The Summer Vacation

posted by The Osborns at 7:37 PM

That picture pretty much says it all. The fam and I spent the last week in Panama City Beach and had a much needed break from DC life. A special thanks to Kerrie's brother Johnny, his wife Christy and their two boys for allowing us to invade their house for the week. It was a heck of a drive but well worth it...as you will see below. But caution....this post is long...I mean really long.

The trip actually started out two weeks ago for Kerrie and the kiddos. On Father's Day, they headed south to South Carolina to Kerrie's parent's house in Easley (right outside of Greenville). The following day, Big Mo, along with her grandfather and uncle, headed off to a week-long church camp while Kerrie and the smallest two hung back with Kerrie's mom in Easley.

Not to worry about me. I got my Fathers Day time in the day before and we also took some great pictures.

My crew - I'm one lucky guy.

The sisters...err...daughter and mom.

Us. I really liked the B&W of this one.

The one that got me in trouble.

Here is C in South Carolina where even there he is eating everything.

During the week, the crew made it out to the Greenville Zoo. Here is K checking out elephants, giraffes, lions, and riding a bear....sorta.

Here are K's promo photos for the zoo's PR department.

Grammie swimming with the grandkids.

On another afternoon, they headed to the coolest public park ever. This is the same park we went to around this time last year when we visited (found here).

While K looked for ducks....

C crashed.

During the week, I hung back in DC and held down the fort. I also watched one heck of a three game series at the College World Series (notice the title banner above for the glorious results). I will have a post on the National Champs probably this weekend with pictures and the like. Truly a heck of a season and a great return to national prominence for the baseball team in just a few short years.

On Friday, I loaded down my car and headed to SC to picked up my crew and head even further south to Florida. 950 miles later, we found ourselves in Panama City in Saturday evening.

C enjoying the ride.

And this is why we drive so far.

On Saturday night, C immediately showed off for his Aunt Christy and Uncle Johnny. C loves sudden moves and loud noises. He thinks they are hilarious. He is going to be a great roller coaster partner in a few years.

Here he is again announcing something we didn't quite understand.

Sunday found us here.

The sisters again.

The Show.

K and her cousins.

And then there was some Slip N Slide.

Trouble.

K's cousins had football camp during the week so we had to stop at the sporting goods store. This was the result.

On the morning of my birthday, I was up early and ready for the beach. The teenager however...

C's first look at the beach and ocean. Cool moment.

C losing his feet.

C in his first dip in the ocean. Notice the face on the right.

K and the boys burying Uncle Johnny with K taking it a bit too literal on the right.

K representing the National Champion baseball team.

And C, of course, chewing on something.

Birthday dinner. Yummy.

On Wednesday night, the Osborn clan arrived in PCB. Here is C with his Poppa.

Uncle Derek and cousin Savo (though I understand I may not be able to call her that much longer because "I'm big now.")

C chillin' at the pool in his float.

Savo taking the plunge.

C and his Aunt Christy.

Poppa talking politics with K and making some funny faces at C.

C getting some lunch and a rest with Mommy.

Setting sun on a good day.

K and Savo finding their shaker of salt and coloring a truly rainbow fish.

Good lookin' guy.

Here is C doing his best to convince his uncle to have another baby.

And here is C (a.k.a. the Flirt) with his new girlfriend. Although he didn't stop with Aunt Rhonda. He made eyes at his Aunt Christy and made friends with every female at every table within a 10 foot radius of every restaurant we went to. Trouble in the making I tell you.

So here is C watching the one-man band. When the guy first started singing, C just turned his head. By the 3rd song, he had turned all the way around and did a nice slouch over the edge of the highchair and didn't move until the guy stopped playing about 20 minutes later. Not sure if he loves music or was amused by this guy playing Wham and Sinead O'Connor within two songs of each other.

C providing indian war chants to the entire restaurant.

The Oz's.

The next day, C was back on the beach and got a little crazy with it as you will see below.

Meanwhile, Johnny and his boys did some digging.

While Christy did some school reading.

Now...ladies who work with Rhonda (who I understand are all big fans of this blog)...this picture is for you. Particular attention must be paid to Rhonda's bookmark, which she got free at Walmart with her purchase.

Kerrie having a break while . . .

C causes trouble with Poppa.

C warning his Poppa that he is deadly with some sand . . . and the results. For the first time on the beach and in the sand, C absolutely loved it. Video evidence below.

Here is C, who is not very happy that his Mommy's foot keeps getting dirty.

C having some unintended (at least according to his parents) lunch.

C loving on his Poppa.

And a whole lot of sand crawling.

And sand dancing.

And here is the end result.