"Panama City HOLLA!  City of FLO'DA! #PCB"

That was the tweet Russ sent out at 1:27 AM on the morning of June 2.  Yes, we were awake at that hour.  In fact, we were just pulling out of our parking lot headed toward the beach!  I worked Friday until 6, and Russ worked from 5 PM to 1 AM Friday night.  We made the decision a couple weeks ago to drive through the night, and enjoy an early day of vacation.  Kristin and Lee decided they would join us.  So Kristin and Lee arrived at our apartment around midnight ready to roll!  Since Russ wasn't off yet, we made a last minute trip to Walmart looking for a few traveling necessities.  When Russ finally arrived, we hit the road!  Full force!

We arrived in Panama City Beach with a full day of sunshine and whatever we wanted to do!  Worth the drive!  We began our day by checking in early, reserving our beach chairs for the week, and some swimsuit shopping for Kristin.  We ate a late lunch at Margaritaville, where Mama and Daddy met us when they got into town.  It was so nice to have all the "little things" taken care of before our first day on the beach.  We basically had one extra day of vacation!

When the sun rose on the first day, we were all up and ready to go!  Unusually early.  Mama cooked an amazing breakfast every single morning.  Among our favorites were...bran muffins, cheese grits, breakfast casserole, and cheese danish.  I began every morning with a delicious breakfast out on the balcony overlooking the beach.  Now, that's the way I could begin every morning for the rest of my life!  Heavenly!

After finishing our yummy breakfast, we made our way down to the beach for some sun, sand, salt water, and FUN!  I'm sure you know by now...it's a ZOO anywhere this family goes!  And, the beach was no exception...

A family friend saw these visors at the store, and she said she immediately thought of us.  Mama brought them to the beach, and we grabbed our visor of choice.  We had so many people stop to ask where we got them.  Special thanks to Paula for thinking of my crazy family when you saw these visors!  They were a BIG HIT!

We spent our first day on the beach enjoying the sun and watching the waves...

Daddy and Mama

Studying a little...

Who says you can't party and study at the same time!?  Dr. Russ can!  Ha!

And enjoying the crystal clear ocean...

Dustin brought a new "honorary Smith member" on this trip, and I can say that Sheila hung in there with the best!  I don't think we scared her off.  In fact, she may have even had a great time! 

Dustin and Sheila

As with any beach trip, the girls spent our time laying out, talking, reading, singing to the music, enjoying the water on our feet, and watching the boys play.

Clancy

Kristin

Kristin, Sheila, Clancy, and me

Cousins

The boys spent the majority of their time playing corn hole, throwing the frisbee, and throwing the baseball.  They aren't too keen on sitting still all day.  Of course, the girls took their turn too.  Boys can't have all the fun.  Now, Sheila showed her competitive side here.  She and Dustin took corn hole seriously.  Well...maybe everyone did but me and Kristin.  Ha!  That's probably because we aren't any good.  Most days they had an audience helping cheer them on and keep score. 

Since all our Smith anniversaries are the same week so far, my parents took us all to eat at Louisiana Lagniappe in Destin.  It was a delicious dinner.  I think it was the best filet I have ever had! 

Everyone ordered something different I think.  Of course, Kristin and I ordered the same thing...filet mignon.  We never venture too far from what we know.  Ha!  The guys always order enormous dishes and love to compare.

Since it was our actual anniversary, the restaurant brought out a piece of key lime pie with a lit candle for my parents and Russ and I.  We blew out our candles and enjoyed a free dessert.  There's always room for a little something sweet no matter how stuffed we were!

For those of you who are new to our blog, this Panama City Beach trip originated with my grandparents many many years ago.  When we were very young, we vacationed here in Nonnie and Pops' camper.  Then, they purchased a time share.  They purchased two weeks...one week for them and another week for all the family. As the family grew in number and in size, our sleeping quarters became scarce.  I remember my grandparents sleeping on an inflatable mattress under the kitchen table...all snuggled up.  They used to always say they would never sell because it is the only time the entire family vacations together.  And, I am SO thankful. 

