Family Beach Vacation 2011

Are you ready for picture overload??? Here are some of our pictures of the kids on our recent trip to Hilton Head. The beach there is beautiful! And the kids loved playing in the waves and in the pool (especially the indoor pool, go figure).

Here the kids are just checking out the beach and the waves.


Zachary loved the water and the sand, of course, right?!


If there is sand, this little boy is in it. He had a great time digging.


My sweet girls.


This is the hotel/resort we stayed in.


Zach wanted to be out with the big kids in the waves, but wasn't quite that brave. See them in the background?

And, we can't be at the beach without snacking. Brady's lounging by the pool with his goldfish and juice box.

Bruce took the girls on a dolphin tour. Poor Lindsey fell in the gravel on the way down to the boat and skinned her knees (that's what she's pointing to).


They got to help steer the boat and wear the captain's hat.


Then off to the playground. One area, Sea Pines, was this great gated community that had a playground with this tree that the kids climbed.


And a beautiful lighthouse. Yes, we climbed all the way to the top . . . all 115 steps . . . carrying Zach. (huff, huff, pant, pant)

The view from the top.


We saw a beautiful sunset.


And, treated ourselves to ice cream.


Our last day there, we hung out in the sun all day. At the beach . . .


and having supper by the pool. What food doesn't taste good when served in a sand bucket and with cookies?


And, back to the indoor pool. The water was as warm as bath water and Zach loved jumping in.


Brady was very proud of himself for being able to swim around with his water wings.


One of the most exciting things on the beach was all the critters. Bruce and the kids loved this. Here are 2 blue crabs that were in one of the tide pools on the beach. Bruce and a couple of guys scooped them up and put them back into the ocean. Lindsey learned on the boat tour that the females have red tips on their claws, like their fingernails are painted.

And, when we got there we saw . . . jellyfish. Ugh! We thought we wouldn't be able to get into the water. We found out though, that these jellyfish don't sting!! YAY!

And, these sand crabs hitch a ride up inside the jellyfish. You can scoop them out of the inside of the jellyfish. Cool huh?

Lindsey holding one of the crabs.

And starfish, or a sea star (someone told us they are no longer called starfish???)

This was on our last day, Bruce was packing the car and we were waiting in the hotel lobby. Someone had created this sandcastle behind the kids. It was really neat! It was a great vacation!! The kids had so much fun and Brady still says "that beach was great!". Sorry for picture overload, but there were lots to share.

I'm Thankful

I'm so thankful very lots of things. For my man working hard to plant my birthday present . . . a magnolia tree.


And my little man waiting so patiently . . .


so help push the dirt around my tree with his bulldozer.


"I'm vewy stwong you know", says this little man. And a good helper to my Daddy.

And . . . ta-da!! My tree, with the help of 2 very cute little boys, that I am very thankful for.

I'm thankful for Easter mornings, finding eggs . . .

and baskets . . .

and games.

I'm thankful for a nice picture of kids in Easter clothes and nice smiles, minus one. He fell asleep on the way to Grandma's house and we let him finish sleeping in the car.

I did manage to get him drivin' a car . . .

and full of smiles.

And Brady having fun at Grandma and Pop-Pop's. Showing off Grandma's old glasses.

Playing baseball.

And when this little mister isn't hanging around outside, driving cars, playing ball or sliding. He decides to put baseballs in Pop-Pop's exhaust pipe . . . fortunately it came right out. But, we were all a little nervous.

So, I'm thankful for all the business in my life. For all the time in the van and cleaning up messes. For all my laundry. For all the mischief Zach gets into (I think). God has blessed me with 4 sweet gifts, all from Him. And I'll gladly take all the business that comes with a family of 6. I'm thankful that God loves me enough to suffer for me. I'm thankful He died on that cross and rose again, for us, for me. Thank you Jesus!

New Baby Horses

Here's what we get to see every day in the field across from our house: sweet new baby horses. This is Dee-Dee with her baby (about 4 days old here). This is Sunny-D, her baby from last year! She is soo sweet! Another mare, Lucy, had her baby too. She is a beautiful black, just like her mama. And you can see who's in there with her, Lindsey of course. My horse lover.

And Lindsey riding LadyBug. Karen, the lady that owns the horses, lets Lindsey ride a lot. When she is working down at the barn she saddles up LadyBug and lets Lindsey ride around while she's down there (in a small space). Lindsey loves it.

So, you can guess what Lindsey is saving money for. . .a horse, of course. Or, a pony. Now, she just has to talk her Daddy into it!