Port A: Such A Great Getaway

I've talked about this before, but there is something about the beach where I am totally able to disconnect. I think I look at my phone about once a day while we are there.

The icing on the cake is having the Perkins family with us on long weekend trips like this. Since their move, we don't get to see them during the week as often and therefore, times like this are even more special. There are so many reasons why this trip will stand out in our minds but more than anything, it is a great reminder of how incredibly blessed we are to have best friends, like them.

I love how easy it is for the eight of us to be around each other. All the kids know that they can come to any of us if they need anything and likewise, we aren't afraid to correct them, even if it's not our kid making a bad decision.

 But this was the one mental picture that will stand out in my mind about this year's trip. On this Friday morning and afternoon, we arrived at the beach around 9 AM and didn't even look down at our watches until 1:30 PM when ONE of the kids said they were hungry! Yes, they hadn't eaten a snack or lunch IF THAT TELLS YOU HOW MUCH FUN WE ALL WERE HAVING!

I remember thinking to get up and grab my camera to remember this memory. The seven of us (minus Easton who had crashed under the tent for a nap) just sitting, playing and talking about life all afternoon! Of all of our amazing Perkins/Brown memories, this is up in the top five, for sure.

We love you guys!

Port A: Ghost Shrimpn'

One of our very favorite beach activities....

Carter and Ella were quite the Ghost Shrimping duo.

Once Ella picked up the shrimp, if we didn't have a bucket nearby, she would shove the 5 inch long thing into Carter's shorts.

 Before I knew it, I had become the depository for hats and sunglasses.

 Ella and Carter searching for more holes.

 Addie just enjoying the view.

 This has got to be the BEST family photo in our history. Some how, Carter is carrying Blake's drink and he instinctively knew to try to get it out of the picture. I promise, we have not trained our son. We didn't know this was what he was doing until we looked back at the photo.



Port A: Best Friends

There REALLY is something to these girls' friendship. They feel so comfortable around one another even if it has been weeks since they were last together. Of course, they have their moments after two long weekends together but majority of the time, they want to be no where but by one another's side. 

Cute story to remember: Addie offered to trade sunglasses with Ella since purple matched with Ella's swim suit much better that day.

Port A: Addie Taking It ALL In!

First, a quick walk down memory lane of each of the first times they have seen the beach, the last three previous years. 

These pictures make me smile.

 Giving herself a mud bath.

I LOVE that my baby girl is such a beach gal!



Last Night In Port A...

After nap, we mixed it up and all headed to the pool. It was a nice break from the sand.

 We headed straight for dinner out at Cody's, the perfect Port A resturant for our large group with seven kids that old or younger!

 Put Put afterwards!

 Sweet Kaylee decided to decorate my hair with flowers instead of finishing her round.  

Dolphins and More... (WAY MORE!!)

Blake and I surprised the family with tickets to Dolphin Excursion on Father's Day evening. In my 25+ years of trips to this beach, I had never done this and totally took a chance for the fourteen of us.

I even managed to find seven coordinating outfits for the seven little ones. In descending age L-R Sean(7), Kaylee(5), Carter(4), Carson(3), Addie (not pictured), Rose (2) & Cali (1)

Meme was in Heaven with all seven.

As soon as we boarded and started taking off, we were seeing dolphins!!

Then the three year olds decided to go and make friends with Captain Billy and the CB radio.

Before we knew it, they were driving the boat!

It was a gorgeous Sunday evening and we all had lots of time to just hang out...

What a wonderful Father's Day night to remember, I didn't think it could have gotten any better...

Until we dropped a big net and got to pull it up!!!

They were anticipating what was inside.

And it didn't disappoint. This was an AMAZING hands on experience for the kids. One that our family won't soon forget.

 And when I say "hands on," I mean it... a baby shark.

More live hermit crabs than you could ever want...

There were blow fish, flounder, squid, crabs, male fish that had eaten their female's eggs (so cool) and....

STING RAYS!!!!! The kids could play with the dozens and dozens of different live creatures... there was only one rule the entire time.... THE FIVE SECOND RULE... you had to dip the fish back into the water every 5 seconds so they didn't die!!

(Did you see Carter's expression on his face above?)

I can't even begin to say what a great excursion this was and a fantastic way to begin our first night together!