Before we headed back to NC we were so fortunate to have our good friends Aaron and Kristin
Byrum come down to Pensacola to visit us (the
Byrum's are AMAZING photographers, check out their awesome work
here). It was awesome to get to hang out with them and show them our neck of the woods in FL. Aaron and
Garin have been friends since Middle School and were roommates in college, and it always seems to me that
Garin comes a little more alive whenever Aaron is around. So of course our time with the
Byrums was filled with lots of laughs as well as some late nights spent talking about life and playing monopoly!
As with most of our visitors, we took A and K to see the Blue Angels' practice airshow down at the Pensacola Naval Base. I'm not sure they were too excited when we drug them out of bed early in the morning to go down there (unfortunately you have to get there early to keep a parking spot!), but I think they ended up liking it in the end. And if I haven't mentioned it before, this place is CRAZY about their Blue Angels - you will see blue planes stuck up all around the city. So really, if you come to Pensacola and don't get to see the Blue Angels fly, then you have missed out on a big part of the Pensacola culture. Oh and you have to go to the Air Museum as well, its worth a walk through at least. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on me at this time, so I didn't get any pictures :(
Since they were so inspired to become pilots after the airshow, we took them up to Whiting Field where Garin does his training. After showing them around, Garin strapped them into one of the planes he used to fly and let them dream about their flight into the danger zone ;)
The professional
photogs told us the lighting was perfect for a photo shoot, so
Garin got to model his flight suit in front of the T-34. Of course they were right, the lighting really did make for some pretty cool shots. Here's one I snapped with my little camera (isn't my pilot such a
hottie?!)
On another day we made the trek out to
Destin, FL to spend the day at the beach and do some outlet shopping (but of course!). It was one of the most beautiful days I have seen at the beach. The temps were around 75 degrees and there was a gentle breeze. It was warm enough to wear a bathing suit but not hot enough to make you sweat (like it usually is!). The sand was like sugar and the water was as clear as I've ever seen it. ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! I felt like we were in the
Caribbean, not FL!
We ended the day at
Destin eating at the Lucky Snapper. They have great cheese biscuits...when you don't have to wait forever for them. All in all it was a great day in
Destin...I wish all beach days could be that nice!
Unfortunately the end of A and K's visit came MUCH too quickly. Not that we had too much else to show them round these parts, but we always enjoy our time with them and hate when it ends :( Thanks for
making the trek down here to see us, Aaron and Kristen! We loved it!
Hopefully the Byrums are the first of many visitors we will have this summer! Everyone is invited, so please take advantage of our location while we are here!! We're open and taking reservations!!
Shane and Rebekah being introduced at the Reception
The First Dance
Cake feeding. Note the beautiful cake made by Mrs. Barbra Bunker (Garin's aunt...she made our wedding cake too!), the cake was as delish as it was beautiful!
An almost complete picture of the Kirkpatrick kids. Megsie's new husband, Eli, is currently serving our country in Iraq, so the picture will be complete when he returns. We missed you Eli!
The handsome and beautiful, father and mother of the Groom (Garin's parents)
The Groomsmen's handy work.
Happy Honeymoon newlyweds!
