Our Trip to Florida

February 2020

Day 1 - February 11, 2020

Off to Panama City Beach again to visit Grandpa Ron and Grandma Charyl! Daddy bought tickets EARLY in the morning so that was a bit tough, but the girls were pretty excited and that helped a lot. The planes we were on had TVs to watch things and that helped too. We had a pretty good amount of time that first day there and that means even though it wasn't very warm, we ended up in the pool. The girls LOVED it, as you can imagine. They were staying at a different place this time. It had a splash pad (which was part of the reason Ron picked it) but that part was closed. Thankfully there was still the pool!

^My seat buddy.

^So swim!

Day 2 - February 12, 2020

Our second day found us at wandering the beach in the morning. It was so foggy that we came back SOAKED, but it was still a fun adventure. When the fog got a LITTLE better, we went to Pineapple Willies. Charyl and Ron loved it when they first went there two years ago, but they were closed due to the hurricane when we visited last. We made it this year. The tables were out on the pier and the girls were excited because they got Pineapple Willy cups to take home.

^We were so damp we might as well have went in the ocean.

^Good impression, Laina!

^Pizza for dinner!

 Day 3 and 4 - February 13, 2020 and February 14, 2020

The weather really wasn't great a lot of the time we were there. On Thursday, we went to WonderWorks like we did last year just to kill some time. Julie almost tried the ropes course but got scared. Mike and I still did it and yeah, it was pretty scary, ha! We ended up at the pool again too, but not much else exciting. The next day was nicer, and we were able to get down by the beach a bit too. AND Jessica and Jacquie made it up to the area and Mike and I got dinner with them and had drinks at Runaway Island. Very fun!

^Laina in a spacesuit.

^Almost did the ropes course ;)

^Found some ice cream across the street.

^Beach!

^Adult time, yay!

Day 5 - February 15, 2020

I went over to the rented condo to do photos for Ica and Jacquie first thing in the morning and we had a blast! Afterwards, we met up for a late lunch at a random place we found, Hang Five. It was good and we were nice and warm out on the deck. To finish the day, we spent some time at Pier Park and rode on the Sky Wheel again. Good times!

^Missed you so, friend!!!

^Ridin' high!

Day 6 - February 16, 2020

Sunday was SUPER rainy and dreary. We had breakfast with Ica and Jacquie before they headed back south and then our family went exploring. Ron and Charyl had to move from one condo to another and they figured we'd be better off out of their hair, so we obliged. We ended up in Miramar Beach (or close to there anyway) and ended up seeing Sonic the Hedgehog at the theater (where we could also eat lunch!). We then wandered around that area and got the girls their first haircuts. You could barely tell but it didn't hurt to clean them up a bit ;) Despite the weather, it wasn't a bad day. Of course then I got a really bad stomach ache and had to rest the rest of the day but yeah...

^Beignets at Another Broken Egg Cafe :D

^So glad they came up to see me again this year!

^Awesome movie theater!

Day 7 - February 17, 2020

Thankfully, my stomachache went away without much fuss and we were able to explore again on a much nicer day on Monday. We went for a walk at the Panama City Conservation and Wetland Park, looking for gators but not seeing anything much. We then spent time at Pier Park and ended up getting ice cream at The Yard Milkshake Bar (I was wanting it the whole time we were there!). Then it was beach night and the girls learned that showers aren't so bad after all!

^Gator search!

^Mermaid sundaes and amazing such things.

^Beach!!!

Day 8 - February 18, 2020

We took an airboat trip and had a good time. Beforehand, we were at their main location where they had some gators and the girls (and everyone, although I passed) got to hold a baby alligator. As for the boat ride, the girls were crabby (Laina) and sleepy (both!) but it was still a pretty cool trip. Some of the people we were on the boat with were from Holland, Michigan, so that was funny. Afterwards, there was a little place to eat back on the bank so we had food there and found a lizard. We got a little more beach time in and then went to a restaurant for our last dinner there, Sisters of the Sea and Dive Bar. VERY good, and I had a tasty drink that made me all loopy too! Julie is also now convinced that mermaids are real from being there!

^Ewwww gator!

^Maybe we won't hold it, but we can touch the tail!

^Grandma's gator!

^Boating!

^How do you fall asleep on an airboat...?!

^Awake for lunch.

^Ahhhhhh.

Day 9 - February 19, 2020 

Time to go home! The girls had a great time, and while we don't know that'll we'll go to PCB again, we had a good time anyway :D