The "Finnster, et al."

On our way to and from Panama City Beach we traveled with only one of our children.  I foolishly assumed that it would be a very pleasant trip because Finn was not there to pester Sam and vice versa.  I don't know if I have never been more wrong about anything in my life.   Sam didn't sleep a wink.  He was very demanding.  He was loud.  I had plans to finish a book on the car ride up - I don't think I managed to finish a chapter. This is Sam on the way home.  If  possible he was even more demanding.  He yelled book almost the entire ride home.  I think I spent most of the trip turning around in my seat handing Sam a book.  He was really picky about his books too.  I couldn't just hand in any ol' book.  He had to have a new one - he would only reread a book after around an hour had passed.  He was so serious about reading. He looked very carefully at each page.  On our way home we stopped ...

On Finn's last full day at the beach Grandad and Gigi took him out of the water and into the amusement park.  Finn and Gigi rode the Ferris Wheel.  While on the phone, Finn told me that Grandad was to scared to ride the Ferris Wheel.  He and Grandad decided to ride the Merry-Go-Round.  Finn flew the plane by himself.  Next he had dinner at Margheritaville and made Harry Potter glasses.

Today I received the sweetest phone call from Finn. He was so excited to tell me that he stuck his head under the water and that he jumped the waves.  He then asked me - "when are you and daddy coming back to the beach?"  I explained to him that we were not coming back and that I would see him soon at home.  He responded, "but I'm worried about you mom."   Grandad and Gigi sent me a few pictures of what he has been up to.  Supper at Captain Andersons   He got a balloon animal turtle  . . .  . . . which was promptly eaten by his T-Rex.  He practiced his penmanship in the sand  He apparently woke up very early - the beach is very empty.  He built sand castles.  He jumped the waves.  He went diving for treasure.  (Big step for Finn - put his head under) He practiced going to the bottom of the pool and pushing himself back up.   He ki...

Today was our last full day in Panama City.  As always we started our day at the pool.   Grandad and Gigi left after a few minutes to go get a float for Sam.  While they were at the store Finn and I played "the cave." We walked by the waterfall/foliage area quietly and tried not to disturb the bears and sharks living in the cave.  When we made it safety out Finn would say that we had to go back in because we left our cellphones in the cave.  He had so much fun.  We played cave until Grandad and Gigi got back.  They came with a float for Sam and water gun/sword for Finn. After their naps we took the boys down to the little pool. Finn carries his sword everywhere.  Notably, we carries it in the back of his shirt like a real "ninja."  Finn practice is "aim" at his toys. Then the boys practiced their jumping. Sam started jumping too - well, he would count "one, two, three" and just sort of lean in. ...