Day 2...And A Beach Tradition

Our second day at the beach was awesome...sunny, breezy, terrific waves, blue sky! It took Bruce and I a while to get used to being in the ocean...after being so spoiled by the clear water of the Gulf, who KNOWS what's out there! There were also a lot of shells and crabs and critters on the ocean floor that weren't usually there in the past. Anyway, we sat on the beach and soaked up the rays most of the day while the kids boogie boarded and body surfed. Jonah and Evan met a friend, Matthew, who is staying in the house next door and they've all been pretty much inseperable.

Evan, Jonah and Matthew

Isabella

Collin

Me doing the "something just pinched my toes" dance!

Adrienne...yeah...don't ask

Last night after dinner (I've forgotten how tough it is to cook for so many people!) we decided to run to the grocery store for ice cream and have sundaes. Had to buy the requisite can of Reddi-Whip, which is best enjoyed when squirted directly into your mouth! Next year, I need to buy TWO cans!

Isabella has been reminding me for WEEKS not to forget the whipped cream!

Evan

Chelsea

Sofie

A Few More Pics from Day 1...

Just had to share these pictures! They're actually a page from Lolli's digital storybook that she's putting together for our time together this week...pretty amazing huh? This page was done with Creative Memories Storybook Creator Plus. I can't wait to get started doing my scrapbooks digitally!

Holden Beach...Day 1

We're finally here! We left yesterday and drove for about eight and a half hours to Santee, SC where we spent the night, then we drove the rest of the way, less than three hours to Holden Beach today. The drive heading north on 95 is so much easier than the drive going south...there was virtually no traffic! The kids were awesome and we had hardly any squabbles or complaints so I think we'll attempt the trip home in one day instead of two.
We always get such a feeling of peace as we drive across the causeway and bridge onto Holden Beach, especially when we take in that first glimpse of the ocean! The weather was perfect today and after the requisite trip to the grocery store and pizza for dinner, we headed out to the beach this evening. The lighting was amazing as dusk approached and I just couldn't stop snapping pictures...so here are a few for you to enjoy! My old friend (well she's not old but I've known her for a long time!) Lolli got here around the same time as we did and the older kids got here around supper time so we've got a full house!

Jonah and Chelsea

Evan was not interested in having his picture taken!

Lolli and Steph

Florida

~ Florida Blessing~

Bless this house, oh Lord, we cry.
Please keep it cool in mid-July.

Bless the walls where termites dine
While ants and roaches march in time.

Bless our yard where spiders pass
Fire ant castles in the grass.

Bless the garage,home to please
Carpenter beetles, ticks and fleas.

Bless the love bugs, two by two,
The gnats and mosquitoes that feed on you.
Millions of creatures that fly or crawl,
In FLORIDA , Lord, you've put them all!

But this is home, and here we'll stay,
So thank you Lord, for insect spray.

BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN FLORIDA IN AUGUST WHEN. . .

The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.

The trees are whistling for the dogs.

The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

Hot water now comes out of both taps.

You can make sun tea instantly.

You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron!

The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.

You discover that in July it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car.

You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.

You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.

Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, 'What if I get knocked out and end
up lying on the pavement and cook to death?'

You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out
and add butter, salt and pepper.

Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying
boiled eggs.

The cows are giving evaporated milk.

Ah, what a place to call home.

God Bless Our State of FLORIDA

VACATION...

It's that time of year...the end of summer...one week of vacation at Holden Beach, North Carolina and then back to school! On Friday, we'll be driving north for our tenth year at Holden Beach and it's hard to believe that Jonah was just a year old the first time we went! It's such a beautiful place with nothing to do but enjoy the secluded sandy beaches and listen to the surf...and so worth the eight hour drive! We've seen some changes there over the years, but for the most part, it's still the same. When we first started going, we were looking for a place that we could back to year after year and make some special family memories...Holden Beach has done just that! We've met new friends there and even got a few old friends from MD hooked on it as well! This will probaby be our last time going there since it's an almost eleven hour drive from Florida and we have so many amazing beaches here...but a part of me is really sad to say goodbye. Those beaches saw our children grow from newborns to adolescents and elementary school kids to adults...I think they all cherish the memories there too, at least I hope so, that was the plan...

So we'll savor this one last time and look forward to the new memories we'll be making a little farther south. Who knows? Maybe Bruce and I will retire there...that would be just fine with me!

My Mermaid...

Isabella love Love LOVES to swim! ....she especially misses her swimming buddy, Sydney, in MD who kept her occupied for hours at the community pool! Now she's stuck with just me today (Bruce is on business in MD till tomorrow). We were in and out of the pool for about two hours this afternoon between thunder claps. It never did storm but the sky was looking and sounding pretty ominous for a while! Anyway, she's back in the pool again this evening with her big brothers...I swear she's going to sprout fins!

The End of the Rainbow

Last night, I grabbed my camera and ran out to the front yard to take a photo of this...

... and saw this at the neighbors right across the street! Our friends, the Sandhill Cranes!

They're so cool...and Evan does an awesome imitation of their unique way of walking! If you look closely, you'll see that there's a double rainbow! Have I told you lately that we LOVE Florida??!