Every year I like to try out a new piece of technology, or gadget on my vacation. Last year I purchased a “Flip” digital video camera. It was great for taking to the beach and it only cost me $150. I wanted something that I did not have to constantly worry about it getting salwater or sand in it. I really didn’t expect much for the price tag, but I was greatly pleased with the camera. In order for it to work well it has to be close (about 10-12 feet at a max.)to its’ subject and in fairly bright light – so if you can keep these things in mind it will be a great investment. I could have gotten it cheaper had I ordered it online ($10-20) but I needed it for the trip. This year I ordered a waterproof housing for the camera, as something new to try. It cost $30 almost 40% cheaper than it was last year (1st generation flip), and I ordered it online and had it delivered to the beach house (3-5 days). So for under $200 I have a great underwater/waterproof camera that I would highly recommend to all my friends! http://www.amazon.com/Flip-Video-Underwater-Generation-Camcorders/dp/B0012YSSRK

To tell you the truth I was a little nervous taking my crew of six (the youngest is two) and my mother on a kayak adventure in the Port St. Joe bay. But the nervousness subsided when we found out that the water was not very deep (several times throughout the four hour tour we walked in knee deep water). Isaac, the two year old, whined to be in his mother’s boat and once he was there slept for over an hour in her lap. We saw all kinds of sea creatures (snails, horseshoe crab, left handed something,small fish, etc…) and we stopped all along the way to investigate and learn (and rest our arms!). The week had been extremely hot, but today it seemed to cool off, and when we did get hot we just took a dip in the water. The boys (Joshua and Caleb) were on the look out for sunken pirate ships and gold, but alas we didn’t find a single “shiver me timbers” clue. My mom was a trooper and I was amazed that she had the arm power to move her boat all along the bay — even getting away from our group from time to time for her own adventure seeking. We all had fun and I would suggest it to any family as a way to have a nice break from the beach and have the kids discover a neat part of nature.

www.happyourskayak.com

4am comes really early, but it was especially early this morning. I drank a whole tumbler full of Dunk’n Doughnuts coffee and it didn’t touch the dramamine funk I was in. I was doped up to go on our fishing trip to Panama City, FL. We went out 28 miles on a cabin cruiser (with air conditioning), and we were fishing by 8am. We traveled from spot to spot seeking red snapper and anything else that we could bring up. I did get a little sea sick (it was kinda rough), but is was fun watching my dad stumble all over the place trying to get his footing (I was stumbling too). Far more got away, than we put in the cooler, but at the end of the day we did ok, and we had some snapper and a king mackeral to show for our hunt. Our captain and first mate were great and while I am exhauseted it was a lot of fun. We left the beach house at 5am and got back at 9pm.

The plan was for the family to leave right when the boys got off the bus. But an hour and half later we really did pull out for vacation. After one trip around the block and going back for something, a trip to the bank, library, and gas station we were finally on our way. We stopped in Roanoke, VA for some dinner and fun times with family, a quick stop at starbucks (we were driving through the night you know), we begane the decent into exhaustion and madening drive into the night. We arrived in Alabama at 6am and it took all of us a couple of days to recover.
We were able to visit a horse stable that raises, feeds, takes care of feeding and shoeing, transports, trains, and shows “show horses.” These horses are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. (It was hot, but pretty cool). Hannah-Grace wants to be a cowgirl now.
We celebrated the boys birthday by having relatives come over for hamburgers and a pool party. It was a blast and with all the adults over I was able to slip in a nap in one of the chairs around the pool. I was able to visit my dad’s shooting range and fire off some rounds. My aim is not what it used to be. I need to practice more.
We drove down to Florida and are staying in my parents beach house. It has been over 95 degrees everyday and little relief in the evenings. The beach is perfect, and we were able to cool down in the ocean. Today we went to FBC Port St. Joe and spent the afternoon and evening napping and eating dinner – mainly we were just trying to stay cool.
Tommorow, the plan is to going fishing or go to the beach – whichever the weather allows.

Yes, Hannah-Grace is FIVE YEARS OLD — wow, I really can’t believe it. Time seems to have flow by so fast. Every day she gets a little taller, and more and more beautiful. She brings joy to me and is truly my little princess. I love the times when I tuck her in, pray with her, and now (thanks to Pam G.) I have to sing a song to her every night. We have a routine where we turn on the cd player (Ms. Patty Cake of course), pray, sing, and read a devotion from a Gi Gi book. She follows me around in the yard when I do yard work, and she always wants to give me a kiss and a hug. My little princess just turned five, and I know time will be a blur, and 10, 15, 20, 25, will fly by like telephone poles on the highway. God help me to seize every day and enjoy every moment.