Florida Friends

When we moved to Panama City, FL in 2001, I originally thought of it as a temporary move.  Instead we ended up staying there for almost 6 years.  While we did move back to NY eventually, it definitely became home to us.  David and I got engaged there, we bought our first house there, we had our first baby there...LOTS of memories.  We also made some "forever" friends there and we have been lucky enough to get back to visit them every year since we've moved. 

My best friend, Jennifer, and her family have a beach house in Seacrest, FL, which is about 30 minutes (or less) from where we lived in Panama City.  David and I started staying there with them in 2002.  In 2004, when I was pregnant, I felt Anderson move for the first time while we were staying there.  Even after we moved back to NY we've come back every year...now Anderson has started making memories there as well. 

The beaches along the Emerald Coast have the slogan "The World's Most Beautiful Beaches" and I would wholeheartedly agree with that.  They have sugary-soft white sand and turquoise blue water--absolutely breathtaking! 

When we are there we spend our time on the beach--digging holes, paddle boarding, boogie boarding, and wave jumping--or we head down the road 5 minutes to the Seacrest Pool.  At night we whip up a tasty dinner together and then spend the night crab hunting with nets and flashlights.  Fun is had by all!

When we first met Jennifer her kids--Trae and Cameron--were 6 and 3.  Now they're 16 and 13 and SO grown up!  Anderson LOVES them so much and looks forward to seeing them every year. It's funny, David and I would sometimes babysit THEM, and now they could babysit for Anderson!  We think of Jennifer, Bill, Trae, and Cameron as our family, and we're so thankful that we can spend time with them every year.  Jennifer was at the hospital when Anderson was born--as soon as he was born she was in the room snapping pictures, capturing that amazing day for us!  Somehow, someone remembered to take one of her too! 

Here are some more pictures of Anderson and the Lloyds through the years...

Anderson with Jennifer when he was a newborn--2004

Another snuggle with Jennifer in--April 2005

Sitting with Trae--2005

Snuggling with Trae and Cam--2006

The Lloyds and Uhls--2006

The night before we moved back to NY--September 2006

Trae, Anderson, and Cameron--2007

At the Seacrest water fountains with Trae and Cam--2007

Anderson and Cameron--2007

On the porch at the beach house with Jennifer--2007

Disney--2008

Slugger, Jennifer, and Anderson--2008

On the paddle board with Trae--2009

Trae, Anderson, Cam, and Slugger on the beach--2009

Easter brunch at the Yacht Club with the Lloyds--2010

Fishing with Trae--2010

On the beach with Jennifer, Cam, and Slugger--2010

Anderson and Trae--2011

Anderson and Cameron--2011

Cameron, Anderson, Slugger, and Trae--2011

In addition to Jennifer and her family, we always try to make time to see some other friends.  Cassidy, Genny and I met because our husbands all worked together at the Navy base.  We knew each other before we had kids, and before some of us were even married!  In fact, I met Cassidy for the first time at her wedding.  And both of them, along with their husbands, came to NY when David and I got married.  Then Genny and I had our babies within 3 months of each other and even had two joint baby showers--one at HNES and one at the Navy base--so Anderson and Maya have been friends since they were in the womb! 

Genny and I at one of our joint baby showers. 

Anderson was born in October 2004 and Maya was born in January 2005

Anderson and Maya, first official picture together--2005

Pool playdate--2005

In the pool--2005

Another playdate--2005

Anderson and Maya 2008

Anderson and Maya--2011

Around the time of Anderson's first birthday, Cassidy brought the Stroller Fit franchise to Panama City.  It was an exercise program that both mom and baby could participate in. 

Cassidy and Anderson when he was 2 weeks old--2004

Cassidy Carow, Stroller Fit instructor/owner--2005

First day of Stroller Fit--October 2005

Anderson's Stroller Fit onesie--2005

Anderson in his Stroller Fit onesie--2005

The Uhl family at the HNES 5K. 

We ran with other Stroller Fit moms and babies.

That's where I met Kirsten and Kamryn.  Kamryn and Anderson are almost exactly the same age--about 2 weeks apart.  We all hit it off and have been friends ever since.  We even met Kirsten and her family in Disney a couple of years ago.  Even though Kamryn and Anderson don't see each other often, we get them together once a year and they get along great. 

Anderson and Kamryn, playdate--2006

The Uhls and the Sears Family, Disney--2007

Anderson and Kamryn holding hands at Disney--2007

Anderson and Kamryn during our visit--2008

This picture is taken from the back, but Anderson and Kamryn are holding hands again, this time at Gulf World during our visit--2009

In the years since we've moved away from Panama City Cassidy has had two babies--Ruthie and Annie, Genny has had another baby--Ellie (and is pregnant with #3), and Kirsten has had another baby--Kendall.  And every year we meet up when we're down there and our little group gets bigger and bigger!  I hope we continue to see each other every year and the our kids remain friends for life, even if we are scattered all over the country!

Ruthie, Anderson, Kamryn, Kendall, Annie--2011

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