Family Beach Vacay 2012

This past Saturday we returned from a relaxed week at Panama City Beach.  It actually turned out that Cheri and Chris (my cousins) needed a dog/house sitter for their house in PCB for 6 weeks while they were on vacation themselves.  Cheri had set up different people to stay different weeks.  It just so happened that she asked if we would want to stay the same week we were already planning our family vacation to the beach.  Perfecto!!!  It was a win-win situation for everyone.  We went down on Saturday, June 30 and came back Saturday, July 7.  We had an absolute blast!  Not to mention they live in the neighborhood directly across from Pier Park on Back Beach Rd....and have a golf cart...and 2 neighborhood pools (the biggest and best one being a block from their house).  Score...again!! :)  I won't bore you with allll the details from the week, but I will say we had a fun, yet relaxing, and WELL DESERVED week at the beach and ate our share of yummy seafood.  Just the 3 of us.  It was so nice to get away and soak up every moment and memory of fun with little man.  We went to Pier Park I think every night except one.  Hampton, well, Daniel and I too, loved watching everybody (it was slam packed every night) and just taking in all the sights, smells, and feelings that come with being at the beach. 

Hampton rode a carousel for the first time at Pier Park

We went to the beach only one day out of the whole week.  Hampton is not the biggest fan of the sand right now (not to mention neither is his OCD mommy) AND all the baggage that you have to lug with you is not cool. 

Therefore, we spent the majority  of our days here... ;)

Ahhhh...much better!! 

We headed over to the outlets in Destin on Tuesday to take a little break from all the Vitamin D we had been soaking up the last few days.  We ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise and then shopped till we dropped. 

Wednesday was July 4.  It was rainy and ugly all day until late that afternoon.  Mother nature decided to play nice and give everyone a chance to get outdoors a bit to shoot some fireworks, grill, listen to a band, or any other ritual that we Americans do on this national holiday.  We decided to take the party to the none other Pier Park for our evening of festivities.  They were having a band and fireworks on the lawn of the huge park set up beside Pier Park so we figured that sounded just as good as anything else.  After circling I think the entire parking lot 15 times for a parking space we FINALLY got lucky.  We get everything out and head over that way and it hit me.  I FORGOT my camera.  And if you know me, forgetting my camera is the biggest NO NO ever.  I never, ever forget it.  Capturing moments and memories is an all time favorite of mine.  I almost cried.  No joke.  Daniel (the sweetest hubby on this planet) even asked me if he could go get it for me b/c he KNOWS how I feel about taking pictures.  Of course, I wouldn't let him.  I just sucked it up and went on about life (all the while couldn't hardly have fun for wishing I had my dang camera the whole time).  But, I lived.  And I settled for my i phone camera.  Not my first pick obviously, but it works just the same.  Here are a few from the night...

Kisses for mommy :)

Listening to the band

Camera or no camera, we still managed to have a great time and made wonderful memories and that's all that matters.  However, I made up for not having my camera that night with the PRECIOUS pics I got of us and Hampton on the beach.  We took him Thursday and Friday night before going to eat when the sun was just setting and I could not be happier with the ones I got.  

Of course, I think I took 875 total in both nights and I honestly can't say that I could narrow it down to a few of my favs, but I will add a few of the ones I love.

Thursday night...

First off, isn't God's creation absolutely breathtaking?!? 

Love, love those chubby little hands and feet

Our perfect little angel :)

Friday night...

He spotted a helicopter ;)

LOVE this one of my boys!

I know all good things must come to an end, but I sure didn't want the week to end.  It went by WAY too quick, but we had an incredible week and I am so thankful we were able to go and spend some quality time together.  We sure are one blessed family and I thank God for that on a daily basis! 

P.S.  I totally forgot to mention Hampton officially started walking (Tues. July 3) while we were there too!! Yay Hampton!!  Mommy and Daddy are SO proud of you. Now, gotta go buy some new running shoes...