FINALLY!!! A DESTIN-ATION!

It obviously doesn't take much to get my shorts in a dither...Our entire family (all kids and most grands) took a trip for a Cave-A-Palooza....in Destin, Florida last week. This has been planned since early Spring and was hatched one evening during a Christmas get together...The idea was our children's..to see if we could co-habitate in one big spot ( meaning a large house) for a solid week without police intervention.  I have to admit, some times it was close, but we managed to finish our week by the ocean without any major disasters..and we are all still speaking~! Here are some photos of the good times...

One of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen...

Crystal clear blue water and white sand beaches..

It was seriously like a living inside a water color work of art!!!

This was our 7 bedroom, 5 bath, 2 kitchen house 1 short block from the ocean. There were bedrooms on every floor, including the "tower room" on the 4th floor...Our granddaughter, Taylor, got that one!

...and we had a long skinny pool at our house too!

Now this is quite a bunch right here!!!!

Here are all of the kids! Obviously they had NO fun at all!!!!! We had to sweep sand out of the house every day at least twice!

Frank Lloyd Wright, eat your heart out...Now THIS was a working sand castle complete with a moat!!!

 

Of course, raw oysters were a must have...for some..
.

The "adult" table...We do clean up pretty good!!

Sophia and Landon loved boarding that surf!!!

Some went "Go Carting"!!!

Taylor had no fun at all..what a shame.

The night before we left, we all went to dinner then to the beach for some family photos as the sun was setting..

Kelly and Cindy Cave

Chris and John Wolff

Tim and Terrie Heiser 

Chris and John brought along what is called a Sky Lantern..It's much like a mini hot air balloon...You can hand light it and watch it fly..We did that our last evening on the beach...

....And finally it begins to fly!!!

This was so amazing to watch it disappear...It went really high!

I hear you are suppose to make a wish when it goes aloft...

 

Some of the "kids" couldn't contain their excitement!! 

 

The kitchen/great room with balcony on the second floor.

CHOW TIME!!Each couple cooked on night, and another did KP (clean up)..Yep, saved us a buck or two!!!This night was Chris and John's turn to cook and the made a wonderful Low Country Grill..shrimp, potatoes, sausage and sweet corn..YUMMOLICIOUS!!!!

 Tim Heiser was just asking to be dumped off that raft!!!

 

The "kid's" table at Happy Hour. 

Kelly and Cindy with 2 of their 6 grands, Sophia and Landon.

The Heiser clan

I know, I know...I'm not that great at "selfies"...and just look at me sweat!!!!

 

Our three rapscallion kiddos..

 

With 4 flights of steps to climb, we kept in shape..I wish they had thought to put in a slide on one of them...

 The Wolff family

The notorious Cave sisters...and no, they didn't plan on the same suit and hats...truly a coincidence. 

 

It all started in 1969, when I met Dennis and his fancy Chevelle...See what it got us?? 

 

Dennis and I ...OK, we normally don't look quite like this...

 Now THIS  is more like it!!!!

Thank you for tolerating my very long family blog. Obviously, we took sooooo many photos and made so many memories. This was probably a once in a lifetime trip and we are so very blessed to have such a crazy, fun group altogether in one place!!!! Cherish those moments!