Rosemary Beach Part 1

This post is WAY past due but on a trip like this I take hundreds of pictures.  It is so hard to choose which ones to post!
Anyways, moving on.....at the end of July we headed to Florida for the 3rd annual Gooding family Vacation!  We love, love, love 30A and in my opinion there's nothing better than Rosemary Beach if you're looking for a family beach vacation.

Here are a few of the reasons we love going:

• Super easy to get to (not even a 2 hour flight from Houston to Panama City)
• It's family friendly
• Fabulous restaurants 
• Easy going with laid back and friendly people
• Best of all, you can ride your bike everywhere!  Getting in and out of the car with a little one can be tiring so I love it when we can avoid car rides! 

Our first stop after landing is usually the bike shop (after fish tacos at George's of course).  This year little William even got to join in on the fun.  He got a buggy!!

We spent lots of time on the beach and by our rental house's pool.  I took advantage of the pool while baby boy napped.  :) You can't beat getting some sun and reading a good book.  Luckily, William loved the sand!  The only problem was he wanted to EAT the sand.  He thought it was hilarious.  Yuck.  When the sand eating would start to get out of control we'd take him into the water.   He loved splashing into the waves and had a permanent smile on his face when he was out there with Gordon.  Once he was wet and sticky he didn't last much longer on the beach so we'd take him up to the house and let him play in the kiddy pool.  He loved spraying people's feet off with the water hose!  Such a boy.  A water hose, power cords and other appliances he shouldn't touch could keep him entertained for hours.    

 

If we weren't on the beach we were probably eating.  Gordon and I had a couple of dates, we had several dinners at home, a little Bachelorette watching (another annual tradition. haha. the boys love this one) and a grown ups night out.  In RB part 2 I'll have more details.  :)



• HI beach!
• The boys frying some fish
• Sharing with uncle Grant
• Picking the boys up from their deep sea fishing trip in Destin
• Being silly before dinner
• Practicing walking with aunt Ash

Stay tuned for more fun in the sun....Rosemary Beach Part 2!

Fun In The Sun

 

This picture pretty much sums up our weekend in Midland!  William loved the pool!  My parents had turned on the heater but it was still a little chilly....baby boy was the only one it didn't phase.  I'm so happy that he enjoyed swimming since we're starting swim class this Sunday.

 

We had so much fun swimming, lounging around, getting some sun, watching William in the sandbox, and drinking some homemade strawberry margaritas courtesy of my parents new fancy margarita machine.  That night we had tickets to go see the Duck Dynasty crew for their Dynasty of Faith talk.  Since it was past W's bedtime my sweet grandparents came over to watch William for us!  I can not tell you how much I enjoyed the Dynasty of Faith talk.  If you have the opportunity, GO.  I love how honest they are about their life and the mistakes they've made.  They don't try to pretend that they're perfect.  Marriage is hard and it takes work but having an intact, happy, healthy family is so worth it.  I believe, as do they, that it takes faith and God to keep a relationship together.  Whenever we visit Midland all I can do is think about moving back.  The talk really helped me to remember that God has a plan for my family.  He will do what's best for us.  I just have to trust!!

After church on Sunday we had lunch at Outback and then we were back to the pool.  William is such a boys boy.  He loves being outside, dirt and sticks.  He just played and played....and refused to take a nap.  One of Gordon's buddies (and my childhood friend) came over to join in on the fun too. 

I am so thankful for the time we get with my family!  Thankfully William does great on the flight so getting to Midland is easy.  :)  

 

Look at those adorable polo flip flops!  Doesn't get any cuter than that. 
William loves all the puppies.  He even got brave enough to start petting them.