Seaside, Santa Rosa Beach, Old Friends And A Final Summer Fling

Here we go.

Seaside was darling.  I've heard about it for years and my bff from college recently went and said it would be somewhere I would adore. She was right.

Yall might know this place from The Truman Show......the movie based on a picture perfect life with Jim Carrey.

Yes, please.  We're moving here!

I kid.  I kid.

Spaghetti for Laine at lunch.

I like any place where bikes are a popular mode of transportation.

Tried for some photos.  You know how well that went.

Love. 

And, it is a 'simple, beautiful life'. 

For a fee, of course.

After a day spent in Seaside, we finally met up with the Griffin family.  These are great friends of ours from years ago.  Some background:  We built our first house in Keller, TX is 2002.  Ryan and Cortney lived across the street from us and we became very close friends with them.  We've seen each other through babies, moves, losses and gains......absolutely love these peeps.

Since we took the voluntary bump from our seats on our way in, we convinced the airline to extend our stay a couple of days in order to visit with the Griffins, who were vacationing just down the road from where we were with the Starnes family.  They were not entirely sure they were coming.....and we certainly didn't know we'd have the bumped-flight opportunity......so this all came together beautifully at very little cost to us!

I love when things like this work out.

We immediately headed to the beach.

Their youngest and our youngest are very close in age......Syndey and Lainey.  They had a blast together.

I love a pretty sunset on the beach.

As the sun went down, everyone started crab hunting.

Ryan's sister and neice, whom we also knew from Keller, were there, too.

Ryan and Jennifer.

Carter still carries a picture of Halle in his wallet.  From when she was 6 months old.  :)

Doesn't she look like Little Cindy Lou Who?  So precious.

We put the kids to bed and sat out on the deck under the stars just like old times.

It was a ton of fun.

Spent another day at the beach.  That's Carter snorkeling in the background.

We, unfortunately (and perhaps purposely, knowing Cortney), were forced to drink from these hideous cups. 

The whole group.  Jennifer with her sweet daughter, Rylie.....the Griffin fam.....and then the Starnes fam.

We headed back to the house, cleaned up for dinner and walked to the beach for some pictures. 

I tried out my new fancy camera in hopes of getting some options for everyone's Christmas photos.

And, of course, got one of all the kiddos.  Love this picture.

None of these are edited or cropped, etc......but I think they turned cute.

This is what it looks like when it's our turn.

I might actually use this one.

At dinner that evening. 

Back to the beach for some more crabbing.

Look what Carter caught.

We cooked him and ate him.  Carter was so proud.

Another night with old friends.  Such an awesome end to our Florida adventure.

Last morning.  I had hoped to make it to see our good friend, Kelly, but I started to panic with thoughts of packing up again, returning the rental car and 2 flights ahead.

So, after a final visit on the sand, we returned to Pensacola.

The boys did fit in a far out dive to find sand dollars.

These are still alive, hence the brown color.  Need to research how to preserve them and turn them white.

And, we're done.

Done!

Do yall hate Florida now or what? 

Thanks for hanging in there.

Arrived back to LAX at 1am, rented a car and returned home.  What a journey.

So...........

What's next?

*School prep.  Boys start in mid-August and Lainey, September 8.  I will have 3 kids on 3 different schedules this year.....with no buses........so look forward to some rants about the carpool lane.

*Lunch today with Jack and Lainey's former preschool teachers, turned friends.  Can't wait to see them!

*Visit this weekend with friends from Vegas.  Beach, Legoland and the like.

*Our final trip for the summer.....one last jaunt to LA for Phish early next week.  It's going to be a patchouli-filled, patchwork dress laden, mess of fun at the super fabulous Hollywood Bowl.  I can't wait!

Extra bonus points for anyone who lasted this long! 

Destin Wrap Up

A ridiculous amount of some final pictures from our trip to Destin a la the Starnes/Jones family.

I French braided Maci's hair one day.  And, she kept it in!

Britney brought all the kids monogrammed beach towels and they're precious.

Destin beaches are lovely.  Sugar fine white sand and crystal blue water. 

People have asked us why we chose San Diego over other beach cities.  The weather, people.  The weather!

Destin is HOT.

Jack finally joined another family and made us feel at home in Florida.

Cutie pie Kel Kel.

Know what is weird?  Lainey didn't smother him. 

"I don't yike boy be-bees."

I don't see how that is possible with this child.

Our final night included a sunset cruise.

Love this picture of Blake.

The captain let everyone steer from time to time.  Even Kellen.

We brought this orange shirt to Pa and he must have worn it 3 times.

Lainey's sea legs were something fierce.  Cruising around the catamaran like crazy.

Jack finally pooped out.

Lainey's 'cold blanket' and 'lamby' even steered the ship for a while.  We had to administer a tetanus shot to the captain afterwards, but I think it was worth it.

I've already had mine.

Saturday morning arrived and the fam prepared for their drive back to Texas.  Took some pictures before, of course.

Love the girls in their monogrammed dresses.

And, these will be some of my favorites for years. 

Great idea, Lara!

Love this.....hanging in the house.

Off to the dentist this afternoon.  Pre-school year prep is in full force. 

Back soon with a post on our final few days in Florida!



From One Beach to Another

Lots and lots of pics to come from our last couple of days in Destin.

Seaside.

Crab hunting at night.

Shopping.

For now, we've moved on from this fun group........

To our good friends (Ryan and Cortney + kids) from Keller, TX.  Neighbors from across the street of the first house we bought.  They're staying in Santa Rosa, so we're crashing with them for a few days after extending our trip.

Back soon with lots and lots of pictures!