Slip-N-Slide!

Under Attack!!!

Mom and Dad had to go to a funeral on Saturday morning, so Jeff, Renee, and I decided to take the kids to Hot Springs.  Well...Renee got sick, Jeff took her home, and I was left to entertain these five crazy people!  We started with a round of indoor putt putt at T-Rex Jurassic Golf, and then we decided to try out the laser tag place next door.  In spite of being located behind the lobby of a run-down, old motel, it was very fun.  I joined another family (a dad and two kids) and took on our five kids.  They were a united front trying to take me down! 

Mom, Dad, and Jeff joined me in Hot Springs later that day, and then we all went to Lake DeGray.  Babe and Kelly got a new boat and RV that we all wanted to try out. 

The Ole Swimming Hole

Welcome Home!

We picked up the Johnson crew from the airport on Wednesday for a crazy few days in Arkansas.

Kayak Regatta

Since moving to Florida, Amanda and Josh have amassed a small fleet of kayaks.  We decided to take them out in the bay on our last day.  There were so many of us that we still ended up renting one more!  We started out at Big Lagoon State Park and paddled (quickly!) across the Intracoastal Waterway to the bay side of Perdido.  We crossed the road on foot to swim and eat lunch on the gulf side before starting our trip back to the lagoon.  Whew!  What an upper body workout.  I'll admit that I'm a little sore today.  Nathan, Brandon, and Mikayla all did a great job.  I think Dad would have been impressed!  

Pensacola 2012

The first time I visited Pensacola (over 10 years ago), I didn't care for it much.  Now that we have been back a couple of times recently, I really think it has come a long way.  The Pensacola Beach area has a lot of new restaurants and cool stuff to do like the Ferris wheel below that is supposed to open later this summer.  And even though it is a little bit of a drive, I really love the beach at Fort Pickens.  It is pretty isolated in comparsison to the overcrowded condo beaches, and it is beautiful!   

Beach Bound!

Last Friday, we headed south with Amanda and her kids as they returned home to Pensacola.  Since we didn't leave until after noon (and because I don't really like driving 10 hours in a single stretch), we spent the night just outside of Jackson, MS.  The kids had fun in the pool - especially Izzy! 

Izzy was crazy about Nathan!

She liked Jeff, too!

A.J.

The second half of the trip was pretty brutal!  We were stuck in traffic outside Mobile for over an hour along with everyone else trying to make it to the coast.