Friends, Food, and Sandy Feet

photo via

photo via

photo via

As you can see we spent most of the summer on the beach. What a way to spend the summer. The week before my Mom came to visit it was almost like we lived at the beach. The only day not spent under the sun was Wednesday and Sunday. Most of our trips were to go scuba diving, but Friday and Saturday we changed it up a little. Friday we got up early to eat breakfast on South Beach as the sun rouse. We got rained on a little but that only added to the adventure. We had planned to get a little workout on the beach side workout machines, but really ended up getting more of a workout chasing after the manatee we saw swimming the shore line. I was a little nervce to get closer then 10 feet, it is amazing how big manatees are. It was nice getting to the beach so early, we beat the crowds and were headed back home by 11am feeling like we spend most the day there.

Then Saturday we packed up some snacks and heading to Dania beach for the day with friends. The boys were suposed to go diving but the weather did not agree with our plans. Just so happends the only day the weather stopped us from scuba diving, was on the day we try and take friends. We did learn one important thing though, if you are planning a beach trip I highly recommend bring chocolate chip cookies. We found that after they sit in the sun for a little, it is like getting freshly backed cookies out of the oven... yum. Instead of diving we got to play on the beach with the boys. They practiced their cast net skills and we fed the birds with their catch. We also made a pretty good looking sand sea turtle if I do say so myself. Fun days at the beach. To bad school starts tomorrow (not today because of hurricane isaac), that will severely hinder our beach bum status.

Russ Family Beach Trip

July 27 - August 3

There is not crying in the picture... just silly faces.

Another year at Daytona Beach with the Russ family has come and gone. These annual Russ beach trips have taken place every year for longer then Blake has been alive. There was russtaches (this year Blake kept shaving his off piece by piece, from triangles to zig-zags, then a funny goatee and finally to the Charlie Chaplin he sported till the last day), drippy castles, throwing kids and Johnny in the pool, dominating the hot tub, braiding hair, Olympics every night, junk food, game nights, buggy-boarding, crab hunting, a night at the movies, and lots of memories made. This year the little boys could not get enough of the shovels, they would dig holes all morning and into the evening if they could. While the older boys were all about catching a shovel full of dirt, they too could not get enough of it. A couple of long time friends and a few of the Santos family were able to stop by throughout the week as well. Basically it was a nonstop party.

Until next summer when Russ's from across the country are reunited for a beach week vacation.

Key Biscayne Lighthouse

all photos via Krysta

At the beginning of the summer (can you tell from our lack of tan) we explored key biscayne. It was a bad beach day because of the wind but that didn't slow us down. The boys wanted to look for iguanas and brake out the seine (till we were informed you can fish but not use nets in this national park). They did find a cool frog fish though. Blake also shimmied up a coconut tree so Devin could try his first fresh coconut water. We explored the light house and little historical sight on the island. But everyone knows that a windy day is perfect for flying kites, so that we did. However they did get stuck in a tree once or twice, and we might have stopped traffic a little because the parking lot was a good treeless spot to fly. In the end no harm done, we spent most the after noon flying our Buzz Lightyear and Ariel kites. I forget how much fun flying kites can be, so heres hopping for a few more windy days this summer. 

The Emerald Coast: Part III

Last but not least day three. The plan was to drive up to pensacola, but we were having so much fun in Destin we decided to stay. The last day was spent at Grayton Beach, we chose to come here because it had a lake that almost connects with the ocean. The lake was much warmer then the gulf, so it was perfect to wade in the water as the sun started to set. Game of the day was frisco ball.

The next day we slept in, and grabbed a bit to eat at the crab trap. There we eat super yummy sea food. Then started the long drive back to central Florida. A trip with the family is not complete without dancing and karaoke, so we turned the RV into a night club. 

 It was the perfect beach vacation for the Santos Family.