Thursday, June 25, 2009




How About a Beach Getaway?

Ever since arriving back in town on Monday evening from our beach getaway, I've wanted to get online and upload pictures. All sorts of stuff, though--mostly being super tired and getting a chance to go visit with my Grandma who came in town from Texas--kept me otherwise occupied.

But today I've finally had the chance to sit down and put together this post.

We spent five days in Gulf Shores, Alabama--truly one of the most beautiful places on earth (seriously, those of you who aren't from the South, are missing out if you haven't seen the Gulf coast. The sand is so utterly white!). We went with a really great couple friend of ours, another good single friend, and all of our kids (and a few extras who tagged along! LOL). We had nine kids total (four of them teenagers) , but had just a fabulous time.

The weather was perfect (although it was HOT; we hit 100 degrees!), the water was clear, the food was delicious, the friends were great, and we loved where we stayed.

So...how about a little beach getaway recap for ya?

We loved our beach house! It was right across from the beach and we also had the lagoon behind us. And it was so roomy...


We had a great time with friends (and family)...

and even boyfriends (Brett went with us this time)...

Our friends Nathan and Tina...

and Sydney with her best friend, Haley Jo...

Once we made it onto the beach, it was hard to get ourselves away from it. There was just too much fun to have. Like digging in the sand (while my other girls love the ocean and surf, Sydney was not too keen on getting into the water. She'd wade around the edge, but she preferred to dig and play in the sand)...



being with Pop and Mom...


Tumbling on the beach (here Delaney with her best friend, Kayla)...



Hanging out in the Man Tent (well, if you were a man...otherwise, they liked to tell you to go away. LOL)...

Burying Brett in the sand...

More playing in the sand...

Playing in the surf...

And flying a kite (you can see Sydney's Tinkerbell kite up in the air if you look real closely)...


One of the things I was determined to do this time at the beach was get some pictures of the entire family together on the beach...so, before we left, I got white attire for all of us and told them they Would be posing for pictures. And, other than me and Delaney being all toasty burned and itching for the pictures, I think they turned out great...







Then, of course, there's lots of other fun to be had while you're at the beach. We always have a pretty intense game of Putt Putt Golf going on...



(we divided up in teams but, alas, Nathan and Gary and Brett rounded out the Top Three. I crashed and burned and did not do well.)

Then we went to The Track for go-karting and the arcade and kiddie rides. Sydney loved the swings...

And she drove her own mini go-kart (she proudly announced afterwards that she came in second place.Yes, I have raised another competitive child)...

And then she and Gary rode together, along with all the other kids, on the big go-kart track...

They raced the whole time against Nathan and Haley Jo. I think that the winner is still up for debate...

and here you can (if you look really closely; these pics are so fuzzy!) see Delaney rounding the curve in back...

After go-karting, Kayla and Austin decided to try the big bungee jumping slingshot thingie (they hoist you way you up in the air and then "shoot" you over everyone). I personally thought they were insane, but they said it was great. LOL...


The fun always continues on the way home, especially if you're leaving Gulf Shores and stop to eat at Lambert's (home of the most massively huge plates covered with Southern-style food, and their famous "throwed rolls"). Here's Tina getting ready to catch a roll...

and Haley Jo and Sydney trying to get their mouths around them...

and then we always stop for ice cream at Peach Park. I had the MOST delicious homemade blueberry ice cream (and don't you just love my red face and body? Ugh!)...

and Sydney, of course, had to look cute in more posed pictures...

We had an absolutely fabulous time and I would go back today if I possibly could. But...I got other stuff to get ready for and enjoy (softball! writing! fun with the kids! more clothes washing!) and, besides, we get to go back again in July to Panama City Beach. We're already looking forward to that!

Thanks for taking that virtual beach getaway with all of us. I hope you enjoyed the trip!

20 comments:

Lisa said...

wonderful pictures!!

Corey said...

Looks like so much fun!! the pictures are incredible! East coast beaches are so different from the West.

Anonymous said...

These pictures are all so great, but I really love the family pictures on the beach. You all look beautiuful.

Marg

Stephenie said...

Woo! I think I even got a little sun from that trip :] I wanna go to the beach so bad Haha I hope Ray and I get to go. Even if it's only once. It's not summer if you don't take a beach trip!

Adrienne said...

Great pics! Looks like you guys had a great time!

Lynilu said...

Wow! What a vacation!

Cheryl Wray said...

Lisa--Thanks!

Corey--And our Gulf is different too. It's crazy how different styles of beaches we have. But we're partial to ours! LOL

Marg--Thanks! I was really glad how they turned out.

Steph--I hope you guys can go too. We love it!

Adrienne--You know we did!

Lynilu--It was! We love the beach (if it's not obvious already!). :-)

Laura said...

We love Gulf Shores!! It's just beautiful and now you've got me wishing we could go back! I know you guys had a BLAST!!

hippo chick said...

Great pics. You really did get burned. I am soooo longing for a beach vacation. I think we need to plan on Alabama somewhere in our future.

~hippo hugs~

Cheryl Wray said...

Sheila--Thanks!

Laura--It's always been one of my favorite beaches too.

Hippo--You've GOT to make it Alabama someday. The Gulf coast here and in Florida is just perfect; you guys would love it!!

Nina Diane said...

great pictures...looks like a good time had by all

Gin said...

I cannot believe how much action you got in while on vacation.

It looks like so much fun. (Now if only i can manage a trip to the beach sometime this summer.)

Marjolein said...

Wow.... great, love those pictures, and all the white!! How did you get blogger to work with you loading all this?:-)

Oh, I got some more graduation pictures on my blog.... in case you'd like to see them LOL
Have a great weekend!

Phats said...

Awesome pictures, what a great family you have Cheryl. Is that girl doing a back tuck in that picture?

Bringing the boyfriend WOW!

I love slingshot!! It's awesome

Stephenie said...

Agreed! We'll see how things go money wise, I suppose. Cross your fingers!

Mississippi Songbird said...

Wonderful photos. Looks like you are having a great summer.. I've been outside a lot too.. I just haven't been on computer as much..
Bunches of hugs..

Edleen said...

Wow! you look really good Cheryl :)
my fave would the Family shots. really Beautiful.

Unknown said...

OMG! I am so JEALOUS! I want to go to the beach, and RELAX! I could almost feel it through your pictures!

Speaking of pictures! Yours are AMAZING! You got some really GREAT shots in there!

I LOVE Lambert's! I am hoping that the Mister and I will be able to stop when we go to Tennessee next week! They have such YUMMY food!

Daisy said...

I love your vacation pictures...particularly the family pictures on the beach! Gorgeous! Looks like you had a great time.

Gretchen said...

Sunscreen, my friend. Sunscreen! Apply liberally. :)

Your pics look awesome. Love the idea of dressing everyone in white.

Gulf shores is now a must see for me.