Valona and Fernandina Beach

Lately Gaines has been working on restoring an old boat that had been at his family's coast house in Valona, and he found a great deal on a motor on Craigslist.  His coast house is about ninety miles north of Jacksonville, where the motor was, so we used that as an excuse to spend the weekend in Valona the first weekend in March.  We got up Saturday morning, grabbed our breakfast essentials (Starbucks and Chick-fil-a, obviously!), and then headed to Jacksonville.  On our way back we decided to make a pit stop at Amelia Island for lunch.  The weather was just perfect, so we enjoyed lunch outside on the patio at Sandy Bottoms and then walked around on the beach before heading back.

After a cold winter, the nice weather and amazing views were just what we needed. :) 

Valona's 100th Birthday

This year marks 100 years that the Story's family coast house in Valona was in the family-- that's six generations of familys!  It's such a fun place to visit and with a great view, shaded front lawn, and constant breeze, it's the perfect spot for a party with just about all of the family and some local friends.  Amy coordinated the best celebration with matching t-shirts, tons of old pictures, delicious food, and tons of red, white, and blue decorations.  

[The house]

[Tons of pictures from Valona trips over the years]

[Bennett]

[The kids getting Fourth of July tattoos]

[Not sure why these look periwinkle, but how cute are they?]

[Sydney, Max, Bennett]

[I mean, look at that view!]

[Gaines' Uncle Bill welcoming everyone]

[Gaines' Grandmama and Great-Uncle Bill]

[I couldn't stop taking pictures of this cutie]

[Bennett and Makayla]

[Melissa, Renee, Tom, Paul]

[Sydney and Baker]

[Liam and Sydney]

[The Story family!!]

[Max, Mia, Maggie, Makayla, Sawyer, Baker, Liam, Sydney, Bennett]

[Lucas and Baker]

[Amy and Jessica]

[Fourth generation- Charlie, Sam, Becky, JJ, Bill]

[Fifth Generation- Ben, Gaines, Melissa, Max, Michelle, Lucas, Francesca, Maggie, Amy, Makayla, Jessica, Mia, Baker]

[Sixth generation- Sawyer, Baker, Liam, Sydney, Bennett]

[Sweet boys]

[Bennett again ;)]

[Renee and Julie]

[Me and Amy]

[Mia, Sydney, Liam, Baker]

[Gaines getting some practice in ;)]

[Liam and Lucas]

[Michelle, Francesca, Patty]

[Bennett and Gaines]

[Sydney and Amy]

[Makayla and Bennett]

[Jessica, Max, Sam]

[Renee and Bennett]

[Our sweet family!!]

[One of my favorite parts of the day]

[A leprechaun at the end of the rainbow....wait, it's Gaines]

[Jumping off the Captain Gabby]

[Betsy and Amy]

[Bennett]

[Jessica and Max]

[Becky and Grandmama]

[Eating leftovers for dinner]

[Glowsticks and grownups]

[Watching fireworks on the dock]

Happy birthday, Valona and here's to many more years of family gatherings!!