The Family RetreatChristmasin Paradise

🔑 House opens 4:00 PM, but most of us land at 10:32 PMTwo waves today, so know which one you are in. The Fort Walton crew drives over in the afternoon and opens the house at 4:00 PM, gets the groceries put away, the Christmas music on, and the family gift bags set out. Everybody flying in is on Allegiant G41442, wheels down at 10:32 PM. With bags and the roughly hour and a half drive down US-98, expect to walk in the door somewhere around midnight or a little after. So eat before you fly or plan on something quick when you land. There will be food waiting, but the kitchen is not doing a whole spread at 12:30 in the morning. Nothing else is scheduled tonight, and that is on purpose. Find your room, hug the people you have not seen since last year, and go to bed. The week starts for real tomorrow.

🏐 Sleep in a little, then beach 10:00 AM to 2:00 PMHalf of us got in around midnight, so nobody is setting a sunrise alarm. We hit the sand at 10:00 and stay until 2:00. Beach volleyball is the main event, so bring your competitive side, and yes we are keeping score. Shell hunting for the little ones, a big lunch on the sand, and plenty of chairs for anybody who just wants to sit and watch the water. After 2:00 the afternoon is yours. Go see Panama City Beach: Pier Park for shopping and the Ferris wheel, Ripley’s, Gulf World, or head back and nap. No guilt either way. We regroup at the house for dinner, and the evening belongs to the Cookie Bake-Off, hosted by Shenelle with Shaina and Stephon. Bring your A game, there will be judging.

🥞 Pajama brunch, family photos, then Karaoke NightThe Christmas Eve brunch is the centerpiece of the whole day, and everybody comes down in matching pajamas. That is not a suggestion, that is the picture we have been taking for years. We eat late, we eat long, and nobody is in a hurry. Afternoon is family photos while everyone still looks put together, so plan your outfit before you plan your nap. Dinner is a private hibachi chef cooking right in front of us if the numbers work out, which we will confirm closer to the date. Then the house turns into a stage for Christmas Karaoke, run by Nitra with Wilbert helping. Mics up, everybody sings at least one, no exceptions and no hiding in the kitchen.

🎬 Gifts in the morning, real movie theater in the afternoonWe start with Christmas breakfast, everybody in one room, then the gift exchange. Take your time with it, this is the part the kids remember. Early afternoon we load up and head to an actual movie theater. This is a real outing, not a movie at the house. We are planning on the new Avengers, and we will post the exact theater and showtime here once tickets go on sale. 🎬 Here is the trailer, watch it if you want a preview.Back at the house for Christmas dinner, and then the night closes out with Family Game Night, led by Shaina with Wilbert and Jimmy III co-leading. Teams, trash talk, and at least one argument over the rules.

⛴️ Out on the water: Shell Island Shuttle + dolphin cruiseThe Shell Island Shuttle runs us out to seven miles of undeveloped, sugar-white beach, with dolphin sightings and a snorkel stop along the way. Pack sunscreen, towels, water shoes, and a real camera if you have one. Figure on a half day out. Not a boat person? You have options: Pier Park for shopping, the arcade, and the Ferris wheel, Gulf World Marine Park for the dolphin and sea turtle shows, Ripley’s for the kids, or a long lazy seafood lunch on Front Beach Road. Nobody has to do everything. Split up, do your thing, meet back at the house.

🥇 Olympics by day, one big birthday party by nightFamily Olympics takes the afternoon: teams, brackets, medals, and bragging rights that last until next Christmas. Nitra is running it with Wilbert as co-chair. Wear something you can move in. Then we clear the room and throw one big birthday party for our three December stars, Laila, Shaina, and Ava. Cake, decorations, music, and the whole family singing loud and off key. If you want to bring a small something for the birthday crew, this is the night.

🧳 Check-out is 10:00 AM sharp, so we start early10:00 AM comes fast, so set an alarm and pack the night before if you can. Breakfast is early and simple, whatever is left in the fridge, eaten standing up. No shame in it. Everybody pitches in on the way out: strip your own bed, bag your trash, wipe down your bathroom, and do a last sweep under the bed for chargers and cables. Twenty minutes when everyone helps, two hours when they do not. Airport drop-offs get coordinated on the 27th, so post your flight time in the group chat that night and we will build the run sheet. Nobody misses a flight on our watch. If your flight is late in the day, have a plan for where to park yourself, Pier Park or a long lunch, because we do have to be out at 10:00. Last group photo at the door, then we start counting down to the Virgin Islands, 2027.