We had our first vacation as a family of four a couple of weeks ago! We went to Panama City Beach August 5-9. Jake's co-worker/friend, Mr. Ponnie, offered to let us use his family's beach house. We were so grateful!
One disappointment was that I remembered to bring my good camera, but forgot to bring my battery charger. So all the pics are from our phones and not great quality :( On the other hand, I'm glad I didn't break my camera trying to manage it, two rowdy kids, sand, water, etc. So maybe that was a big blessing!
Lots of details ahead because I just do that. I'm a hoarder of memories!
Prelude: We were at the beach Wednesday through Sunday. That Tuesday night Jake and I decided to go out to eat after work since we didn't have the kids and we knew our next few dining experiences wouldn't exactly be laid back! We went to The Side by Side Restaurant, which is fairly new in town and is wonderful! This was my second time there, Jake's first time. I made reservations online and we met after work. The food was great, and the server took a picture of us for what we assumed was for their Facebook page. He didn't ask, but we didn't really mind either. Then the server casually mentioned that the chef was preparing a dessert for us. I didn't mind that, of course, but thought I was in over my head at this fancy restaurant where chefs decide who gets what dessert! A few minutes later he brings out a piece of pecan pie with a scoop of molasses ice cream on top, complete with a candle and "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate sauce! I was trying to process all this while the server told me to, "smile!" for another picture...so I did! I blew out the candle and everything. I was so confused, thinking Jake had pranked me, then we both looked around for who else might have pranked us! Long story shorter, the table right next to us was celebrating a birthday, but they let us have the dessert anyway and now I will definitely be going there in April! Funny that I had a belated April Fool's joke for my 4/1 birthday!
On Wednesday, Jake and I woke up early and headed to Mississippi to get our babies. His dad was running a fever and had a headache that day, so we tried to prepare for somebody else to be sick. Especially since Grammy said Hadley woke up ill as a hornet. According to Jake, we were already late (according to me we had no set time; different strokes for different folks!) and we thought we were having some issues with the truck. Once we finally got loaded in the truck, the new DVD players gave us trouble. Or maybe it was that I wasn't doing it right, I don't recall ;) Then it rained some on the way there and we didn't have a cover for the luggage. We stopped at McDonald's for lunch and I discovered that not all kid-focused restaurants have a changing table. Why is that?? Anyway, the ride overall was good, but Hadley reverted back to her ill mood before getting all the way there. I had been suspecting an ear infection for a few days and was confident that's what was wrong with her. So that I didn't worry about it all week, I decided we should go to an urgent care center as soon as we got to PCB. We stopped at Beach Urgent Care and actually had a wonderful experience! Jake and Collins finally went to the resort to get us checked in while Hadley and I stayed for the check-up. Hadley's ears and throat both looked good. She is, however, cutting molars and that could explain the irritability and tugging at her ears. Essentially, she was diagnosed with being two.
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| Have you ever heard of getting Dippin' Dots at a doctor's office ?! I used to get sugar free suckers! |
When we finished at the doctor, Jake and Collins picked us up and we drove back to the resort. We checked out the house and Collins fell madly in love with the bunk beds!
We had dinner that night at Sharky's which is on the beach. We walked onto the beach while we waited for our table. The one time we wish we could have waited a little longer and the wait was cut short!
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| Hadley's first steps in the sand! |
Hadley slept in a big bed by herself (I stayed in there till she fell asleep) and Collins slept in the top bunk. Everyone had their own bedroom! Jake and I were midnight getting to bed, but at least we were at the beach!
On Thursday Jake cooked us a big breakfast before we headed out to spend most of the day on the beach and at the pool. We rode the golf cart across the street which was, of course, one of the best parts :)
After playing outside we came in for lunch and naps. Thank God for naps. We were worn out! After resting we went back to the beach and pool, and Hadley was allowed to have two boxes of apple juice. BIG mistake. Right after we were all showered and ready to head out to dinner, she had diarrhea. I panicked and called prayer for her, and was reminded that she's teething and had a lot of juice. She had two little episodes at the restaurant (that had two floors but only one particular stall in the downstairs bathroom with a changing table), but was fine. That was the night I also forgot to bring shoes for the baby, so I mostly carried her. Ugh! Dinner was at Runaway Island, by the way, and was good! I don't think we ate anywhere that wasn't good. That night Hadley cried and fussed herself to sleep, even though I was right there beside her. It was a long, tiring day for the little princess!
Friday we slept in. Ahhh...glorious sleep! We ate breakfast and headed to the beach and pool to enjoy the sunny day. We had lunch at the house and took naps, except Jake decided to go back to the beach for a little while. He neglected sunscreen and got a pretty good burn. I did not say "I told you so" because I don't do stuff like that ;)
That afternoon we went to Pier Park and rode on the rides, let Collins jump on one of those trampoline things (I was jealous!), rode bumper boats, and ate at the Back Porch. Jake and I agreed that the Back Porch is much better in Destin! Probably mostly due to the view (it's right on the beach in Destin). Then the kids and I rode the little train around the loop while it rained (and we chose the one car that didn't have a roof), then ate some Italian Ice we had promised, then went home for more sleep :)
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| Collins was afraid of NO ride! |
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| Two kind strangers gave our kids balloons. Which later popped, one in the restaurant, and scared the surrounding area half to death. I hate balloons! |
Saturday was our last full day, so we slept in again, had breakfast, and went to the neighborhood playground area. Then we rode over to the pool and Collins showed out with his swimming skills! This was the one day we had lunch at a restaurant and we went to Hunt's. It's a local hole-in-the-wall kind of place that had great food at great prices! Hadley fell asleep soon after we got there and she had one choking episode that scared me to death, so I held her as I ate. Collins bit down on his corn cob and almost lost another tooth! Jake pulled it for him, but I think it was barely hanging on after that corn. He was pumped! Also during that lunch I found a pearl in my fried oyster (for the first time...like a perfectly round piece of jewelry!) and there was a parrot on the front porch where people were waiting as we left. Weird lunch. It was storming when we left so of course that made for nice nap weather. We are a sleeping bunch!
For the afternoon activities we took Collins (and Jake) to ride go-carts at Race City! He had been asking about "gofe-carts" for three days! We also let the kids play in the arcade a little while, then went to Captain Anderson's for dinner and dessert. It was our favorite meal of the trip! At first we were scared the kids wouldn't behave well and that would've ruined it, but they did good (once Hadley got to hold an iPhone and watch Cinderella). Collins tried and LOVED "crab arms," i.e., crab claws :)
The Tooth Fairy came on Saturday night so Collins was excited the next morning! I think he liked getting $2 more than he did $5! Jake and Collins went to pick up breakfast from Thomas Donuts while Hadley slept late and I started packing. Hadley sang "Happy Birthday" to the donuts :) We cleaned up, washed clothes, etc. and then left. Sad, but also excited to get home. We went to Alvin's Island for Collins to spend his newly acquired money on a shark and a motorcycle, then stopped at Peppers Mexican Grill for lunch. The ride home was long, and we were so glad to finally be home!
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| Almost home! |
It was a good vacation. A bit exhausting, but overall very good. I sure love my little family!
Ecclesiastes 5:18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.
Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
