Pensacola 2018: Days Five through Eight

On Wednesday morning, Nopsi, Jeff, and I were up before dawn to go fishing. It was a nice ride out to the grounds, as well as a pretty sunrise, but I’m 99.9% certain I don’t need to go fishing on our Florida trip again. I didn’t catch anything (Nopsi was the only one who did: 6 total but only 2 keepers), and it was really hot when the sun got overhead.

In fact, I think I got a touch of heat stroke because I felt awful the rest of the day. I stayed inside and rested while Kenny handled the boys. I felt somewhat better by dinnertime, but it took me until Thursday to feel completely like myself again.

Thursday was another great day. A few shenanigans in the morning, followed by more sand time, truck running, and dock jumping.

  

 

 

I made a deal with Riley that he couldn’t have my computer to watch videos or play games during rest time until he did 4 pages in his workbook. He did pretty well with that arrangement. Oh, and the guys finally sat down to play Robo Rally, although they had to do it inside because it was too windy outside.

Once Rory and Luke were up from their naps, we all went outside to do a fun project that Nola bought for the three older kids. They got to design and create their own beach memories kit using shells, sand, and plaster. So fun!

 

 

  

  

Shortly after dinner, we noticed there was a pretty big storm approaching. The clouds were epic, the wind picked up significantly, and the temperature dropped. The guys went out to secure everything downstairs while Erin and I put the kids to bed.

A little while later I heard Nola say some choice words so I looked out the window to see the boys getting drenched in the now fully present storm, attempting to secure Nopsi’s boat, which had broken free of its moorings. The water was very rough, and lightning was flashing, albeit way off in the distance. Nola and Erin were besides themselves. I snapped a picture to document the situation. As I do.

And everything turned out fine.

Friday was our last full day. The kids were only downstairs for about an hour before all of them eventually wanted to come back inside. So we got them all into dry clothes and ventured out on a field trip to the neighborhood playground. It was really hot out, so we were only down there for about an hour before we came back for lunch and A/C.

  

Luke was the only one who napped. The rest of us worked a little, played a little, and gamed a little. Then everyone went downstairs to clean up and dock jump one last time.

 

  

 

Riley had been catching blue crabs all week long, one or two here and there by the steps and among the rocks. Some of them escaped their enclosure, but Kenny took the last remaining two and boiled them on the stove. Riley even tasted some of the meat. It was actually pretty good!

We took our family picture inside this year because more rain was coming through. I love how it came out, as well as the test shot I took first! Then someone noticed a huge rainbow outside, so we took a few more pics up in the crow’s nest before having our last dinner together.  Our vacation was unfortunately coming to an end.

The kids were all up pretty early the next morning, and everyone was on the road for home before 10. It was another wonderful week at the beach!

Thank you so much, Nola and Nopsi, for making this trip happen. We always have such a great time, and we can’t wait to do it again next year!