BEACH!!!!

 We headed to Panama City Beach on Saturday, June 23rd for a week long vacation.  Our best friends, The Burks, met us there from Texas.  Also, a few family friends from Knoxville also joined us.  We had a great trip.

This is Deanna and Eric's youngest... Brooklyn.  This was the second time we have been around her in her little life.  She is a cutie!!!

 My friend, Cortney's daughter, Kate.  Her and Addie are going to be in the same grade at the same co-op next year.  Fingers crossed that they end up in the same class :-)

 Abel mastered swimming at the beach.  He came home and doesn't need a life jacket any more!  WAHOOOO!  I get so excited about going to the beach and seeing the ocean and my kids... well, they want to go to the pool the whole time!  WHAT?!?!?!
Abel enjoyed throwing football at the beach w Dad :-)

 Aidan didn't love the beach but when he did go down there, he enjoyed himself!  He had a great time playing w Deanna and Eric's oldest son, Ryan.  They enjoyed some video games, movies and pool time.  AND they did enjoy the beach too!!!! 

 I learned that my Addie would be happiest in life if she ended up marrying a fisherman and living at the beach.  OH. MY. WORD.  two words... BEACH BUM.  She wanted to be there the minute she woke up to the minutes she went to sleep.

Our friends, the Blackstons, adopted a little girl from Ethiopia and brought her home back in Feb.  It's been so fun to see her grow these past few months.  SHE ADORES HER FAMILY... and she is one adorable baby. 
That handsome boy is her big brother Daniel :-)  FULL OF ADVENTURE!

Kate (above) and Kate and Addie (below) LOVED their time on the beach.  The bigger the waves, the better (at least that is how Addie felt)

RIBKA IS SO STINKIN' CUTE (below)

My sweet Avery wasn't much for the beach.  She read A LOT while we were on this trip.  She also baby sat some for us (those who did not want to go to the beach).  She is such a trooper and had a great trip.  She got a special souvenir when we left... a beach towel w the state of Florida on it.  She was so excited about it!

We did have to battle Tropical Storm Debby while we were there.  The first 2 days were full of RAIN RAIN AND MORE RAIN... but we saw some breaks in the clouds, we swam at the pool in the rain and we went to the movies... so we made the best of it!  We saw the movie Brave.  We give it LOTS OF THUMBS UP!