Beach Time

This is what I saw everyday. How can you not be happy with this in front of you?!

My annual family vacation to Gulf Trace just outside of Grayton Beach (not the redneck riviera) was this past week. Wes was unable to attend but I still managed to go and have a great time with my family. This year it was back to basics with just my mom, dad, sister, me, Bonnie, and Jerry.

We celebrated Jerry's 60th birthday down there.

Jerry's big Western hat from New Mexico. He loved it!

Since I have no money to offer to help pay for things while I'm there, I do all of the cooking for dinners for the week. Everything revolves around the freshest seafood and fish we can get from Goatfeathers down the road. I made my first BIG dish of Paella and it turned out really well! Other meals included Frogmore Stew (a staple of any FL vacation with my family), Pan- Seared Tuna in a Red Curry Sauce, Grilled Tilapia with a Chili-Lime Sauce, and Crab Tostadas. Everything was simply delicious and we had a great time getting to devour all the food!

My days began with either a 15-20 mile bike ride or a 2-5 mile jog in HORRENDOUS humidity. You don't realize how easy it is to run in AR until you try to run in FL with no breeze what so ever. After a bit of ye ole exercise, it was time to grab a quick bite and head to the beach - I easily spent a total of 30-35 hours down there this week. WONDERFUL! I always have been a beach bunny...this was my 27th trip to our private little FL beachfront community. Of course drinks were had throughout the week - Jerry's Tequila Punch, Frozen Peach Bellinis, Margaritas, and Mimosas just to name a few.

Sarah and me...and my newly forming 6 pack!

Jerry and me playing horseshoes. I am the new beach horseshoe champion!

Out of all my years of coming to this location, I have never seen the water as consistently beautiful as this week. There was hardly any seaweed/algae and I didn't see any jellyfish either (always a plus). And on the last day, the water was prefectly clear...absolutely NOTHING in it. Saw straight to the bottom and lots of different fish.

We only had one tiny bit of rain come through the whole week.
While the clouds looked threatening, it only resulted in a 15 min. downpour -
then the sun came out again!

All in all, it was great times with family and I'm already aching to go back next year...hopefully, Wes will be there too!