Now we changed the two week time share to two condos in one week.  That way, we have more room.  We are still growing, so next year the Smith side of the family will be able to enjoy a three bedroom condo.  We are pretty excited.  I know Dustin is, because he will finally have a real bed!

We count down and look forward to this week every year!  It is NOT summer until we are on the beach!  Over the last few years, we haven't ALL been able to join the family on this beach vacation.  One year my mom stayed with Nonnie in the hospital and Russ and I were in San Francisco with Jimmy and Roan's family while the rest of the family joined Pops on the beach.  Dustin has had school or work or other commitments.  Russ has been working or had med school.  Kristin and Lee were on their honeymoon, and Russ and I were on ours one year too.  But, this year we ALL were able to vacation TOGETHER!

Priceless memories were made!  Fun was had!  Schedules have been marked for next year's date!  No more missing this beach trip!

During the day, we spent HOURS on the beach.  At night, we enjoyed yummy meals cooked by Mama, Jack, Howard, and Kristin.  The "kids" enjoyed a little late night fun of our own.

Russ, me, Clancy, and Jack

A fun night at Tootsie's for "kids only" was the perfect time for unbridled fun!  Ha!  There are videos...but you will never see them.  Some things are just meant to be shared in the family.  Hehe!

Walking down to the Tiki Bar is a staple in our Coon family vacation.  The boys enjoyed unofficial ping pong tournaments, and Kristin and I found the most amazing deli sandwiches around!  Lunch at the Tiki Bar will be a new staple to our trip! 

Russ showing off his tennis skills

Russ and Dustin in serious competition

Sheila and Dustin watching a game

I can't get over how beautiful the week was!  The water was so clear most days, and the sun was shining bright!  We took advantage of every bit of it!  Usually we take a day to shop in Destin, but we were so scared we would miss a sunny day, we stayed put.

You see, the forecast showed rain every day of our trip.  But, the clear blue skies had other plans.  We just couldn't leave.  We opted, instead, to stop by Destin on our way home.

At night, Dustin and Sheila made a few walks on the beach searching for crabs.  Mama decided to pick them up some helpful tools when she went to the store...headlights and a net.  They lined a cooler with a grocery bag to keep their 10-12 crabs.  We all watched from the balcony as they ran after each crab.  Besides the one Sheila accidentally cut in half with her net, they caught quite a few.  Knowing these two...the crabs may or may not have been named.  Ha!

On our last day, one crab made his home right in front of our beach chairs.  He spent his day playing "peekaboo" with us.  Dustin and Sheila named him Herm.  Herm had his home flooded once with a big wave, but Dustin and Lee helped rebuild it.  Lee even surrounded Herm's home with "cobblestone" aka seashells for a cute decoration.  Herm provided hours of entertainment for our group.  It doesn't take much!

Our Aunt Patsy has always loved the beach!  She never goes in for lunch.  She always spends her early morning until the sun goes down laying in a beach chair as the waves rush over her.  This year, she didn't spend too much time on the beach, but when she did, she was in that chair watching the waves rush over her.

She spent the rest of her days on the balcony overlooking us.  She got just as much sun, and she said it was cooler.  She may have even had a few naps out there. 

Uncle Howard and Jack spent our last day at the beach on a deep sea fishing trip.  They never miss it.  They also went fishing off the pier one afternoon.  So, the reason you may not see many pictures of Jack...and NO pictures of Uncle Howard...is because they were elsewhere a lot of the time.  Enjoying their trip just the same, no doubt!

Sisters

We always love our traditional trip to Captain Anderson's for dinner.  Dustin, Russ, and I enjoyed our walk around the marina while we waited to be seated.  We also happened up on the area where the fish are cleaned.  Stinky!  I began to get a headache on the ride to the restaurant, and by the time supper was nearing an end, I was sick with a horrible headache.  Sadly, Russ accompanied me to the car to lay down while the rest of the group enjoyed dessert and got their traditional pictures by the giant propeller.  Oh well!  Maybe next year!

