Peter takes to the skies

Peter is boarding his first airplane this evening when he and I fly to Illinois to hang out with Auntie Erin and the Great Sosini. Corey and Charlotte are staying behind for a daddy/daughter camping catastrophe, oops I mean adventure. There should be some interesting stories at the end of the weekend...

It's like pulling teeth

Getting Charlotte to smile for the camera is ridiculously hard. She really is a happy little kid, but I have thousands of photos of the girl looking dour. Lately, she has gotten the concept of saying "cheese" for the camera, but she can do it without looking even remotely happy. Witness:



Sometimes, her "cheese" almost looks like a smile, but she has to be super excited and on a boat for something like that to happen.



Other times, accessories thwart her attempts at posing for the camera.



Any suggestions?

Destin Details

Two details to point out from our Destin trip:

Quinn - this one's for you!

David Marshall and Don - check out the outboards on this boat. Take a closer look by clicking on the picture below.

Those are 3 Yamaha outboards - each is a 5.3L V8 producing 350 hp. You do the math. Wow!

Boating, Pooltime, and Sunsets

We had an easy drive back to Nashville, a wonderful Cannonwood homecoming, and dinner at Blue Coast Burrito. The kids are asleep, so we thought we'd post pictures from Thursday and Friday.

Thursday morning, we rented a pontoon boat again. Charlie took up her favorite spot at the rail behind the wheelsman's chair.

After cruising around Choctawhatchee Bay and wading in the East Pass, we took one last spin around Destin Harbor. Charlie Jo and Corey sat up front and watched the water.

Big smile!

On Friday morning, we met at the Donut Hole. Both kids were fussy, but NanaB and GrandDad had fun anyway.

After breakfast, we headed over to the Bay Club pool at Sandestin. It's right on the Bay.

Charlotte waded in the wading pool, and Peter took a turn in the Turtle.

Peter and Mama.

After swimming, Peter lounged at poolside and charmed all the pretty girls with his smile.

Palm trees and the Florida sky.

Friday evening, we had dinner at Fisherman's Wharf, overlooking an oyster-shucking contest. The tables are being set up right at dockside.

Niki and GrandDad at dinner.

After dinner, Corey fed Peter dinner. Serious stuff.

Charlie's beloved moon shone on us in Destin.

We enjoyed the sunset at Harbor Walk Village. Well, some of us watched the sunset while some of us took pictures and some of us played.

What fun in Destin! We can't wait to return!

Blue Angels and Beach Pix

Today, Dad and I headed to Pensacola to watch the Blue Angels practice. Utterly amazing.

Delta formation.

Check out the vapor as the F-18 banked.

Dad and I went through a retired Fat Albert, a C-130, which Dad worked on in Vietnam.

I got to sit in an F-18. Wow.

This evening, we tried taking pictures on the beach. It was harder than it looked. Here I am tackling Niki. (I was trying to slide into position - and missed.)

Nope. That's not gonna work.


There we go - much better.

NanaB, GrandDad, and grandkids.

Niki, me, and kids.

Peter and I watched the waves.

Brother and sister, looking serious.

NanaB, Charlie, and I checked out the water.

A day on the bay

We rented a pontoon boat for the morning and motored out around on a bay off of the Gulf of Mexico. I'm too tired to look up the name, so for now it will just be called "the bay".

We stopped at a sand bar, but the water was moving so fast that it was kind of scary to be in the water. I swear if Corey had lost his grip on Charlie Jo she would have ended up in Alabama.



Peter had a good time wiggling (and napping) in the travel crib. He really needs his wiggle time (unlike his sister -- as a baby she would have preferred to have been held 24 hours a day).



Charlotte the Explorer scaled a small sand dune. On the way up, she kept saying "this sand is HEAVY!"



Our pontoon boat looked pitiful next to all of the huge yachts in the channel.



It's always a good time to sing and dance if you're Charlie Jo. She kept singing the theme song to "The Wonder Pets" every time she saw a sailboat (because the Wonder Pets fly around in a sailboat-looking thing).



Granddad and Charlie Jo chased schools of teeny tiny fish. I held my foot out to them, hoping they were the ones who eat dead skin off your feet like at the fancy nail salons. Nope.



Charlie Jo (clad in the Spider-Man life preserver the boat rental place lent us) helped her daddy drive the boat. We were able to dock the boat right behind Barb & Larry's condo, which made loading and unloading ridiculously easy.



We all had such a good time that Corey and Larry are talking about renting another boat on Thursday. When you're at the mercy of Florida weather and toddler whims, you can't get your heart set on too many things though...

Peter and Mommy

I can't believe Corey didn't post this photo. I know it's not entirely in focus, but Peter looks like such a sweetie sitting on my lap...

Destin Day II

Charlie went swimming today - with water wings - and on a turtle. At the same time.

Where's NanaB?

There she is!

Charlie is unhappy because even with her trusty water wings and intrepid turtle, her father still managed to get her face in the water.

Peter, asleep on NanaB.

GrandDad bought Charlie a hat like his to wear to the beach. So, naturally, Charlie wanted to swap hats. GrandDad happily obliged.

Niki shows off the latest in Florida Panhandle hat styles.


Gorgeous water on the Gulf today.

GrandDad and NanaB bought Peter some sunglasses. He would make a dashing figure, if he weren't sucking on his stroller seatbelt.

Charlie and GrandDad march up the dock at Baytowne Wharf.

Niki and Peter at Hammerhead's for dinner.

Hammerhead's had a band, and after dinner, Charlie got up and danced. She loves live music, and she should - she's a Nashville girl, after all!