panama city '08!

so, i'm sorry it's been a month since our last update. classes have started for both eric and me, so free time is at a premium these days.

needless to say, it was just over a week ago that eric, ezra, & i were in panama city with my mom's side of the family for an extended labor day weekend. we all gathered for a family reunion and to celebrate papa's 80th birthday. despite hurricane gustav's impending threats to our fun, our time there proved to be SO good! i think eric and i were most excited to teach ezra the importance of beach bum living because we do indeed think it is grand!

also, while we were there, ezra hit some major milestones!
1 - he cut his first tooth! grandpa (who is a dentist) had tears standing in his eyes because he was present for the momentous occasion.
2 - he learned to pull up! don't ask me how the kid did it, but at just over 7 months, munchkin will pull himself to standing when he grabs your index fingers. he may be small, but this kiddo is a beast!

here are some pics documenting the fun:


dipping with dad - fun times! note ezra's tongue action: i forgot to say that he also learned how to stick out his tongue, so now it's like his favorite thing to do. in fact, that is how he greets me when he wakes up in the morning. lovely!



happily wave watching together - note how he never would put both feet in the sand! so funny!



hold me mama! the waves were a bit too loud and scary for his taste.



like father, like son. (i love these guys!!!)



so sand isn't his favorite thing ever ...



unless daddy lets him eat some! yum - crunchy!



fun with grandpa! (and more tongue action)



morning time with nannie!



sweet sugar from nana



mama's cousin toosie bird and her second cousins noah & bethie



we celebrated papa's 80th birthday by giving him letters of blessing from loved ones. in the pic: uncle ron & aunt mona (standing L), kendel's mom & dad (standing R), & nannie & papa (sitting)



nannie & papa with their grandchildren (standing: matt, eric & kendel, sarah - matt's girlfriend, kristie & chad, tara & clint, marissa) and great-grandchildren

(ezra, bethie & noah sitting on coach - kristie & chad's sweetie pies)

nannie & papa still so in love - ever since the 6th & 4th grade.



my precious uncle ron & sweet aunt mona - out to dinner.



my cuz toosie bird (matt) and his new girlfriend sarah - way to go matt! :)



my cuz - clint & tara - married for almost 1 year now! unfortunately, my cuz kristie & her hubby chad and kids already had gone home the night we took these pics. :(



the rents



we are ready to move here! view#1 from our balcony.



view#2 from our balcony