So in mid-October we all went down to Panama City Beach to celebrate "Hooper and Jake's" wedding. Hooper is Paul's dad (Hooper is one of those last names that makes a great nickname, you know) and Jake is his old-flame-turned-new-bride (Jake is a nickname as well, but it has become permanent, to my understanding). Some of Paul's aunts and uncles plus his sister Kari were able to make it too so it was kind of a mini-family reunion. We don't always make it to Lawton, OK during the holidays at the same time that everyone else does, so it was nice to see everyone. What a gorgeous place! It was a whirlwind, though. We flew out Friday morning, got to Pensacola around 3, rented a car and drove to PCB, had dinner, then crashed. Saturday we took the kids to Gulf World, lunch, Audrey and Mommy nap/Kate and Daddy on the beach, rehearsal dinner, crashed. Sunday more time on the beach, then the wedding and reception, then we drove to DeFuniak Springs to see Kelly and Joe and got in around midnight (we had two flat tires that severely delayed us but it all worked out in the end.) Then we hung out with them until mid-afternoon Monday, drove back to Pensacola, flew home, got in around 11. We were TRASHED and I think it took us about two weeks to recover. Here are a few highlight pics:
Kate got to touch a dolphin at Gulf World.
Playing on the beach! Kate and Daddy were very serious about this sandcastle/fort. Audrey mostly ran around pointing at stuff.
Audrey and Aunt Kari. The kids adore Aunt Kari, and of course she adores them too. Kari and I had a whole conversation over lunch about Katelyn's greatest quotes, some of which are now permanently in the family slang. ("Oh, sweet pickles!" "Yippee!" "Dear God, thank you for my bottom which looks so cute on me.")
What a good-looking bunch of Hoopers! Kari, Dad, and Paul. Dad was so happy, it was great.
The Hooper kids and the Morris kids finally got to play together. Here they are dancing and singing along with Veggie Tales. They were so cute together! We were so glad to get to see them even for a short time. Kelly is my bestest friend and we are still joined at the brain thousands of miles away. Joe was Paul's roommate for a while (now there are some funny stories I could share). We have known them and loved them just about forever and still miss them every day.
Well, I must apologize for this bummer: I know we got pictures of Jake and the kids together, but I guess they must have been with Kari's camera because somehow I didn't end up with any. (Kari, if that is so, could you upload them to flickr so I can blog them?) Like I said, it was a whirlwind. Much of the time I was doing good just to make sure we were fed, dressed, and where we were supposed to be. As usual I had to work in a few trips to Walgreens to treat various conditions (Paul had wicked heartburn, Audrey had a bleeding diaper rash). The kids did fantastic, though. They never cease to amaze me. The lack of routine, constant attention, meeting tons of new people that want to hug them, different food, late hours, being schlepped about -- any one of these things can bring on a tantrum, and yet they both endured it all with minimal fuss or distress. They were wonderful on the plane, they slept or watched a movie or drew pictures, and they were quiet and obedient. (So why is it that at home, if I don't have any bananas to serve with breakfast, they go absolutely psycho? Hmm....a question for the ages...) Anyways, I was proud to be their mommy, as I always am.