Santa pictures

Here are some pictures from Shannon's Christmas party with Santa Sid last weekend.  Melanie wasn't too crazy about Santa this year, but we got a couple of decent shots...

 
 

2009 Haloween

 

 

 
 

Fall Y'all

 

Spirit Fridays

Melanie's got Auburn spirit on Fridays, even if she lives in Georgia.  War Eagle!

 

Matt and Ashley's Wedding

 

Well, we got the album posted right after we got home, but haven't had a chance to write anything, or really let anyone know it was over there.  But, there it is, over on the left.  Matt was a good friend of Mark's, in architecture school at Auburn.  I got to know Matt and Ashley at Ono Island, after everyone had graduated.  Matt's parents had the house on the island where we all hung out (we also rented the house next door, for more room).  Many fun memories were made on those trips, and that is where I got to know all the awesome people that Mark already knew from school.  We've gone to each other's weddings over the past 7 years, and have had so much fun at each one!  This one was in Southport, Maine, at the Newagen Seaside Inn.  We took a flight up there with the Fullers and the Littleton's, who drove over from Birmingham.  We all joked about how we didn't think any of us would get to the airport on time that day, but little did we know that catching the flight home would be even worse.  We arrived on Friday, safe and sound, just in time for the lobster bake. 

We've never really had a whole lobster before, so there was a little bit of a learning curve.  But, we figured it out soon enough, and had a great time.  The next day, hurricane Danny set in, but we didn't let that stop us from enjoying the sites.  The Fullers and Mark and I stayed at a different hotel, called the Beach Cove Hotel, which was in Boothbay Harbor (about a 10 minute drive from the Inn). 

 

So, that morning, we went out to breakfast, then we walked around all of the neat little shops.  That was when we really learned that we should have brought some shoes, other than flip flops and dress shoes.  The rain was freezing cold, but we really did have a good time.  Then, we headed back to the hotel to clean up for the wedding.  The wedding had to be moved inside, to the lobby of the Inn, but everything was decorated so nicely, it was still so beautiful. 

Being inside really made for an intimate ceremony, as well.  Our friend Marion, along with an official pastor, performed the ceremonies.  They both did an amazing job, and there were both tears and laughter throughout the ceremony.  After the wedding, we had a delicious sit down dinner, followed by dancing to a band with an affinity for 80's music.  Turns out, that Ashley used to host an 80's radio show in college.  So, that explained why she had no fears about getting on stage for several songs, with Matt.  After for reception, we headed over to the Pine Room for more fun.  This was an old game room, located at the Inn, where you could play candlestick bowling, pool, ping pong, the piano, or just sit around and hang out. 

This is where we had some of the most fun, catching up with old friends.  On Sunday, we stuck around Maine, to do some more shopping.  We went to Freeport, where L.L. Bean has their flagship store, among tons of other great outlet and regular stores (Patagonia, Northface, Banana Republic, J. Crew, etc.). 

That night, those of us that were left went back to Boothbay Harbour to go out to dinner at the Tugboat Inn and Restaurant, which looks like a real tugboat!  Surprise, surprise...what did most people have for dinner?  Lobster! 

We said goodbye to some that night, and took off for the airport the next morning.  Again, we felt like we had all the time in the world to get there.  But, after one last photo op on the rocks,

a short shopping trip (who can resist boat and buoy christmas ornaments?!), an hour drive, and a stop at an airport restaurant for a late lunch, we ended up almost not making the plane again!  All in all, it was a great trip, and we wish Matt and Ashley the best!  Thanks for the experience! 

Collander Head

 

 

 

2009 Cape San Blas

This year, the "Phillips" side of the family decided to take a group vacation to Cape San Blas.  This is near Pt. St. Joe, where we all used to vacation together for many years as kids.  This year, to form memories with all the new family members, we decided to head back.  We had 22 people, which is a big jump from the last time we all vacationed together.  We had more of a house this time though, so that helped!  A lot of planning went into the trip, so we wouldn't have to spend any more time than necessary, shopping for, planning, and cooking meals.  Thank goodness my aunts and my mom are retired, so they had time to put it all together!

  The first day we were there, we went on a kayak tour to go scalloping.  We all wondered how the kids would do, especially Melanie, since she's the youngest.  Her cousin Travis, is 3 1/2 and her cousin Harrison is almost 3, and they all did great.  We had a little float with a canopy on it for Melanie to ride in while we snorkled around looking for scallops.  That day, we got more scallops than we've ever seen all at one time.  We had heard that this was going to be the best season for scallops in several years, but this was ridiculous.  Later that day, it took 4-5 people at a time shucking for 5 hours to get them all cleaned up.  It was worth it, though to get to taste "real" scallops again. 

The next day, we took out Drew's boat and Uncle Bobby's boat (the "Miss Jean"), and we rented a pontoon boat so we could go out scalloping again, and look for Sand Dollars this time.  We did find several Sand Dollars, and we found more scallops too.  After spending half the day on the boat, Mark and Barney left to go and try out the local golf course.  It wasn't exactly the best course, but they had fun anyway.   

The next day, we decided to take a break from the Sun and go to Apalachacola to do some shopping and eat lunch.  There was more there than we expected, but we actually couldn't get to as much as we would have liked, because Melanie had had it.  She got really overheated and was ready to go, so we went back to the beach house.

The next morning, half the boys had a fishing trip planned.  So, some of the rest of us spent the morning at the beach.  It turns out, that Brent caught a shark, and pulled it in almost the whole way on his own.  Jay stepped in at the end to help, but it was a pretty big catch.  So, it was understandable!  

The next day, the other half of the boys went on their fishing trip.  Then, in the afternoon, some of us went back out in Drew and Uncle Bobby's boats.  That night, was the most fun, because we went down to the beach to cook hotdogs, hamburgers, and s'mores.  We flew kites, plated Bocce Ball, and the kids played in the sand.  There's just something great about the beach at night.  And I know we all really loved that.  

The last day, we hung out at the beach and the pool, and just took it easy.  It was such a great vacation, that Elaine went ahead and booked the same house for next year, around the 4th of July.  We will have a new baby at that time, so I'm sure our activities will be a little more limited.  But, it would be great to join everyone again for such a great trip!