded, and the water was perfect. This year we also decided to fly to Destin. I was a little hesitant at first about this, because part of going to the beach is the road trip. But, lets just say, I hope I get to fly from now on. Easy peasy. We rented a car once we got there, and it was an hour drive from the Panama City airport to the condo.

The first night we were by ourselves in the condo, Bill's family didn't get there until the next afternoon. We decided to drive to Grayton Beach and go to the Red Bar. I love that place! Of course, I got the famous crab cakes. You just can't go there and not get them. Best you'll ever eat! Then the next day we enjoyed a perfect day on the beach together. Bill's family got there late afternoon on Sunday and we decided to grill burgers that night.

My idea of a beach vacation is, sleep in, eat some breakfast (usually the Donut Hole), mosey out to the sand, situate myself in a comfy beach chair with a book or magazine, and just enjoy the sound of the water until its time for lunch. Eat lunch, repeat the above until late afternoon. Well, my husbands family has a completely different idea of beach activities. They are the family that can't sit still. If its not playing in the water, its throwing the Frisbee or football, boogie boarding, etc. And, as usual, its always competitive. I'll just watch from the sidelines...

This was the 1st sibling activity, paddleboarding. Requires upperbody strength and balance, all the more reason I declined. :) They were both pretty good at it, and Isabelle made friends with the beach chair guy, so he let them do it for free. Oh to be young and cute.

Bill paddleboarding (you stand on it, but he was coming in when I took this)

The second night we ate at another favorite restaurant, Louisiana Lagniappe. Cajun, southern, seafood, delicious! I had shrimp and grits and it was AMAZING!

We did take one day to hit the outlet mall. I found some cute things on sale & I was mostly happy that I found some things for work. That night we went on a dolphin cruise. This was something I've never done before. It was interesting, to say the least. We did see several dolphins, getting pictures of them was rare to impossible. After the cruise, we ate dinner at a Destin staple, The Back Porch. Wonderful, as always.

The girls waiting to get on the boat for the dolphin cruise.

Bill and I on the boat during the cruise.

One of our last nights there, we drove into Seaside for dinner. I absolutely love Seaside. I grew up going there every summer with my mom, aunt, and cousin. Back then (as if it was so long ago) it was "undiscovered", pre-The Truman Show. I still love going back, but it's not the same. Anyways, we ate at Bud & Alley's Taco Bar then walked around the shops and got some gelato at Heavenly.

Every year, we've take a family picture to use as the Christmas card pic. In the past, we've known someone there at the same time as us to help take the picture in the evening. We decided to change it up this year and took the picture in the morning. Not the best idea. The sun was super bright, so we all have our sunglasses on. Oh well, still turned out ok.

Bill and I on the beach. Christmas card pic? I'm not sure...

Beach Pic 2011

Overall, we had a great trip. I'm already ready to go back. Maybe a short trip in early fall?

destin vacation

Bill and I just got back from Destin, Fl where we spent 8 glorious days of vacation with Bills mom, dad, and sister. We got up super early Saturday morning, I'm talking 4am early, to start the 12 hour treck to Destin. It went by pretty quickly. As quickly as 12 hours in a car can be at least. We woke up Sunday morning to beautiful weather. We spent the day out on the beach. There was lots of seaweed in the water which was sorta gross, but no oil! My mom and aunt were also on vacation in Destin for a few days while we were there. That night we had dinner with them at one of my favorite places, Louisiana Lagniappe. Its on the harbor and they have a pretty patio to sit on.

At Louisiana Lagniappe for dinner. Bill is talking in this pic, but I liked it.

The next day was my BIRTHDAY! The big two.five. Unfortunately we woke up to thunder and storms rolling in. And what was sitting on the counter next to my doughnuts when I walked in the kitchen? A ginormous tar ball!

This was the biggest one we saw all week. Most were about the size of a quarter.

So, we got dressed and headed to the outlet mall. We spent half the day there, then came back to the condo to celebrate my bday. I got some great things!

My aunt made me a cake from regular pound cake and mixed it with cool whip, then added peaches to the top. it was super delish!

It rained the rest of the day, so we gave up on the beach that day. We got dressed up for dinner and went to a new restaurant in Destin called Louis Louis. It is owned by the same people that opened Red Bar in Grayton Beach. If you've never been there, you are MISSING out! It has the same sort of vibe, and delicious food! The crabcakes are to die for! These are also the same people that own Cafe Prego in Little Rock. You know its good!

Before dinner, we were goofing around. This is what we got.

We woke up to more rain the next day. But whenever it looked clear for a minute we would run out to the beach. Unfortunately it wouldn't last long. We got caught up in some down pours a couple times. And since they are making everyone wash their feet off down by the beach, to prevent oil from getting on the pool deck and in the pool, it really slowed things down.

one good moment on the beach.

Isabelle and me with our matching swimsuits.

It ended up raining 4 out of the 6 we were there. We got a lot of shopping in. I went with my mom and aunt to seaside one day to do some shopping. Other days we went to the outlet mall.

Luckily we got one clear night to take some pics out on the beach.

Me, mom and Aunt Mel

Bill and I on the beach

The fam on the beach. We didn't really plan on a color coordinating them this year, but this somehow worked out. Love it.

Bills family left a day before we did. And what do ya know, Friday was the prettiest day we had. We literally went down to the beach at 8 am and I didn't come in until 5pm! I got a little sunburned, but it made up for the 4 days of rain!

On our last night there we went to Baytowne in Sandestin Resort and used a gift card we had gotten for dinner. We went to Poppy's on the bay and overlooked the marina. Then we walked around the little town, until once again it looked like it would rain.

All in all we had a wonderful trip. We almost canceled in fear of the oil ruining it, but I am so glad we didn't. The oil was present, but the beaches were still open and you could still get in the water. The rain did put a damper on the trip a little, but we made the best of it. It was relaxing and nice to have some time away from work. I can hardly wait until next year!