Summer 2010 Vacation - Florida

Gary and I just got back from a wonderful week's vacation at Panama City Beach, Florida. Brent and his family were already there for Kaleo and Anna Claire had invited us to come visit. She even invited us to stay in her room and her bed! We didn't but we did stay in the same motel.

Every morning Bennett and Gary went to the lobby for breakfast. That was their thing all week. Anna Claire and I had our own thing also. We worked out together. One afternoon she asked "Ma, aren't we forgetting something?" I replied "I don't think so. What are we forgetting?" She replied "We haven't worked out yet." Once Bennett said "I erkk out too." I showed him how to do sit ups and told him to do sit ups with Anna Claire and me. He did two, got up and said "I thru working out. I play now." Anna Claire taught me some working out moves that she learned in gymnastics.

The beach was beautiful. No oil, or at least we never saw any.

Betsy, Anna Claire and Bennett

Betsy and Bennett. Right after Gary took this picture Bennett told me he wanted Granddad. According to Bennett, I don't go out in the water far enough.

Gary and Bennett

Anna Claire and Bennett making a sand castle. Anna Claire would finally finish with a beautiful sand castle and Bennett would walk up and give it a good kick to knock it down. I ended up having to spend my time guarding the castle.




Pier Park was awesome. We walked out on the pier and could see fish down below.

Jessica, Gary, Bennett and Anna Claire at Pier Park


Gary and Bennett at Pier Park


Brent, Anna Claire and Bennett at Pier Park


We found out before we left for home that we had eaten at 3 of the top 5 restaurants in Panama City Beach. Here we are at the Spinnaker Restaurant.

Jessica, Bennett and Brent at the Spinnaker Restaurant

Jessica and Anna Claire at the Spinnaker Restaurant

Brent, Anna Claire, Jessica and Bennett at the Spinnaker Restaurant



Anna Claire, Gary, Betsy and Bennett at Pineapple Willy's. This was the kids' favorite place to eat. They gave temporary tattoos to kids and Anna Claire loved wearing a tattoo.

You should have seen the looks and smiles! Anna Claire walked through Pineapple Willy's restaurant with her little "doggy" behind her. She had her sunglasses on and just looked straight ahead.



One morning we went to a water park. Excellent idea. The kids had a blast. I had just washed my hair and my one goal was to not get it wet. Ha ha!

Gary and Bennett at the Water Park

Betsy, Anna Claire and Bennett going down the slide.


Bennett and Anna Claire

Bennett squirting Anna Claire

Bennett

Bennett and this little boy were fighting over the water gun. Guess who won?



The first night we ate at Hunt's. On my! Everyone must eat there. We had to wait two hours but it was well worth it.

Brent and Bennett across the street from Hunt's.

Jessica and Anna Claire

Betsy, Anna Claire and Jessica


On Father's Day we rented a pontoon and went to Shell Island. We had a picnic and collected sea shells. On the drive back in the pontoon we spotted two dolphins jumping out of the water. Bennett took his afternoon nap in my arms on the pontoon and then later Anna Claire came up to me and said "Ma, I want to lay in your lap like Bennett did." She took a very good nap also.


Bennett spent most of his time in the motel room playing his drums.

Gary and Betsy at The Back Porch restaurant in Pier Park


There wasn't any oil but you could see the preparations constantly. There were environmental trucks from all over the U.S. Several oil spill workers also stayed at our motel.