Tanner Life

Our Summer Tanner/Thurmond Family Beach Trip

Part 1

We had the best time at the beach and it couldn't have been better. I am always one who has trouble coming home, I just love to be away from it all on vacation and never want it to end. It was our first trip in 9 years with a week of no schedule at all, (no ports to count down to, no shows to see, no parks to visit) completely relaxing and go with the flow. Andy, Mr. Busy Body, totally enjoyed it and said he needed another week! I couldn't be more thankful that they invited us to go and we made it work! Here's a little run down of our adventures.

Gulf Shores, Alabama. Andy and I had been about 7 years ago for just a few night stay over spring break. We'd gone with Andy's brother Mike and his wife Faye. It was freezing that trip and although we had a great time with Mike & Faye, Gulf Shores wasn't on our list of favorite places. We sure weren't dying to return there. I'm a "Panama City Beach" girl at heart.

We were thrilled this time when we fell in love with the area. There are great places to eat, tons of things to do, great outlets, lots of golf and a complete family friendly beach!! The condo was just across the street from the beach and a great place. It was very roomy and comfortable, we felt right at home. The back over sized deck was over looking the pool and lagoon area. Our condo complex had a dock with boat slips and a covered sitting area at the end. There was always boat traffic to watch in the lagoon, fish jumping and birds/cranes/pelicans galore. Just a few minutes walk across the street and we were on the beach.

Saturday we arrived and headed to the beach for a little bit. The water was filled with sea weed, the most I've ever seen before. Layla's first impression of the ocean (other than when she was a baby herself) was "It's gross!!!" She wanted no part of the gross green water on the first day! We played in the sand, looked for "bitty bitty crabs" and checked out our home for the week.



The evening beach stroll, wind in his face, put Tanner right to sleep!! What a cutie pie~

The first of many "bitty bitty crabs" that Layla would find. Uncle Andy & Layla look at the little critter in there with all the shells she picked up. The bitty bitty crab only survived the shaking for about 10 minutes before he came to the end of his little crabby life. . . .

Sunday the water was gorgeous & clear, an overnight miracle. The clear water came with new critters though, the jelly fish arrived!! Andy & I would venture out into the water again and again, only to chicken out when we'd see a few of those squishy guys floating around. Yikes!! I've never been one who is scared of sharks coming in close, the tide carrying me out or fish nibbling my toes. BUT... I'm terrified of jelly fish!!

Sunday also brought serious beach ball playing . .




Intense hole digging . . .



Alligator building (see previous post) and then resting . . .





There was also a cute baby playing and napping. . .





There was wearing of the hat . . .




Then tons of beach play all evening until we were totally out of sun! There are a few pictures of that too in Sunday's post. We all went back that night covered in sand from head to toe.

Layla was building and taking things apart, bit by sandy bit. All ... with a pair of green tweezers! Her favorite phrases of the night were "Ocean's coming!!!" and "Here comes the ocean" with the waves. It was a hoot!




Here is the final Sunday picture, Layla had it with Aunt Monica's photo taking . . . (he he he)