We spent a total of six full days on the beach.  I kept saying that I just needed two more days.  None of us were ready to leave.  We could have stayed there all summer.  We were leaving all our creatures...Bert the pigeon, Peg the one-legged seagull, and Herm the crab.  We were leaving our crazy Coon family.  We were leaving a zero stress environment and unscheduled days.  We were leaving our paradise.

It was strange getting ready Saturday morning and getting dressed in clothes instead of swimsuits.  It was a bit depressing packing up our cars for a long trip home.  It was, as always, a day of wishful thinking...wishing we could stay just a little longer.

That's the joy of a family beach vacation.  Never wanting to leave.  And looking forward to June 1, 2013!  We'll be back!

Happy SEVENTH Anniversary!

Russ and I have been together for a few years now...12 to be exact.  After 5 years of dating, we exchanged vows on June 4, 2005.  It was a day I will never forget!  It would be cute for me to say those were the best days of our life, but the truth is that our days are getting better and better the longer we have been married!  We are still having fun and enjoying each others' quirks, humor, and odd interests.  The longer we are together, the more we realize how unimportant the "small stuff" is.  There are things that are just not worth arguing over.  After seven years of marriage and going through the ups and downs that we have faced, there are a few lessons I have learned.  I'll share a few...

Our anniversary picture

1. Settle arguments quickly.  Holding a grudge is a waste of time.  We are not promised tomorrow, and I sure would hate to waste any of my valuable time giving the silent treatment.  Russ and I are pretty quick to get over arguments or disagreements.  Sometimes the argument is resolved, and sometimes we just go on with our day and transition with some goofy joke or "you know you love me" statement.  Get the ugly stuff over with!  Don't let it fester and become a source of resentment.
2. Say "I love you" a lot.  You can never say it enough.  I'll admit that Russ probably initiates it more than I do, but it never loses its impact.  There is nothing better than when Russ walks up out of the blue and gives me a big hug and says, "I love you."  Of course, I know my husband loves me...but I still like to hear it.  And it doesn't hurt to tell each other how "hot" you each are!  Ha!  We have always done that too...whether we are 30 pounds overweight or not.
3. Hold hands.  Holding hands is probably the first "act of love" you ever showed your boyfriend.  That doesn't mean that you don't need to hold hands anymore!  Holding hands is still an important act of love.  If you are not into PDA, hold hands while watching a movie, while riding in the car, or while praying together.  After seven years, we are still holding hands and I hope we never stop.
4. Embrace your differences.  For example, Russ is a much more carefree and "go lucky" person than I.  I am more logical and very careful about what others think.  I'm perceptive on how others feel about what I'm saying and I know when to drop a topic.  Russ...not so much.  Now, you should know that Russ doesn't have a bad bone in his body...so nothing he says is ever hurtful.  It's just goofy sometimes.  Ha!  I used to try to help him out, but now I just join in and laugh.  I guess I've grown to think like him.  That's scary!  I laugh at his jokes and think he's so cute...bless him.  Ha!  I've learned to embrace our differences...because, in actuality, we would be one boring couple if we were both like me.  Russ is certainly the life of our little party!  Granted, there are some differences that are much more difficult to embrace.  But our life gets better and much more enjoyable when we try to embrace each other's differences.
5. Be on each others' sides.  Whether I'm right or wrong, I know Russ is on my side.  Now, he may not agree with me, but he will always be on my side...supporting me...helping me.  When it comes to me venting about a situation between myself and another person, he always helps me see the other person's side.  But in the end, he is on my side.  That's the kind of partner I need.  Someone that I can depend on through life's poopy moments.  Someone that I can count on to be on my side, never make me feel like an outsider, and love me no matter what my viewpoint, attitude, outfit, or interests are.  He just loves me for me.

