Tank Tops & Flip Flops {Florida 2013}

We were off...like a herd of turtles on Friday morning! We were loaded down and beach bound. We had a maintenance issue with our house so we had a late getaway, which put the boys in a crazy mood. Leaving is always nuts, someone always thinks they are getting left...or mommy is leaving! I *thought* I had the road trip covered. Thanks to pinterest and tips from friends, I had snacks galore, stickers, color wonders, dollar store trinkets, juice, and mooovies! Well I started to panic when we had gone through half of our snacks and watched 3 movies an hour into the trip!! Let's just say the trip to the beach was crrrazy! We put the three little boys in the middle seats to make more room for our luggage. They pinched and took each other's lovies and were just down right ornery. I am putting this in writing to keep it real..and to remember that it can only get better next year!

We arrived in Covington, Louisiana and met up with my parents and Harper. The boys were so happy to be able to run! We made our presence known at the hotel...oops! Hudson has recently found his vocal cords and the others are trying to follow suite. We unpacked and headed out to find a restaurant that served crab claws. Harper was hesitant to try them, but finally did and loooved them. So proud that he is learning to try new things. After a delicious dinner we went back to the pool to swim. We were hoping to wear the boys out so that we could have a quiet night. It worked!! Our hotel did not have 3 pack n plays available. (No, surprise this happens every.single.time we request 3. They assume it is a typo) Our room got upgraded to a suite so the boys all slept together in one room. Yay, for being able to keep the lights and tv on in our hotel room! Usually we lay in bed at 8pm and pretend to be asleep!! Harper kept referring to the room as the "Kid's Club." He liked being "in charge."

We woke up the next morning and continued our drive to Navarre Beach, Florida. We made a stop at Bass Pro to let the kids play and grab a few items for the beach. It was great entertainment and the perfect "stretch your feet" place!

We arrived at the beach that afternoon and found Harper already at the beach with his cousins, Luke and Wyatt! He was their shadow all week long. Cam and I had already said this was going to be a laid back week, where anything goes and it was..Harper probably had a case of pop and more candy that I want to think about. He is going to have withdrawals when he gets home!

Photo credit to Robin-Thanks for taking this:)

Aunt Kay and Uncle Bob had our crew over for Spaghetti the first night...16 people to feed! It is always fun to get our family together. We grew up going to the beach every summer with my grandparents, but the most people we ever had was 10! Last year we had 20, but my cousin's wife is expecting baby #3 any day and didn't make it this year.

After catching up and putting the babies to bed we took the big boys crabbing. Fishing and Crabbing is what Harper was most looking forward to at the beach.   

The rest of the week was a blur. It went by very slowly, which was much needed! No where to be and nothing that *had* to be done. The boys woke up at 6:30 with the sun every morning, which was not exactly what I had in mind, but at least they were consistent! It took a day or two for them to get over the sand, but by the end of the week they were all smiles. They liked being in the water the best. Since there were 16 people in our crew we had lots of hands to help. 

Oysters!

The "Middle Age Group" or "The Cousins" went into Pensacola for dinner one night. We ate at the Grand Marlin and had a great time. The food was excellent, but the company was even better! I regret that we don't all live closer together. We all bonded over Oysters! I had tried them one other time, but I think it was a first for everyone else. Fun times! As we were leaving, Neve, the star of MTV's Catfish, literally ran into my cousin's wife coming out of the bathroom. She didn't recognize him at first, but later my cousin did. It was a rush, my first celebrity sighting, even though I must admit I had never heard of the show! He was super nice and now I have to start watching season 5!!

The following morning Poppy, Aunt Heather, Cam, and Harper went bay fishing. This was the first time for Harper to go fishing in Florida. They caught lots mostly Spanish Mackerel. Harper didn't care what kind of fish as long as they were biting! He likes to say that he is good at "Rippin' Lips!" This boy is obsessed!!

Half way through the week we celebrated Harper's SIXTH birthday!! I can probably say that this was his favorite birthday! Cam made his famous "Cam-cakes" for breakfast and Harper spent the entire rest of the day fishing, crabbing, and catching sand fleas. He was in boy heaven. 

Harper's fish....

Unfortunately, Uncle Bob was taken to the hospital due to memory loss. He just had a feeling that something was not right. After calling his doctor in Tulsa they suggested that he be taken to the emergency room. He was admitted to the hospital where two masses were found in the tissue of his brain. This was heartbreaking news! He spent the rest of the week undergoing tests and collecting data to be taken back to his regular doctor in Tulsa. We are praying that they find the source of the cancer. It was a long, day but we tried to make the best of it and had a little pizza party for Harper. The little boys had no idea what was going on so we enjoyed a few laughs watching them dance and play with the balloons.

The rest of the week was filled with more fishing, a trip to see the movie "Planes" (With the largest *medium* icee you have ever seen!!) and two trips to the arcade. All three boys hit the "jackpot" within four minutes of being at the arcade!!

We had a fun week with family, glad to be home, but some sweet memories were made. My grandparents are still living, but probably can not grasp that concept of all of us being together. What a fun tradition they started many years ago!