Our family had been planning a trip to go to Panama City Beach over Memorial Day weekend to visit the Perrins family. The Perrins lived in Gainesville, but in January their dad went to Panama City to do some dive training for the Navy. The Perrins family joined their dad at the end of February, which made us very sad. Our children matched with their children so nicely. Their family is so well behaved and very adventuous. While we were visiting the Perrins, we were able to go to the beach, swim in their pool, canoe, visit, and play games. We all had a great time and wished we could have stayed longer.
We arrived on Saturday and the kids went straight to the swimming pool. At 2:30 we decided to go to the beach. It was a perfect day for the beach, but it could have been a very tragic day. Donovan and Adam were out swimming with the kids and enjoying the waves. There were a couple of boogie boards that the children would rotate amongst each other. I was on the shore with Jyllian and Suzanne, and her two baby girls. Donovan came back to shore, and said that he had been pulled out and had a hard time getting back. Adam and Suzanne told us about what's called a riptide. It pulls you out to sea, but you are supposed to swim with the current and get back. Donovan told us that he had not experienced that before. I didn't think much about it until, I saw Dreyton and Enoch going out on a boogie board and an inner tube. I told Donovan to go tell the boys not to go to deep. Of course, I worried about the riptide. Donovan started towards the boys, and I could see they were going farther, and Enoch had lost his board. Donovan reached the boys, but he wasn't coming back. I told Adam that I thought the boys might need help. Adam is a certified diver and a very good swimmer. He took a boogie board and headed their direction. He met up with Donovan, Dreyton, and Enoch, and I felt a little better. I could tell they were all hanging onto each other and trying to make it back to shore. Well, they were swimming and swimming, but Dreyton and Donovan were seperated from Adam and Enoch. I knew that they only had one small round floation device between the two of them. I started becoming a nervous wreck on shore. Suzanne was trying to calm me down and said she was sure they were fine. She said they have gone to several beaches around the country, and they were probably just having fun. Adam came back with Enoch about this time, and as soon as he got to shore he went right back to Donovan and Dreyton with a boogie board. This time he was going much faster. His wife then knew at that moment that Donovan was in trouble. Suzanne told all of the kids and myself to start praying right now, and ask Heavenly Father for his help. I was a mess, and very afraid of what could happen. As soon as Donovan and Dreyton made it back to shore, Suzanne said, "Let's all pray and thank Heavenly Father." She is a really great lady, and I'm glad she was there to remember to pray. Donovan had been treading water for about twenty minutes against the waves, and he was becoming very exhausted. Thank goodness he spent all those years at Lake Powell. Donovan would tread water all the time at Lake Powell. I asked Dreyton if he was scared and he said no, it was fun. Well, Donovan never told him that he was exhausted and didn't know how much longer he could stay afloat. Donovan had put the floation device completely around Dreyton so he was never really in danger. Dads are so great. I don't like to think back to the thoughts I had on Saturday. But I'm thankful to still have my husband and son. On Sunday after church, we took the scenic route back to their home. We saw double red flags posted on the poles, which is an indication that it is too windy and dangerous for any swimmers to be in the water. Adam had talked with his neighbor and apparently, there had been some crazy riptides all weekend. The beach doesn't usually experience riptides like that. I didn't take any pictures on Saturday, but I wish I could have take a picture of the waves.
On Monday, we went back to a different part of the beach that didn't have waves. It was a much calmer day at the beach. We did get very sunburned, and next time will apply sunsreen twice. This is a picture of the children surrounding a large hermit crab. The kids dove down and grabbed the hermit crab in the water. They were all anxiously awaiting the crab to come out of his shell. The crab only came out for a split second, and luckily we got him on camera.
Donovan thought he should take one picture of me. I prefer to just take pictures of the kids, but once in a while we need to post ourselves.
Donovan is holding a jellyfish, but don't worry. These ones don't sting. The kids were swimming under water for quite some time searching for the jellyfish. Little Isaac put one down Dominique's swim trunks. Poor Dominique had to swim out and undress in the water to get it out of his shorts. The jellyfish are very slimey.
Here is Dominique holding a jellyfish. To the left of Dominique is Hannah. She is two, and Isaac is directly behind Hannah. Isaac is Jasmine's age (7). He was the teaser of the bunch.
Dominique and Eli are the same age, and they are good friends. The boys wanted to build sand caves, but they didn't have very good digging supplies. They worked for an hour and a half on this cave. 
Dreyton and Enoch are the same age as well. They were digging their cave too. I wish we could hand select families and have the Perrins live in our neighborhood. Their family matches up with our family so well.
Jasmine was learning how to snorkel. She was able to see a few fish and jellyfish. She had a great time at the beach. She even rode the waves on the boogie board. 
Jyllian was trying to dig her own tunnel, but wasn't making much progress. She did win the contest for the best ostrich impersonation at the annual Panama City Beach Aussie Bird Festival, though. She refused to wear her swim suit, so we put her in a tank top.
Later, I put a cover up on her. I didn't want the sun to burn her fragile skin. Lily is the 11 month old baby. She is behind Jyllian. Jyllian loved to play with Lily and Hannah. As you can see, Lily came in 2nd place in the annual Panama City Beach Aussie Bird Festival.
Jasmine and Ella had a great time swimming at the pool. The town house had a pool, and the kids swam a lot. I didn't take any pictures of Jyllian in the pool, but she is by far my bravest baby in the water. She wore arm floaties and swam all over the pool. Jyllian would jump in the pool and would go completely under water. She didn't even care that her face was submerged under water. 
Dominique, Eli, and Dreyton were having a great time swimming.
Donovan took the girls on a canoe ride. The Perrins have a canoe and a kayak that they keep on the beach of the bay that is only ~100 yards from their back porch. The boys had gone earlier and seen dolphins. The boys wanted to catch fish, but didn't have any luck. They were using fiddler crabs (that they caught on the beach) as live bait.
All of the kids played at the park area. Jyllian was covered in sand the whole weekend. She would throw the sand, and it would land in her eyes. Her eyes are still red from all the rubbing. 
Dreyton at the Park area.
