Panama City Beach, June 2011

I know one thing. I need to keep up with this blog. My memory sure isn't what it used to be. We were only in Panama City Beach a month ago and now I can't remember all the cute little things that I had planned to write about.

Brent has his yearly summer Kaleo project. For the last couple of years Gary and I have met them in Florida to "help" take care of the kids so that Jessica could also be a huge part of Kaleo. I say "help" loosely. We look forward to this all year. This summer we stayed 8 days, which was wonderful.

We are so fortunate that Brent and Jessica invite us to be a big part of their life. We do count our blessings and we don't take anything for granted.

We all stayed in the same condo except Gary and I were on the 18th floor and they were on the 16th floor. Anna Claire spent the night with us every night. Bennett did several nights but he preferred his own bed. We started the day with Brent bringing Sutton up to our room around 7:00 am. If Bennett wasn't already with us then Bennett came with him. Anna Claire was always with us. Then, we would plan our day. We went somewhere fun every day. Several days we had Sutton during the day but usually Jessica kept him as she was breastfeeding.

Brent and his family arrived a couple of days before we did. They were so glad to see us. Our condo looked just like their's so Anna Claire and Bennett were so excited to show us where everything was.

 Now, the first place we had to take the kids was Pineapple Willy's. Gary and I took all three kids there. They used to pass out pineapple tattoos but they don't now. Instead, we paid double for a soft drink just so it could be in a mug that said "Pineapple Willy's."

 Bennett and Granddad at Pineapple Willy's.

 Sutton and Granddad at Pineapple Willy's.

 Ma and Anna Claire at Pineapple Willy's.

 Ma and Sutton at Pineapple Willy's.

 The view from out balcony.

 Bennett and Granddad on iPhone's.

 Our annual trip to Hunt's Oyster Bar. Granddad holding Sutton, Bennett, Anna Claire and Jessica.

 A rare picture of Brent and Ma.

  Grandad playing with Bennett in one of the pools at the hotel.

 Ma was really excited that Shane was home from Afghanistan. Here we are celebrating! Yea Shane!

 Granddad and Anna Claire at another trip to Pineapple Willy's!

 The beach.

 Our condo was right behind Pineapple Willy's.

 Bennett coloring.

Ma, smiling, with Bennett, the happy little face! "Not another picture Ma!"

 Bennett, the corn dog boy. He had a corn dog three meals in a row.

 This is what Sutton did most of the time!

 We keep coming back to Pineapple Willy's for this overpriced mug!

 Granddad and Anna Claire.

 Our annual family picture on the beach that is never good enough for a Christmas card. How do other people do it??? Sutton has one sock on, one off.

 I went back to the room with Sutton. Gary took the kids to the beach. From what I heard, they made the biggest sand castle ever. Granddad also covered Anna Claire with sand.

 Sutton doing his thing. Sleeping.

Bennett loves to take pictures. Funny thing...he's pretty good.

 Bennett and Anna Claire at the park at the condo.

 I love this little squirt! He's riding on my back all over the place!

 Bennett and Brent swimming.

 Anna Claire swimming.

 At least Sutton has on his bathing suit, even though he never touched water!

 At Pier Park. I guess Bennett is looking for "corn dog" on the menu.

 Granddad and Sutton.

 Brent and Anna Claire. After I took the picture Brent said "Okay Mom, that's your picture." "No more."

 Brent and Bennett looking at Jessica.

 Brent, Jessica and Anna Claire.

 Ma, Sutton, Granddad.

 Ma, Sutton, Anna Claire.

 Ma, Jessica, Bennett.

 At Pier Park. Ma, Bennett, Jessica.

 Brent, Jessica, Anna Claire, Bennett.

 One day Granddad and Ma took Anna Claire and Bennett to Shipwreck Island.

 One afternoon Bennett was napping and so Anna Claire and Granddad went to the pool.

 Ma and Anna Claire.

 Anna Claire and Bennett at Bayou on the Beach.

 Here we are at Gulf World! Anna Claire and Bennett.

 Ma and Bennett looking at the flamingoes.

 We are at the dolphin show and the dolphins had just sprayed us with water.

 Anna Claire and Bennett trying to touch the sting rays.

 Ma and Anna Claire.

 Granddad and Anna Claire.

 On our last day Anna Claire thought it would be fun if we swam in every pool at the condo. There were four or five. It took us most of the day. Here is Ma with Bennett and Anna Claire at the ocean pool.

 And here we are at the family pool...my least favorite.

 Anna Claire standing on her head.

 Anna Claire and Bennett at the toddler pool.

 Anna Claire holding her breath.

 And Bennett holding his breath.

 On the way home from Florida we stopped at Nana and Papa Jack's for a couple of days. We went to their farm, the family gathering place. Bennett loves fishing. He wakes up and the first thing he says is "Let's go fishing." Nana and Papa Jack have a couple of rangers so someone just gets in one and takes Bennett to the pond to fish. It isn't far at all; in fact, you could walk to the pond but it is definitely more fun to ride.

 Anna Claire did not want to stand up to fish. All she had to say was "Granddad, I don't want to stand up." Granddad drove the ranger to the bank so that Anna Claire could sit and fish.

 We went to Aunt Sancy's house to play with Presley. Presley tried and tried to hug Bennett. At first he wasn't having anything to do with it but Presley is pretty persistent. He gave in and hugged her back.

 Presley Courson. 22 months old.

 Presley and Anna Claire kissing.

  Bennett and Granddad preparing to fish.

 Bennett and Brent fishing. Jessica and Sutton flew back to Arkansas from Florida. That's why they were not at Nana and Papa Jack's farm. We did miss them!

 This is Anna Claire's favorite thing to do. Ride in the mule or ranger with Nana.