We're going to the beach...

[nikkiARNGwife]

next week. My parents and me and the kids are going to meet my sister at her beach house in Panama City. I so need a nice relaxing vacation...I have dreams of a nice relaxing vacation...but i'm afraid this is my reality I know you can relate.

[tettletop20]

Oh isn't that the truth!!

I hope you have more relaxing moments than crazy, chaotic moments!

[Nikki Epperson]

lol! Well I hope it's not toooo much like the right side!

[YepBrook]

LOL!!! That illustration is SO true. We go to the beach once a week in the summer months and it is exactly like that... every time.

[nikkiARNGwife]

I know....my younger sister is expecting her first baby in September at the age of 35..she and her husband are VERY used to just going and doing what they please. They spent the weekend at the beach a few weeks ago and she posted a pic on facebook of their feet in the sand looking out at the ocean...and I commented that she'd better enjoy THAT while it lasted..she came back with a snarky "kids love the beach..having a baby is not going to keep us from going to the beach"...um yeah they do love the beach..but the beach as she knows it is going to come to an abrupt end for quite a while lol.

[Keely~B]

LOL that's the truth! I'm still jealous though, I'd love a beach trip.

[kresta]

Ack! You're coming HERE and I'm going on a cruise. Maybe sometime if you come back we can meet up! Hope y'all have a great time -- the good news is that sun & sand & water wear kids slap out, so just put 'em to bed early and sip on some fruity drinks!!

[maryinaz]

We went to the beach for a week when the twins were 7 - they played at the edge of the water most of the day, looking for creatures and seaweed. And they built some stuff in the sand. It wasn't too bad - hopefully it will be OK for you. Take lots of beach toys.

[nikkiARNGwife]

Yeah we went to Destin last summer and it was fun..but you know when they're little you just have to watch them so closely..plus the beach we were on was very crowded. My sister's oldest is 12 though and I plan on taking full advantage of that fact by making him help me watch them lol

[nikkiARNGwife]

Originally Posted by kresta

Ack! You're coming HERE and I'm going on a cruise. Maybe sometime if you come back we can meet up! Hope y'all have a great time -- the good news is that sun & sand & water wear kids slap out, so just put 'em to bed early and sip on some fruity drinks!!

Aw man! I was thinking last week that you were close to Panama City..have fun on the cruise though!

[SweetMelissa]

Oh man we took the kids to the beach once. Waaaay back when we only had two kids. Yeah it was crazy. We haven't even thought of taking the three of them to the beach. We're just not ready for that yet.

[davec777]

That is so so true! It's not very relaxing with little ones...

Stephanie

[haydensmommy217]

hope you are able to have a relaxing time at the beach. my son is pretty mellow when hes at the beach, he wants nothing to do with the water he just builds and builds in the sand.

[kresta]

Originally Posted by nikkiARNGwife

Aw man! I was thinking last week that you were close to Panama City..have fun on the cruise though!

Yep, I'm *in* PC! When are y'all leaving to go back home?

[Lizzy257]

Lol! I hope you squeeze some sort of relaxation in there somewhere. At this point I'd even take the second illustration over all the rain we have here

[nikkiARNGwife]

Originally Posted by kresta

Yep, I'm *in* PC! When are y'all leaving to go back home?

We're not sure...my parents aren't big travelers...we have the house for the entire week but if they start thinking they need to go home then we could leave at any time lol.

My Daddy's corn and butterbeans are just about to come in and he's hoping and praying it does before Saturday so he can get that all done. If not we may not even leave til after Monday..so I have no set day yet. It's going to be an interesting trip for certain.

[kresta]

Originally Posted by nikkiARNGwife

We're not sure...my parents aren't big travelers...we have the house for the entire week but if they start thinking they need to go home then we could leave at any time lol.

My Daddy's corn and butterbeans are just about to come in and he's hoping and praying it does before Saturday so he can get that all done. If not we may not even leave til after Monday..so I have no set day yet. It's going to be an interesting trip for certain.

Okay, well that's kinda nice to not have any set plans!

Just some hints for PCB...

If the water's too rough in the Gulf where you're staying, head to the State Park (St. Andrew State Park). There's a kiddie pool side and it's always very calm. It's also right by the pass, so you can watch all the boats going from the bay out into the Gulf. The kids & I like to go there when we beach-it rather than boat-it.

Also, Shipwreck Island Water Park is super fun for the kiddos. Frank Brown Park has a smaller swim play area than Shipwreck - slides and places to play, but not as huge (read: more contained for keeping up with kiddos) as Shipwreck and costs less. And Pier Park (huge outside strip mall) is great for shopping for you and also has a bunch of rides and stuff for the kids, plus restaurants & a movie theater.

Good restaurants on the beach: Boatyard, Capt. Anderson's, Firefly (although this one is a little more fancy and maybe not the best choice for kiddos; but maybe if your parents watch the kids and you and your sister get a dinner out one night or something)

Good restaurants in town: G. Foley's (also a little fancy), The Shrimp Boat (maybe a little fancy, but okay for kiddos).

Hope y'all have a great trip!

[LJSDesigns]

Last time I took my son to the beach he kept finding dead fish and stuff and wanting to play with it. It was so gross! Have fun Nikki!