Fort Walton Beach

Grace and Anna

Summer is ending. We have finally unpacked the suitcases and started the laundry from our long awaited trip to Fort Walton Beach. We had a blast, looking for shells, avoiding the seaweed/algae, staying away from marine life including fish, sand sharks and jellyfish, and yes swimming in the condominium pool. Grace had two and a half days of fun playing with her two year old cousin, Taylor. They were really good together; the only real problems were sharing the attention of the Grandparents. As Taylor says "My Papa", but Grace stood her ground and commanded attention too. Taylor was willing to give up some Papa or Grandma time as long as Aunt Sarah would let him jump into the pool or Uncle Tom would play chase me. Taylor and Gramma
For those of you who know how Grace eats, we have found the secret. Spend three hours every morning at either the pool or beach and sit her next to her un-picky cousin or watching a movie. She ate so well last week at all three meals I thought she would have gained more than one pound, but alas only one registered on the scale. However, she did eat spaghetti and meatballs again which she had begun to turn her nose up at and tried several new types of chips and even Polynesian sauce from Chick-fil-a. She ate ice cream most nights in honor of her Papa (Mommy did too.) On most days she ate a blueberry waffle, some bacon and some fruit for breakfast(whoa), a small snack on the beach of juice and pretzels, a ham and cheese sandwich, fruit, chips and a cookie for lunch and chicken nuggets and fries for dinner followed by a bowl of ice cream. This was unprecedented and we didn't even have to fight her on it.
Grace loved the pool, of course. The gulf was green with either seaweed or algae, we weren't sure. It would stick to everything. It was so dense on some days that several fish were killed. When the stuff would go out with the tide and the water was clearer, there were small sand sharks a foot off the shore and several jellyfish were seen. The last day we were there, several children, Grace included, left the water itching. No one was stung that we knew of, just itching which was cured by washing off in the showers and then swimming in the pool. So it ended up that usually after about an hour on the beach, mommy and Grace, Taylor and Papa would end up at the pool until lunch. Grace loved the pool because it was only 3 to 5 feet deep and the stairs were wide and easily played on. She started bobbing in the water and loved diving for her princesses. She even swam the width of the pool on one breath. She practiced her strokes and loved diving in. She made friends with a little boy and his sister and looked for them everyday at the pool.
As for me, I have sworn off of tomato sauce. It looks like pizza, spaghetti and things of the sort are causing my own sleeping issues. After a night of yummy spaghetti, I spent the night sitting up on the couch to sleep with acid reflux. Nothing would cut it. Finally around four I was able to lay down on the bed with 4 pillows under me. It is becoming increasingly hard to sleep more than two hours at a time. I am definitely going to have to go to bed earlier.
Tom enjoyed his beach trip; he read I believe four and a half books over the 7 nights we were there. It would have been more except, the last book he is still reading doesn't seem to grab his attention like the others. He heads for the prosecutors conference this Saturday (my birthday). He will no doubt get in some more reading while there. He was also disappointed in the gulf waters being so murky. Grace tried very hard to play and swim in it, but it was just gross.
Well we have a week and then we are headed to Cortez, Fl for our last hurrah of the summer. Grace and I will fly and Tom will drive to meet us there. It should be filled with more fun and family and swimming. Enjoy the last few weeks before school starts!