Day #2 in Florida

Day #2 Was a Relaxing Day at the Pool...we woke to cloudy, stormy looking clouds and found that it was a double red flag at the beach. It seems that the Tropical Storm Dolly was sending more problems our way. There was a red tide coming in and the under current was so strong that they didn't even want people walking in the shallows of the beach. The waves were quiet enormous and scary. We watched them from our balcony and decided that we would head all the flag warnings and head to one of the condos two pools!

The pool was great! It was one of the pools that went from shallow to deep...deep being 3 ft. 5 in. Ty loved it. He didn't need a life vest, could walk on his own, and was very much the independent "swimmer". He is very much in the "My do it phase". My put shirt on. My put fip fops on. My cut sandwich. My do everything! So, he loved that he could do everything in this pool. There were sprinklers, games and much more to keep us entertained.

After about 4 hours playing in the water we headed back to the condo for lunch and a nap. Ty didn't take much of a nap and decided that he had been missing some of his favorite toys and just wanted to play quietly with BOZ playing on the t.v. in the back ground.

The whole family playing in the pool! Pop is in the green shirt, Nonna is sitting on the side of the pool, Mommy is sitting in the water, Aunt De is standing and cousing Clayton is the tannest person in the picture! Which...Ty loves cousin Clayton! They are the yin and the yang, the dark and the light, pure opposites, and oh such a fun pair to watch play together.

Here is Ty with his favorite pool toy...the AAAAIGATOR! He was coming to CHOMP Mommy!

He was saying.."Duh...Nuh...Duh...Nuh..." just like the jaws movie! Too Funny!

Chomping Mommy!

Trying to use the AAAAIGATOR as a step to get a ride on Mommy's back!

We went to Reggae J's in Panama Commons (a local strip of restaunts and shops, a lot like Southlake Square with a Florida flare) for a yummy seafood dinner and had ice cream at a local shop (to die for). The Panama Commons Shopping area was a blast. But the best thing about the
commons was the Train Ride! Ty loves trains and there was this little train that rode around the shopping center filled with laughing children. We asked Ty if he wanted to ride and of course he couldn't say no! He was thrilled.

Here is the shiny engine...TOO COOL!

Ty with Daddy and all the cousins...can you tell how excited he was?

The entire cousin clan!

Are we leaving yet?

We're Off!

Jeff said that he was giddy for the entire 10 minute ride. He waved at every passer by and said "Hello Ladies" to a few groups of girls and women. Clayton taught him to say "What's Up" and he parroted that saying quiet a few times on the ride as well! Here are a few videos of the train ride!

All Aboard! They are off! Watch how madly Ty is waving at the crowd.

Ahhhh! It's over! Ty said, "Gan, Gan" to let us know he wanted to go again!

Tune in for Day #3 and our Adventure back to Texas!

Day #1 at Panama City

Well...WE MADE IT!

Here is the run down of our trip...

Sunday, July 20th

7:50 Left Home on our Adventure to Florida (or Fooda as Ty says)

9:30 Stop #1 at Canton for Restroom Breaks and Treats

10:15 Ty finally crashes out! This is the latest he has every stayed awake!

Monday, July 21st
1:30 Stop #2 somewhere in Louisiana for Restroom Breaks ONLY! Ty woke up and was

very interested to see where we were and find out what we were doing. He ate a quick snack and talked himself back to sleep!

2:30 Ty finally crashes back out!

4:30 Stop #3 somewhere still in Louisiana for COFFEE and Restroom Breaks. Ty wakes

again due to all the excitement. This time he is exhausted and just plain upset! He

finally calms down to a Praise Baby DVD and heads back off to Sleep.

5:45 Ty drifts back off to sleep

7:00 Stop in Mobile Alabama to eat at Cracker Barrel! Ty had TWO pancakes!

8:30 Back on the ROAD!

9:30 Stop #4 we all needed GAS and something sweet to get us the rest of the distance!

11:30 Arrive in Panama City! THANK GOODNESS!

11:40 Tried to Check in...the rooms weren't ready! FOILED!

11:45 Headed out for lunch...smelling fabulous and looking even more glamourous!

1:00 Back to the Condos...SCORE!

1:30 Make it to our Condos, Unpack, Set-Up, Get Familiar and CRASH FOR A NAP!

4:00 Up from Naps! Aunt De and Mom head to the Grocery Store for Goodies while Ty and

Dad head to the pool. No pics sorry!

7:00 Dinner...Fish Tacos...YUMMY!

8:00 Play Time in the Condos

9:00 Bedtime for Mommy and Ty! Daddy and Aunt De headed to bed soon after!

This was our first true day at Florida, but it wasn't much to take pictures of or blog about!

So....HERE IS OUR FIRST REAL DAY in FLORIDA!

All sunscreened and ready to head to the BEACH!

Ty's first look and feel of the OCEAN! Pop and Cayleigh join Ty and Daddy!

He's Got a GRIP! He wasn't too sure about those big waves!

He loved playing in the sand! Here he is starting on a sandcastle!

Just the Family on the Beach!

I think I have sand somewhere...very uncomfortable.

Chillin' with Mommy! I wouldn't go near the water without Mom or Dad!

