Wednesday morning we set our alarms at 430 with the plan to hit the road around 5am. The boys went down the night before with Ryan’s parents. This trip was rather short notice and I was already covering for my coworker so if I wanted to go I was going to have to work during the day Wednesday-Friday that we were there. I had my Mifi so once I got settled in the car I started working. We stopped in Leed’s Alabama at Buc-ee’s for breakfast. I got a sausage egg and cheese crossiant and Ryan had some breakfast taco and then we shared a blueberry muffin and a beaver paddle.
We then continued on until we made it to Panama City where we stopped for lunch at Bayou on the Beach where Ryan got his chargrilled oysters fix.
By the time we got to the house I had about an hour left of work. Once I was done working Maggie and I got a grocery list together and made our way to Port St. Joe to the Piggly Wiggly. The boys couldn't wait any longer and were in the pool as soon as they had someone willing to watch them.
Sunset on our way back to the house. The hurricane really did some damage but they are doing a beautiful job building things back better than before.
We grabbed some pizza at Crazy Beach pizza on our way back home.
The men waiting on us to get back ... either to help us with groceries or be the first to grab the pizza because everyone was starving.
We stayed up and made creamy jalapeno, salsa, sausage balls, Buffalo chicken dip and chicken salad to snack on while there. Once we were done we went to bed to get ready for the next day.
Thursday morning I was up bright and early working at 0545. Once Maggie got up she started making pancakes, eggs & bacon for breakfast.
After everyone ate they all got ready and went to the beach. I tried to make the best of my work on vacation situation and set up a canopy with my beach chair on the back porch and put on my bathing suit to try to get some sun during the day.
For lunch I walked out to the beach to see them for a little bit and then came back.
Annalise eating sand....
Where is Uncle Mark?
By the time I was done working they were starting to come back from the beach and had decided we were going to eat in. Ryan went across the street to get some steamed shrimp, red snapper and tuna dip while Maggie and I made tacos for the boys. Ryan blackened the fish and grilled it. We turned the shrimp and fish into tacos too!
Trying her hardest to learn to walk!
After dinner we drive down the road for ice cream at Super Scoops for dessert.
Papa didn't go with us so we brought him some back!
Friday morning was the same for me except I didn't work overtime so I got a little more sleep that morning. Everyone else made it a pool day. I set up my desk outside again and would come take a dip in the pool on my breaks to cool off. By the time my shift was over everyone was showered and ready to go eat dinner. We drove down to Indian Pass Raw Bar which was one of our favorite places to eat in the past. We waited 2 hours for a table. Thank goodness they had a live band and outdoor games to keep the kids entertained for the most part.
The hurricane made for some much needed remodeling of the inside. The wait is so long because the place is so small. What we love most is the honor system drinks.
You grab what you want out of the coolers and either keep up with tabs/caps or you can write it down on the score card. The food order system is very similar.
Their stuffed shrimp is the BOMB!
"It's corn. A big lump with knobs. And it has the juice.... It has the juice"
Saturday morning and I was the first up so I had to document it :). I started washing a load of our clothes from the week to start packing up. I like to wash all my clothes before I leave vacation so that I don't have to do it when I get home! I threw in the sausage balls that Reid, Kane and I rolled out Wednesday night when we got here for breakfast.
We were out of coffee so Maggie and I walked across the street to the Mexico Beach Marina to look for some. We didn’t find any coffee there but we did find a Key Lime pie brought in from the Keys! We ended up coming back to the house and driving down the road to this Columbian Coffee House. They had really good frappes and smoothies! Once we got back we got everyone packed and ready to spend all day at the beach! Declan helping mom put sunscreen on her face. Such a big helper!
And we beached it ALL DAY LONG!!
This wave must have been a bummer!
My beach bum!
Nana, Papa & their Grands!
Everyone ended up leaving Liam and I at the beach because it was the last day and we just wanted to be beach bums. Ryan went back across the street for more shrimp and fish. So we ate that and all the leftovers to get the fridge cleaned out. We spent the rest of the night working on getting things packed up while John & Joann took some of the boys for more ice cream. Around 9pm some of the boys began begging us to take them crab hunting. Reid shed a few dramatic tears saying "It would be 2 years before we ever came back to the beach!!!" (we are going to Costa Rica next July).
While we were hunting we came across some baby turtles making their trek to the ocean.
Trying to guide them to the ocean with the flashlight.
Then we came home to a tree frog in the house!
Sunday morning was check out. We were all packed up and ready to go by 10am. We stopped across the street and grabbed some shrimp to cook for Ryan’s 40th birthday Shrimp boil we are having in September. We are super blessed and super thankful to have had such a fun summer so far! We aren't ready for it to be over!