Although seven years sounds like a long time to me, it certainly doesn't feel like it!  I know we have much much more to learn about marriage and each other, and those lessons will come in time.  There have been many times when we both got this marriage thing wrong a time or two.  But, I can honestly say that God knew exactly what he was doing when He planned our family.  He knew that these past six years of "praying for more" was exactly what we needed to become a stronger and closer couple.  It took a while, but we are now loving our "Party of Two" life and living up every moment we have with just the two of us.  I'm so thankful for the last seven years, and I can't wait to see what the next seven bring!

Happy Anniversary, Dr. Russ!  I love you!

Ten Months

Baby J,

Here it is.  Another month has come and gone!  Time is flying by, and I am more and more anxious and excited...because I know that each day brings us closer to you!  This month has been a whirlwind of activity, fun, and our first beach vacation.  All our plans have kept our minds super busy.  This time last year, I just knew we would be headed to the beach with you in tow.  However, God has other plans!  I can't wait to see what they are.  So instead, we headed to the beach as a "Party of Two" and embraced every opportunity we could...just in case it was our last. 

We also spent our Memorial Day weekend at Pickwick with your aunts and uncles.  We are doing as  many last minute things as we can before we switch our roles to parents.  Your dad and I aren't known as "planners."  We get an idea that sounds fun, and we just go with it.  I know that as our family grows, we will need to plan better.  Ha!  Or maybe it's accurate to say we will need to plan a LOT better.  We are more than happy to plan for you!

You would have loved the beach, Baby J!  It was beautiful!  I watched so many families with their little ones playing under umbrellas or dipping their little toes in the water.  I noticed how different each child was, and it made me wonder what you would look like in your little swimsuit.  I daydreamed about how different our trip will be when you join the fun.  It will be a good different....the BEST kind of different I can imagine.  I prayed for you as I sat along the beach watching the waves rush over my feet.  I know that you are coming, and I pray that you feel the love so many have for you!  While we were gone, I noticed another placement on the agency's website.  I was so excited, because it has been a LONG time since I had seen one.  I am always encouraged when I can see things happening.  I can only imagine the joy that family feels this summer.  It will be a summer they will never forget!  Our time is coming.

It's hard to believe that it is June!  Wow!  Your dad and I celebrated our seventh anniversary this month.  I am so incredibly blessed that your daddy chose me!  Your daddy is a strong man.  He is the spiritual leader in our home.  He is compassionate, kind, and sensitive.  He makes me want to be a better person.  Everyone loves him...and his goofy comments, jokes, and interests.  He makes me laugh every day!  I just know you two will be best friends.  I am also fully prepared for your daddy to be "that dad."  You know, the one that waves a goofy wave and yells "I love you!" while dropping you off in the car line.  I'm fully prepared for him to knock on the car window with a huge smile when you are on a date just to remind you that he's there.  I'm fully prepared, and I want you to be too.  Hehe!  Try not to be embarrassed, because you will come to learn that he is the greatest person on this earth.  You will cry for him to hug you because he has the best hugs.  You will call him just to hear his voice because he always loves to talk.  You will ask him to tell jokes because they are incredibly corny!  You will want to be around him because he is so fun.  I am so grateful to be seven years blessed with a wonderful marriage!  I pray that you find a strong, Christian spouse that makes you laugh and feel special every day.  I pray that you listen to God as He guides you to that person.  I am praying for that person too...even though it will be a very very very very very long time before you even think about marriage!  Ha!  I am still praying for God to prepare that person to be your best friend and partner in life.

