Spring Break actually started for us on Thursday evening. When I got out of school on Thursday I hurried home to pack for Calloway and myself. Mark teaches a class at the Seminary on Thursday nights so we had to wait for his class to be over to leave town. Since the drive to Auburn is about 12 1/2 hours from here and we wanted to be there by Friday evening, we decided that leaving on Thursday night and driving to Shreveport would be the best thing for us.
When planning this trip and knowing how little Calloway is sleeping in the car these days, we began looking into the purchase of a portable dvd system. We found a great one at Wal-Mart and it really helped pass the time in the car for Calloway. I would reccommend it to any family traveling with young children!
Cal with Grandpa Jim and Grandma Gail
Again from left to right: LoRita (Mark's dad's mom), Mary (Mark's aunt), and Connor (Rebecca's dad)
When planning this trip and knowing how little Calloway is sleeping in the car these days, we began looking into the purchase of a portable dvd system. We found a great one at Wal-Mart and it really helped pass the time in the car for Calloway. I would reccommend it to any family traveling with young children!
Friday morning we got up and headed to Auburn. First we met up with Mark's family at the Vacation Home my Mother-in-law rented for the weekend.
It was such a nice house and it was great because it had room for everyone to stay in. Another added advantage was the kitchen and we didn't have to worry about hotels and there was enough parking and everything! I highly reccomend checking out USA Vacation Rentals by Owner for your next out of town visit. You have the conveinencve of home while being away from home.
Then it was time to head off to Brandt & Rebecca's rehearsal dinner. This is Mark and Brandt (his older brother) at Christmas last year. We were so thrilled to be able to go to Auburn and be there for his wedding. We had dinner at the Creole & Seafood Shack there in Auburn. They don't have a website or I would have linked you up to it because it truly was a diamond in the rough! They had the best red beans I've EVER eaten in my life! The food was absolutely delicious!
On Saturday we spent much time with family and just hanging out. Saturday afternoon we headed over to the Art museum where Brandt & Rebecca were getting married. We took plenty of photos with family beforehand .....
Cal with Grandpa Jim and Grandma Gail
Cal with Aunt Laci (left) and Aunt Alli (right)
Cal with Uncle Adam and Aunt Sarah
Cal with Great-Grandma Rita
...and during the reception. Unfortunately I didn't get photos during the wedding.
Brandt and Rebecca chatting with Uncle Mitch and Aunt Cynthia (Mitch is Roselyn's brother - Mark's Uncle and Aunt)
Katie and Jonathan (two of Mitch and Cynthia's kids - Mark's cousins)
From left to right: Roselyn and Richard (Mark's mom and stepdad) and
Gerald and Helen (Mark's grandmother and her husband - Helen is Roselyn's mom)
Us with the lovely couple
Getting ready to cut the cake
After the wedding, we went back to the wedding house to change clothes and gather up our things. Then we headed to Panama City, Florida. Mark's twin brother Adam and his wife, Sarah, are serving at a church there. We stayed the night with them and then on Sunday, Mark was able to fill in at Adam's church playing the piano since his accompanists were out of town. It was really nice to get to see where they live, go to church, and play. On Sunday afternoon Roselyn, Richard, and Alli all drove down to Panama City too.
On Monday morning it was time for fun and play. We began by going to Gulf World. It was very much like a miniature Sea World. Calloway had a blast seeing the animals. Here are a few of the animals we saw.
Calloway checking out the map to see where to go first. Behind her is a tank where the dolphins are and they would come up to the window and "talk" to you.
She is always talking about alligators and/or crocodiles.
They had a ton of macaws....
and a HUGE sea turtle....
three sea lions (that we saw)...
Here we all are waiting for the Sea Lion show.
and the last thing we saw was the dolphin show.
While we were at Gulf World we came across a macaw who was pretty funny. She was just yelling and you could here her throughout the whole park (remember it's kind of small). So, we made our way over to her (she was a talking macaw) and here is a little taste of the hilarity of this bird. We probably stood around talking to her for a good 5-10 minutes.
After we left Gulf World we went down the road to a little sandwich shop and got some lunch to take to the beach for our picnic. While waiting for them to prepare everyone's sandwiches, Calloway thought that she would be a good helper by carrying everyone's chips for them.
waiting.....
trying to carry everyone's chips.
It was a semi-beautiful day for going to the beach, but a little on the chilly side. The weather was in the low 70's and the gulf was definitely too cold to swim, although that didn't stop some people. We had a fantastic time just playing in the sand, people watching, letting the waves splash us, and enjoying the view.
Mark and Roselyn trying to build a sandcastle. You can see that we perched near the pier.
Calloway carrying her bucket full of sand to help them.
Cal and I went to test out the water. She would squeal everytime the waves crashed into us. *It was a happy squeal. And then as the tide would go back out to sea, she would yell at it "Do it again! Do it again!" It was absolutely precious to watch her LOVE the beach. She had a blast and definitely didn't want to leave. She has continued to talk about the beach since we left. I think she has a new found love.
Mark finally scooted down the beach closer to the wet sand to try and build his sand castle, along with his little helper. Haha!
Richard just soaked up some rays while Alli read her book.
The castle didn't work so well, so he turned into a pyramid. If you know Mark very well at all, you know that is so very him.
Uncle Adam decided to join Mark and try to make a real sand castle but unfortunately a small toddler like disaster came along and destoryed the whole thing.
When she got tired of the waves, and tired of building, I mean destroying sand castles, she decided to chase the seagulls!
It was a semi-beautiful day for going to the beach, but a little on the chilly side. The weather was in the low 70's and the gulf was definitely too cold to swim, although that didn't stop some people. We had a fantastic time just playing in the sand, people watching, letting the waves splash us, and enjoying the view.
When she got tired of the waves, and tired of building, I mean destroying sand castles, she decided to chase the seagulls!
Grandmother Roselyn had a great time burrying Calloway and trying to make her a mermaid tail.
Here is our little spot we camped out at on the beach. You can also see some of the "spring breakers" in the upper right hand corner. They just walk the beach all day, drinking, and partying it up, and of course "meeting" people.
We decided to walk out on the pier and sea the Gulf of Mexico from there. There were many people fishing from this pier also.
Here is Cal and I on the pier with Panama City behind us.
Hopefully there will be more pictures and videos to come, but I'm waiting on the rest of the family to share their photos with me.
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