Eating cupcakes Grauntie Rose brought earlier in the week…
Category Archives: Travel
A quick stop at a playground
We all went to see the Lego Batman movie and since it was nice and sunny, we stopped at a park on the way home. Unfortunately it was windy and getting chilly so we didn’t stay long and I only took one picture! 🙂
A thank you dinner for the grandparents!
We always take the grandparents out to dinner to thank them for letting us stay with them…and this time, we went to McGuires Irish Pub just down the road in Destin. We happened to be sitting right at a Pokémon gym so of course we had to take it over. 🙂
The tradition at this place is to leave a signed/decorated $1 bill stapled to the wall. They have over $1 million hanging throughout the place (see lots of great pictures from RoadTrippers). This was the wall behind us (in the natural restaurant lighting):
And the same picture with a flash:
This is the bill we did. Gramma drew the heart with the year and signer her name; Owen wrote his name on the very left, going up from the O; Katie die her KAtie on three lines; Grandpa David did his GD between Owen and Katie; Major Tom left his mark; and since no one took good ol’ George, I did that plus left our JTOK.
Gramma stapled it to the wall.
Can you see it?
Look here!
It’s sunny and halfway warm…so it was off to the ocean.
The sun is deceiving. We didn’t stay too long because it was actually windy and getting chilly…
Now that’s a big chair.
Florida tradition: Fudpucker’s
Read about the last time we were there (2015).
Later when we checked the other pictures, we saw that Owen had his Halley shirt on again! Totally unplanned!
We had to visit Owen and Tom’s names on the wall…which happened to be right about where we were seated.
Katie adding her name!
Gramma Jean 2017
A quick playground break.
It was so damn good we went back again.
I mean, what is vacation for if not for splurging? 🙂
Time with Grauntie and Gruntie
Grauntie Rose and Gruntie Jim also stay down here during the winter, so they came over for lunch. We had hoped to be able to take the kids to the pool or the beach but it was cold and rainy…so there were a few games of Katie’s new favorite: Go Fish!
May the next 20 years be just as awesome!
It’s been 20 years since the night Tom and I met…
Our dinner splurge:
Tom in beer heaven:
Katie wanted hot curls!
Katie loves when Gramma needs to curl her hair because that means Gramma will also put some curls in Katie’s hair, too. She’s been waiting patiently for three days. 🙂 The curling iron actually removes curls from her hair but she doesn’t care—she likes to feel the warm curls.
A dangerous dessert combo.
Leftover birthday cake frosting plus amazing cookies…
Toooo much ocean fun!
Then we ran into a familiar face—Nancy (used to work with Gramma)!
Hide & Seek Queen
This is where Owen found Katie. He thought it was so cool he made her hide again and had Gramma come find her. Then Gramma thought it was so clever she made her hide again and had mom and dad come look for her. Of course, she gave herself away with the giggle. 🙂
Then we had her pose for us. 🙂
Boys’ Air Force Armament Afternoon Out
Two sets of Len toes
Gramma and Katie toes…
And a cuddle…
Tired Katie and relaxed daddy.
Watching the Lady Gaga Super Bowl half-time show.
Finishing my first book…
To the pool for the first time!
It’s a small world!
I knew a friend had moved to Florida but I couldn’t remember exactly where so I was planning to text and ask her. Well, Tom and I were out running errands when she texted me saying “Are you in Fort Walton Beach?” Why yes, I said (I had posted our whereabouts on Facebook). She lives two towns over. So we made plans for her to come pick up me and Katie for lunch!
We came home and I told Katie I had a surprise for her…she was going to get to see her friend Monti. It took her a moment to remember, but she did. This is her, excited, on the way down to meet them.
The two were fast friends in the back seat and jibber jabbered the whole way to the restaurant. They both ordered Mickey Mouse pancakes.
And then things went south when Monti decided she was done letting Katie share her sunglasses. I gave Katie my phone since it wasn’t her fault her friend was being a poop. But that caused even more upset because she thought she should get her mom’s phone and that was denied.
Katie did end up sharing the phone with her and there was happiness for a few minutes…and then Monti got upset about the equality of the sharing so the phone got taken away.
But we were still happy!! It was so great catching up with Melissa!
A cantaloupe as large as Owen’s head!
The grandparents took the kids to the beach.
Triplets!
Our first trip down to the ocean…
Our first trip down to the ocean—just to look—ended up with two totally soaked kids! We weren’t surprised. 🙂
Me and Gramma Jean could NOT get the twirly sticks to fly. Tom was easily able to.
I looked up and Owen was just standing the ocean with his hands in his pockets. LOL
Gramma Jean took this awesome picture of Katie. I think I’ll be hard pressed to take a better one this week.
Beach Cuddle Now & Then
Quite different from two years ago:
Our view for the next week.Â
Thanks to Gramma Jean and Grandpa David…a wonderful week in Fort Walton Beach!
Owen likes the accommodations.Â
Mullet backbones? Why not.
We stopped to eat a late lunch on the way home from the airport.
Gramma ordered mullet and the waitress asked if she wanted the gizzards and/or backbones. We all looked at her like WHAT? EWWWW. WHAT? But then we said what the hell, we’ll try the backbones (no fish gizzards, thankyouverymuch). And turns out they weren’t as scary as we thought…they were tasty!
We made it!
We were a tiny bit late due to a lavatory issue that had to be fixed before takeoff (which meant we left a half hour late) but all ended well! Gramma and Grandpa were waiting for us!!
Our Florida adventure begins!!
Tom parked at one of the Pentagon lots near the metro (but not at the metro) so the three of us walked to the metro station while he walked over to meet us. This is walking through the Pentagon bus depot.
On the metro!
Katie: “This is fuuuun!”
Since we had two hours to kill at the airport, I dropped a Lure. 🙂
This may look like a lot of stuff, but we normally drive and take four times as much stuff! This time? We each have a carry on and personal bag.
They’re more than ready!!
First plane ride selfies!
Our route! I liked this plane—it was newer so had touch screens, movies or TV to watch (free), and multiple USB charging outlets per seat!
Owen was amazed by the outside temperature (-74°F if you can’t see it).
Owen read all the way so he could do less homework at the condo (he finished two books!). 🙂
After snacks it was time for drawing!
Then we switched planes (and kids!) in Atlanta…so I got Katie.
Gum for takeoff. She was super excited as she rarely gets gum. 🙂
Katie, looking out the window as the plane was climbing: “I can see the world.” 🙂
Tom, to Katie: I’m glad you like flying.
Katie: Totally awesome.