They call it a family thing - Part 2

The last full day mom was here visiting we were supposed to go para-sailing. However, the weather didn't cooperate. It was foggy all day until about 4 pm, when the clouds finally lifted and we had a beautiful evening. Instead we were treated to a fun supper at Bubba Gumps(www.bubbagumps.com). The kids & Keith got these fun frozen drinks in blinking glasses. We ate a lot of different types of food and even dessert. We sat on the patio watching the sun set over the gulf. I was glad we walked to the restaurant because I was so full from supper that if felt good to walk it off. It was about 1 1/2 miles each way. The kids were playing with their glasses on the way home and it looked pretty neat with all the colors flashing through the air as they threw them in the night sky or tried juggling.

The last day we all woke up early to enjoy the quiet of the beach - although, down here people are on the beach walking early. The day was drizzly and foggy. One of the neat things was the dolphins swimming so close to shore and playing. I don't think I'll get tired of seeing dolphins.

Watching the dolphins in the fog. 

Mom & me 

Mom, me & Amy                                        Mom & Amy

Grams with the kids                        The boys & Grams

Thanks mom for giving us a fun time and coming down to visit us! It was great to have you here for the week. 

They call it a family thing - Part 1

Earlier this month we had the pleasure of having some family come to visit. It was great to spend time with each other and to be at, yes, the beach. My mom rented a condo on the beach for a week. My brother and sister in law came down from Georgia, unfortunately my brother, Matt and his family were unable to make it. I missed having them down here with the rest of us.

 We walked the beach looking for shells, watching the dolphins in the morning, playing cards and scrabble, laughing and just having a good time being with each other. My mom cooked many wonderful dinners for us. She spoiled the boys with all her good food. My boys in particular liked the mussels and linguine. This isn't something I'm likely to cook on a regular basis or even an irregular basis.

The girls at sunset.

Gram's with her boys.

Ethan & Grams going for a walk on the beach. Brett & Morgan enjoying some beach time.

Ethan & Amy relaxing in our sun shelters.

Uncle Brett & Ethan playing scrabble.                      Amy & Auntie Morgan having quality time on the beach. 

Auntie Morgan & Brandon.                    Keith & Amy playing in the water.

We are looking forward to seeing Uncle Brett & Auntie Morgan at the end of January. We already have a serious card game lined up for our time together. We appreciated mom for allowing us all to have this time together. It was a special time to have family come down to visit us. I think being in a hot place with a beach is much easier to visit than the snow of O' Canada. 

I leave you a perfect sunset! 

Around Town

This post is a little different. I don't post even a 1/4 of the pictures I have been taking, so I thought it would be fun to show all of you Around Town.

Our first sunset on Madeira Beach 

Ethan and Brandon at our favorite place

Amy and our bird friend at our favorite place

Money from Africa and New Friends enjoy cooking with Amy 

An evening out at Pier 60 enjoying all the sights and entertainments

The beach after sunset 

Halloween in warm weather! Ethan is priceless in his costume. 

Brandon, Me & Amy

We spend 90% of our time at the beach. It has become a place to relax and have fun. I think my favorite part of the being at the beach beside feeling the suns warmth, would be seeing dolphins swim so close to shore. Amy and Keith were close enough to reach out and touch two dolphins as they swam by. We are blessed to have this time and opportunity

Keith Turns 40 and The Deep Sea Fishing Adventure!

The BIG event happened three weeks ago! Yes, Keith is now 40 and people still wonder just how old he is because he doesn't look old enough to have teenage kids.

The actual day of his birthday we were planning on going Deep Sea Fishing, however, Brandon came down with a stomach bug. We thought being in the middle of the Gulf with a kid with a stomach bug was a recipe for disaster. We postponed the fishing trip for Thursday of the same week. 

The day of his birthday we had a special dinner, ice cream cake and presents. Keith had a nice relaxing day with no pressure to do anything. We spent the afternoon at the beach, saw our first pod of wild dolphins swimming, walked the beach looking for shells and took a drive down the coast. 

The pile of presents and the kids with their dad after the mayhem!

Thursday morning we woke up bright and early. We had to be at the fishing dock by 7:30. Our boat was leaving at 8:00 AM. We decided to do the half day of fishing. We only went about 12-15 miles out on the Gulf, so our fish weren't monsters, just 'little' guys. They were mainly 4 -7 pounds. The day was perfect, flat glassy ocean waters and warm. We met a lot of great people on our boat. I was particularly happy that it was calm, since I easily get motion sick.

Amy & Brandon on the boat and ready for fishing!

Leaving St. John's Pass 

Amy & Ethan & Keith on the way out to our fishing destination. 

This type of fishing is different from what we were use to (not that I fish all that much). We all have a spot on the boat with a pole. The pole's aren't the best, a little used :). We used squid for our bait. We had to bait the hooks ourselves. Squid is a bit slimy and smelly! Once the line is baited you drop it in to the bottom, than wait for the fun to happen. Often times our lines were crossed, needed to be uncrossed, people hooked other's lines, and occasionally you catch a snag on the ocean floor about 40ft. depth. 

We had a contest running with the kids. We would pay a dollar for the first catch, the biggest catch and for the most fish caught. Each kid won. Amy got the first fish. Ethan the biggest fish, a 17in grouper. Brandon got the most at 6 fish reeled in. 

                   Brandon with one of the six he caught & Ethan with the Red Grouper. This wasn't big enough to keep, but big enough to win the biggest fish award! 

After the fishing was done and we were heading back a pod of dolphins decided to join us. They escorted the fishing boat for a long time. It was the exciting to lean over the edge of the boat and watch the dolphins swim with the boat and see them clearly. Our pictures don't do it justice. 

 Two different sets of mom and babies swimming beside the boat! 

The kids with our catch! 

The Birthday Boy with his bounty! 

We had a great day fishing! How can one compete with fishing on the Gulf of Mexico on a beautiful day? It has been hard to top this day. It has been Keith's favorite thing we have done since arriving down here, which is great since it was his birthday fun day!