We have a couple more vacations planned this summer...unless you want to surprise us with your arrival.  We have another beach vacation in July with your dad's side of them family.  It is always fun to vacation with children...eight of them to be exact.  Well, I'm not sure we can call your older cousins children...one of them just got engaged!  Wow!  But, I can remember when they were definitely all children for sure.  Sometimes I wish time would just slow down for a minute, because I look and they are grown.  I'm sure I will only feel that feeling more and more as I watch you grow.  In August, we have another fun trip planned.  For their anniversary, your SuSu gave your grandaddy tickets for the whole family to see the American Idol tour in Nashville.  I'm very excited about seeing a few of my favorites: Skylar, Colton, and of course Philly Phil!  I wonder if American Idol will still come on by the time you are old enough to realize it...  I wonder if you will be a good singer...or a good dancer...or a ball player...  See how my mind wonders?!

I may not know many things about you right now, but there are a few things I know for certain.  I know that God has His hand all over your story.  I know that your dad and I already love you more than you will ever know.  I know that God loves you even more!  And I know that my heart will be overflowing with joy at the very sight of you...or at the very sound of our social worker letting us know about you.  I know that I will want to study every inch of you...your toes, your toenails, your fingers and fingernails, your elbows, your baby fat rolls, your little knees, and your little nose.  I will study your eyes and eyelashes.  I will run my fingers across your little bald head...unless of course you have a head full of hair.  I will shower you with kisses and I love you's.  I'm also pretty sure I will shower you with tears.  Get used to it.  I'm an emotional crier.  All these things I know for sure...yet so many I can't wait to learn!

As we inch closer to our one year update, I never stop thinking about and praying for you!  You are so very loved.  You are so very wanted.  You are so very special!  We cannot wait for you to share your life with us.  We are waiting...

I love you,
Mama

Birfday Partay!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear Farley!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Farley turned 7 years old today!  In dog years, that 49...such a little old man!  Last night, Russ and I took Farley to our hometown so he could be boarded today while we are on vacation.  When we arrived, Farley had a birthday gift waiting for him.

He was very excited as shown by his complete lack of interest in anything we tried to get him to do.  We did manage to snap a few pictures of him reading his birthday card.  Ha!

Farley's grandparents gave him a card and a wonderful gift!  A week of FREE room and board!  Yay!  I absolutely hate taking Farley to be boarded.  In fact, I've only done it once.  Never again!  When we went to Disney World a few years back, Russ wasn't able to get off work in time to drop Farley off...so I had to do it.  Let me just say that I barely made it out the door before I burst into hysterics.  I literally cried all the way from Jackson to Hattiesburg.  It was just so sad.  His little tail was tucked, and he was shaking.  Pitiful.  Having my parents board him for us takes that hard part away.  I'm so thankful!

This morning we all woke up telling Farley it was his birthday.  He was elated!  Don't believe me?  Take a look at this....

"Let's PARTAAAAAAAY!!!"

See?  I told you!  He was screaming with enthusiasm.  Hahaha!  We gave him treats all morning and made sure to pet him and hold him as much as possible.  We knew what his plans were.  He didn't.  We knew that soon he would be locked in a kennel at our local vet's office.  Probably whining and barking.  Brodie, his cousin, will be with him...so maybe that will help a little.  We are thankful that our vet takes very good care of sweet Farley, and we trust him completely.  While he is there, he will be groomed and have his teeth cleaned.  I'm looking forward to a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed puppy when we pick him up! 

Sweet baby boy!

I had a fun surprise today at work!  I heard the bell ring, and I looked to greet the customer when I saw Matt and Leah walking in.  Leah and I were block partners in college, and she became a precious friend!  I haven't seen them in forever!  Leah actually sent Baby J a package a while back.  You can see that here.  She and Matt have a 14 month old sweet little boy who I have yet to meet.  It's ridiculous really since they live in Tupelo, and it's not that far.  Totally my fault!  After this sweet surprise, I am motivated to make a better effort to visit my friends more often.  They also made sure to tell me to say "Happy Birthday to Farley!"  Ha!  They are animal people too.  SOOOOO great to see you two!

[Sigh.]

I hope Farley has had a wonderful seventh birthday, and I hope he has fun this week.  Maybe Brodie will teach him how to play "I Spy" or something to pass the time.