Memorial Day Beach Trip 2011

In keeping with our Memorial Day weekend tradition, we headed down to Destin, FL again to meet up with the Flanigan family.  This year, we pushed it out a few days, as Will wasn’t out of school yet, as of Memorial Day weekend.  We left the Wednesday after Memorial Day and returned that Sunday.  This worked out perfect, as the beaches seemed less crowded.  Andy, Alyson and Keagan White were also able to join us!  What a treat.  I haven’t hung-out that long with Alyson since our college days.  J  It was great to be able to catch up with her.  They had recently moved to Nashville, after Andy White was transferred there with his company. 

The crew. 

I've been friends with some of these folks longer than I HAVEN'T been friends with them. :)

Family beach picture 2011.

D&S beach picture 2011.

Keagan and Will seemed to be best of buds.  Sophie and Ava hit it off, as they always do.  Evan was a smidge too young to hang with Liam, but I have a feeling they will be playing together before you know it!  Evan is such a sweet, good natured baby.  He is so easily entertained!   This year it was Evan’s turn to take “sleeping baby on the beach” pictures.  

After our beach time, we would often go back to the beach house, relax for lunch and then head out to the pool.  Thankfully there weren’t any sunburns this year.  Our accommodations this year in Crystal Beach were probably my 2^nd favorite, compared to the house we stayed in on Woodward Ave in 2007.  I don’t think anything will ever top our “hot tub pool”, although a few times this year we had the community pool entirely to ourselves.

The ladies went to the grocery store to buy food items for our time at the beach.  I made Sesame Pasta Chicken Salad (http://careycuisine.blogspot.com/2008/11/salad-sesame-pasta-chicken-salad.html) and Black Bean Salsa (http://careycuisine.blogspot.com/2008/11/appetizer-black-bean-salsa.html), on which we grazed during our time there.  For dinner, Kathy made a pepperoni casserole that was really yummy.  The guys grilled some hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch one day, too.  Lots of mouths to feed!

We hit Sonic a few nights.  One night we went to Stinky’s Fish Camp, in Santa Rosa Beach. While we waited, Doug went with Andy, Alyson and Keagan to take their family picture on the beach.  When they called our name, they sat us upstairs, which seems to be where they seat parties with children (hey, I’m grateful!).    They had the most amazing smoky tomato tartar sauce.  Hard to describe, but soo good!  Our pediatrician had recommended the restaurant.  It was so yummy!  Liam helped me eat my house salad with Green Goddess dressing on it.  He was DEFINITELY hungry. 

Andy and Kathy, keeping with their tradition (ha ha) looked at some real estate while we were there.  We also hit the outlet malls very briefly, to check out Children’s Place and the Timex store.  The guys headed to the beef jerky outlet while we were there, as well.  One night the adults played the DVD version of Trivial Pursuit.  I think Andy and Alyson won that round.  It wasn’t an easy game!

One morning, Alyson and I went for a run from our condo to the beach, kept running on the beach, then up to Hwy 98 and back to the condo.  We went early enough that the humidity and heat weren’t too much of a factor, but the two pieces of Publix breakfast bread in my stomach were!  I thought I was going to yak.  Ha.  Alyson was a sport for being patient and letting me take a few breaks.  When we drove the route, I realized how far we actually ran and then didn’t feel too bad for taking breaks!  I really do need to make a habit out of hitting the treadmill again… Hard core garden-digging just isn’t the same kind of fitness that running provides…

We were able to snap some family pictures on the beach, although it was crazy humid and hot that particular morning.  Before we left the condo, we also took a group picture, to capture this year’s motley crew.

Flanigan and White families, we always have fun with you guys.  Looking forward to another holiday at the beach next year!

Peace, love and Crystal Beaches,

Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

P.S. - If you're keeping track:


2003 - Brent and Rachel took pictures and put them on the Web. Gray chicken year. Seacrest.
2004 - Seacrest.  We went twice.  Once with Andrew & Dionne. Once with Flanigans.
2005 - We definitely went.  We went twice.  Once by ourselves, once w Flanigans. Seacrest?
2006 - Ava's first trip to the beach.  Will and Andy were sick there. Aqua Villa.
2007 - Sophie's first trip to the beach. / Seacrest Condos and their pool and Woodward Ave?
2008 - We took the year off, due to an impending Liam. :)
2009 - Liam's first year at the beach, Maravilla sub with side yard.
2010 - Clipper Cove, ivy kitchen wallpaper, post oil-spill., "train of chairs" on front porch.
2011 - Crystal Beach. Whites came, too. Deck on lower and upper-levels of house.


In 2007, our blog says: "Each year, for the past five Memorial Day weekends (at least, from what we can recollect), we head to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida...Was 2003 our first year?  I think we went twice with Brent and Rachel? 

Memorial Day 2010

This Memorial Day, we were fortunate enough to spend another friend-filled trip to the beach. We met up with the Flanigan's at "Clipper Cove" on the East side of Destin. We had a blast, as always!

We arrived in Destin about 50 days after the oil spill south of Louisiana. When we booked the beachhouse, the owner told me that we would be refunded the entire amount of our deposit if the shores ended-up covered in oil. I called a few days before we arrived, and she assured me there wasn't any oil in sight.

The shores of the Gulf Coast are spectacular. Having been to the Atlantic side, I definitely prefer the Gulf. The water is crystal clear, blue. I've told people you can see your toenails in 6 feet of water, if the waves are calm enough. I pray that this pristine, natural beauty will last, and that the oil doesn't do anything to contaminate these shores.

We got there on Thursday night and stayed through Monday morning, taking our time in getting there. We stopped at a Burger King along the way. A creepy-grandpa guy (sitting with his wife) kept trying to befriend the kids. He pretended like he was holding a baby and made crying noises, etc. It's funny to see how strange people can be, vying for the attention of kids.

At the beach... Ava got into the waves, but didn't want to swim in the pool, even with floaties on her arms. She stuck to the steps in the pool and just played there. Liam was a little freaked-out getting into the pool water, but seemed to enjoy it after a while. They both had so much fun at the beach, building sandcastles and playing with Will and Sophie.

I think the time Liam spent with Will was special to him. He got to see how a big boy like Will plays. I could almost see Liam being a tinge more confident in his play, because Will liked "boy toys", too.

Ava and Sophie were PRECIOUS together. I tried to get as many shots of them as I could. When Ava was in the ocean waves, Sophie said she needed to rescue Ava. She laid down on the beach and held her arms out to reach for Ava. See the pictures below. Incredibly cute.

It's fun to see them grow up together through the years. We've mentioned how fun it will be when the kids are REALLY grown, and want to go into town to play mini-golf, etc.

We always seem to have fun with the Flanigan clan. Thanks again for heading to the beach with us, guys!

Peace, love and oil-free beaches!
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam