Florida vacation....return to Niceville

The kids and I went down to Niceville to visit our old stomping grounds and to see Lyrad, Alicia, and family.  It was a great trip....we were busy every day.

 

 

 

 

Floating on the raft Josh build in the Bay.

Henderson beach

 

Free meals for the kids at Chick-Fil-A is they dressed up as a pirate or princess.  No princesses in this group!

Jesse Moore offered to take us out on his wave runner.  The first time we tried, it was raining and lightning, so we didn't go.  The second time, his waverunner wouldn't start.  So, the kids just played in the tube while he went to get the battery fixed.

 

The waverunner did start, and the kids each got a ride, and then it quit. C'est la vie.

 


 
Lyrad rented a boat for a couple of hours down by Navarre.  When we first got there, we saw a whole pod of dolphins jumping and coming almost to the shore.  So cool.  While some of the kids were out on the boat, they had dolphins all around them.  That is an experience you can't get from watching t.v.

Sam tried his balance on the paddleboard.

Elyse gave the old kneeboard a try, and she actually did it!  What an adventurous girl!

Rachel was working at Po Folks restaurant, so we went there about 3 times when she was working and it was "kids eat free" days.

Loved the fried pickles!

Went camping on base.....forgot how many bugs there are in Florida.

Took the go cart out on the range for some bumpy fun.  Yes, that is Elyse driving!

Elyse got her hair wrapped........one strand took about 40 minutes.  Imagine if it had been her whole head!

Mara and I went out in the kayak at Rocky Bayou.  Fun.

The boys spent some time with their friends Todd and Ryan Wendel.  Time doesn't really change anything.....they all got along great.

Spent a day at Big Kahunas.  And, yes, Ben went on the slides!  Yeah, Ben!

Chochtahachee Bay is behind us......you just can't see it at night.  Spooky!

Mara had to go back a few days before the rest of us because of band camp.  This was her parting shot of Niceville.

Sam and Elyse had fun at the Gouker's pool.

 

It was a great vacation.  Great to be warm.  Great to be in the water.  Great to be with family.  Great to see old friends who love you and miss you.