Beach Hoppin’ (part two)

We made it to Panama City Beach. A quick and easy drive.  Dennis’s family was staying in a townhouse right on the beach that belongs to a first cousin.  They graciously let us all stay in their house and they went to stay with friends!  Dennis’s parents, Kenny, Nicki and their kids were already there and on the beach waiting for us.  Dennis and his other brother Brent got there the next evening.

We stayed in the one in the middle.

Looks like we had the beach to ourselves.  It was late afternoon and most had left for the day.  The boys were playing with a Water Hopper ball (get one: we all played with it forever).

 

We had a tent and a few umbrellas for shade

Nicki and the girls

a self portrait

we ate…

Played games…

“scuba dived”…

and slept!

We saw skates or sting rays jump, dolphins, lots of birds….

and a pair of legs Kite!!

We found so many shells I am going to have to get a larger glass container.

It was a nice vacation.

Beach Hoppin’ (part one)

We spent almost a week in Florida at 2 different beaches the week of July 4th.  My Aunt and Uncle were renting a beach house in Mexico Beach after our family reunion and the boys and I, plus my parents went to spend a few days with them.  The house was on the beach side and just one million dollar house away from the beach.  It was a quick and easy walk. 

We stayed in the small house behind that huge house with the big porch.  It is selling for over a million dollars!

Mexico Beach is much smaller than Panama City and Destin where we usually go but it was nice, friendly and all within walking distance.

We walked on the pier but I had my mom’s camera that day so I will have to post those pictures later.  They shot fireworks off the pier on the 4th and from our beach spot we could see fireworks all up and down the beach.  PLUS most others had fireworks that they shot off before and after the city’s display.  ALL were really good.  I found the “fireworks” setting on my camera and couldn’t resist:

Waiting for the “real” fireworks

The boys loved playing in the water. 

I did get in some (water was really warm) but I mostly soaked up the sun and read

I got my toes in the water, (chair) in the sand
Not a worry in the world, a (good book) in my hand
Life is good today, life is good today

~Zac Brown Band

Grandaddy and Preston out on the sand bar

Uncle Pleas showing Ryan the fish he caught.  They each tried to fish but could not land a big one.

All that sun and sand will wear you out!

Pier pictures to come.  Next Stop PCB!

Summer Project #2

Ryan’s room.  Ryan went to camp for a few days and it took nearly the entire time to go through his room.  I did not throw away near as much as I wanted to.  I let the million stuffed animals!  I just hid them!  I wish I had “before” pictures.  He had so many jeans all the same size, I almost filled one whole bag with jeans!

3 full bags of clothes and one bag of trash plus a few pairs of shoes and a pile of clothes for a friend.  The rest will go to the Christian Mission.  Grant and Preston passed down outgrown clothes also and will clean their rooms (picture worthy) later today.  They are helping their uncle this morning. 

I took pictures and will tape them to his closet door so he knows what my standards are! "

Ryan will get back from camp this afternoon and head to an all star baseball game an hour or so from here.  He plays at 8 pm!  If they win we might be able to use Saturday to finish summer project #3…the pantry.  It has been delayed due to Dennis’s truck needing work and his dad being in the hospital.  Stay tuned. 

PS. My niece Lauren loves these updates but will miss this one since she is heading to camp today…Hope you have a GREAT time Lauren!!  Your room is next haha

First Summer Project

Off of PINTEREST of course!

A button tree for my guest bathroom!

My Hero!

One morning I went out in my PJs to get something from the car.  As I was walking back by the lawn mower, I saw a snake start unwinding off the handle of the push mower!  I screamed, threw the things I was holding in the air and ran into the house.  I could hear the snake hit the ground and slither away.  I yelled for Preston and he came and started looking for the snake.  He looked all around and even moved the van before he found it on a small brick ledge.  He shot it with a BB gun first and then drug it out into the driveway to smash it.  It was just a rat snake but I don’t like any snakes!  Later that night my “hero” put a fake rattle snake in the hallway and scared me to death as I was walking to bed in the dark!!!  He is still laughing…I am not!

Chef of the week

This summer each boy will have a week where they are Chef of the week and have to prepare at least one meal.  Ryan was first and cooked Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo with Garlic Bread.  He did a really good job and everyone’s plate was wiped clean.

Grant was next but did not want any pictures taken.  He grilled chicken breasts and made pasta salad.  This is Preston’s week and he said he is going to make Spaghetti-o’s…NOT!

Making Honey

We do not have honey of our own, but Dennis and Ryan are working an old hive of a lady at church.  She even gave them an extractor.  They ended up with 3 gallons of honey and have sold most of it already.

The hive was in really bad shape.  Some frames could not be placed in the extractor so it had to be crushed by hand.

Working the extractor.

Just a sampling of what they poured up.

They poured it up in the kitchen using buckets and strainers and I have frames in my freezer!  Oh Honey!!