Gettin' Dirty with Cousin Cayleigh (or Cadee)

Down for a THREE hour nap after all that beach time!

After our THREE hour nap and snuggle time...we got gussied up to head out on a PIRATE ADVENTURE! If you every go to Panama or Destin and have children this is the ONE thing you MUST do! We all climbed aboard a HUGE Pirate Ship called the Sea Dragon. There were men and women dressed as real pirates. The ship was TOTALLY made for KIDS! The crew was focused on giving the kiddos the best time of their life.

They started with learning how to be a pirate...Pirate Speaking, Pirate Dancing, Pirate Eating, and Pirate Manners! It was hilarious! Ty got ARRGGGHHH really well. There was then a huge, soaking water gun fight with another ship! The other ship pulled up right beside our boat and the kiddos fought their hearts out. The crew even helped soak the others with buckets of water. I have never seen so much JOY and LAUGHTER at one time!

Next, the boys had to swab the deck and the girls went to get their face painted and their pirate hats on. They then switched jobs and the boys got painted up! Ty wasn't a fan of the pirate hat.

The next job was for them to watch for dolphins. We saw quiet a few! Ty and I actually spotted three together about 3 yards from our ship. We were some of the only to see, because everyone else was pirate dancing!

There was then a huge SWORD FIGHT and all the kiddos got involved in defeating the CREW. It was quiet comical, and the crew were amazing. They had a great report with the kids.

The kiddos then headed below deck to hear an amazing story of buried treasure, pour over a treasure map and head back out to deck to direct the captain to the treasure. Once the treasure was found all the kiddos helped HEAVE-HO the treasure box out of the ocean (REALLY). It was a sight to hear all those children pulling on a huge robe calling out...HEAVE...HO!

They then opened the treasure and divided up the loot. We ended the tour with a fun limbo game, conga line (tamborines for each child included), a pirate Birdie Dance, and then a free for all Pirate Dance! The crew then passed out PIRATE BEADS to all and gave PIRATE tatoos to all the children. Ty was fascinated with his manly tatoo and had to have his pajama sleeve rolled up so he could see it as he went to sleep talking about Pirates!

Ty was a little taken back by all the activity, but he enjoyed watching his cousins.

It was a BLAST. Ty is still talking about it. We will definitely do that anytime we make it to Florida!

Off on our PIRATE ADVENTURE....ARRGGGGHHHH! Posing with Daddy in front of the Sea Dragon Priate Ship! Ty was THRILLED, and has talked about this for days!

Looking down from our seats! Too Cool!

Mommy and Ty! Ty is saying "Piate Chip".
The whole family! Look at how HUGE that belly is! YIKES!

Ty getting PIRATE LESSONS! He wasn't so sure....he did get ARRGGGGHHH!

Getting' Ready for the Sword Fight!
I want my HAT back! I don't like this silly pirate hat.

On to Dolphin Spotting!

Mommy and Ty as the sun is setting.

Check back in for DAY #2 of our Florida Vacation!

We're BACK!

So sorry for the blogging sabbatical. I ended the school year on a Friday and then the next Monday started SUMMER SCHOOL. I know you are thinking, "What is she ridiculous, summer school too?" But...honestly summer school is a really good gig! I get to work half days, meet amazing teachers and administrators, and be inspired to be a better teacher and co-worker. Plus..the money is great and we have to pay for Ty's babysitter all summer to hold his place, so it was worth it.

Summer School was a lot of work and kept me busy, as did our two year old whirlwind. He is constantly busy! SO MUCH FUN...but so EXHAUSTING. We have been playing every minute that we can..and I have been soaking up as much Mommy and Ty time as possible. I just keep thinking, "In a few short months it will NEVER be Ty and I again." I want to relish the last little moments of giving him the attention! So, to say the least, blogging was the last thing on my mind as I passed out on the couch and drooled my way into dreamland every night at 9:30!

We are now almost 6 months pregnant...which BLOWS my mind. With Ty I remember every movement, every milestone, and every thought was focused on being pregnant. Oh...I better put my seat belt on, I'M PREGNANT! Oh...I better not drink caffeine, I'M PREGNANT. Oh...I better not eat THAT, I'M PREGNANT! With this pregnancy I lay down at night and try to remember if I felt the baby move! I haven't had time to think longingly about bringing a newborn home, about hours of laying with a cuddle bug, or all the STUFF that I need to re-equipped my house with. I know that many of you already know but for those who don't...

HERE IS THE NEWS...We are having.....drum roll please!!!!

A sweet baby GIRL!

I know..we are in shock! What will I do with a girl? I have gotten really good at finding cute boy clothes, learning to wrestle, teaching him to tinkle on a tree outside and the list continues. Now I will have to learn how to add bows, ruffles, and all the things girls are made of! I can't wait. A little scared, but I can't wait!

We are sitting in Florida as I type enjoying the Sun, Sand and Seaweed! Yes...the beautiful Panama City beaches have been covered with seaweed, and the water is a lovely shade of green due to all the algae. The tropical storm Dolly isn't sitting well with the beach this week! We have still enjoyed playing for the last two days and I will be posting all of our fun a little later.

Off to the beach! Come back VERY soon for the VACATION UPDATES!