Happy 13th/14th birthday trip, Kyle Douglass Walker!
2020 eclipsed the plans we had to take Kyle on a deep sea fishing trip for his 13th birthday. Jason and I knew we needed to take care of that trip before we started planning for anything else, including spring break activities! So, it was set for March! Then, the Waits family mentioned going to Florida and invited a few families to join them at a house they rented. After talking with Kyle, he decided to make "his" trip a family trip and to join the Waits in Anna Maria Island, Florida.
Kind of fun when two sets of brothers are best friends!
Monday!
the property was like its own resort - complete with Tiki bar!
We've got our toes in the sand!
The view from our backyard!
Monday!
The younger brother besties!
View from the water at the house. The owner brought in all of the trees so it would be shaded and private.
We went all nights with the Sanders family. I love this picture Jason took as he was joining the group.
No beach trip would be complete without crab hunting at night!
On Tuesday, we went on the much-anticipated fishing trip! Due to some wind, we stayed a little closer to shore and the fish were more normal, but we were all glad to not have to deal with big waves. All five of us were able to catch a variety of fish. Grant was the more lucky with his poles as he caught the most and the biggest.
Heading out with the sunrise
Kyle, Stacy and Grant caught the Florida Slam - trout, redfish, snook, and then Stacy caught tuna, too.
little buddy!
We changed locations and the fish changed - big 'ol red fish. Biggest one of the day.
So tired of two days and nights so far being on vacation with a buddy and not sleeping much!
Fun story - Kyle's bait company is Rippin n Lippin. This charter was Rippin Lips! Josh and Kyle had fun talking fish and baits and lures and poles and whatevers!
Reid struggled all morning to stay awake.
There's the Waits' boat!
And they got us!
Pictures of the place!
The main house and then another one where the kiddos all stayed.
Our beach boys!
Devouring watermelons!
We took a boatride on Friday morning - it was pretty dang cold and we didn't last but a few hours. Found a cool sand bar and drove around the little surrounding islands.
All the kids had a chance to be captain!
The "chilly" Friday called for a lot of hottubbing!
Yet all the kids and Stacy and Jason managed to get in the ocean for a while on Friday. The water was actually warm, just cold air. The winds had picked up and we had a riptide warning.
Reid found the riptide and was stuck. It was a little scary for a bit and when I finally got out to grab him, he told me he was on 2% energy battery. He was being pushed, pulled and swirled all at once.
We found the best ice cream store and managed to go there four different days!
The teenage boys spent an afternoon exploring the island via minivan and went miniature golfing and hanging out. Good times for them! Loser had to buy ice cream that day (Sam!).
While on the beach Tuesday, we saw parasailing and decided it looked fun! So we booked it for later in the week. The boat only holds 12 so Quinn and Matt stayed behind. I was a little nervous but it really was a fun experience. We still had on our nausea patches from fishing on Tuesday and all five Walkers did great. We were 400 feet above the water and the rope was 800 feet long.
Jason, Reid and Stacy
Kyle and Sam
Grant and Bennett
Yes, Mom, we'd love to pose for another picture.
Leslie and me on the last night.
We sat in DFW for about 7 hours but it actually went really fast and wasn't too bad.
