Annual Beach Trip 2013

Well, we had another fabulous week at the beach with great friends this past week. As I type this, we are headed home to Memphis. This year, the Dowtys, Zermenos, Worths, and our family as well as Dan, Kevin, and Nick were at the beach. We missed the Gosa family as they were in Australia on a family trip. 

If you haven't heard about our trip before, we all rent one house on the beach for a week. It's usually in the Gulf Shores area-this year it was in Fort Morgan. 

We set up three tail gate tents right out from our house on the beach for the week. We keep all out chairs and beach stuff out there all week. It's perfect! We saw more dolphins this year than we have seen in the past. They were even jumping out of the water several different times. It was amazing! Lots of fish, sting rays, and a guy even caught a shark from the beach! The Blue Angels practiced several days above us.

Each family takes a night to cook for everyone. We had great meals - taco night, chicken stir fry, baked chicken and dressing, BBQ nachos, fish tacos, and John made shrimp po-boys for lunch one day which Caleb said were better than the Shrimp Basket's. We all went out the last night at a restaurant at the Wharf. 

I really think this is my favorite week of the entire year. It's so nice to just get away and relax. We really just unwind this week. Play games, laugh, visit, and just slow down from the craziness of life. 

Our first year of doing this (which I think was in 2007), we either said we would hate each other after this trip or love each other more. Well, after seven years, we are all still great friends and not sick of each other. I can't imagine life without these amazing friends God has placed in our lives. It's a blessing to have the older kids in the lives of our kids. Caleb and Carley absolutely love them all and I am thankful for the love they are shown-even from friends of theirs that were on the trip this year and in years past. 

The Gosas have moved to Alabama and the Zermenos are moving to Denver soon, which makes me sad,  but I know we will stay in touch. 

We are already thinking about next summer and I know it will be another fabulous week. Thanks friends for letting us be a part of this group-we love y'all!