Hilton Head 2010

FINALLY, I have posted our beach trip pictures-better late than never--and it's a loooonnnngggg one!

We took our first family vacation to Hilton Head June 12-20th!  Hilton Head is a very nostalgic place for me as I went every summer since 1991 with my best friend and her parents to their condo.   Many memories and many days spent laying out on the beach daydreaming about what life would be in 20 years!  Twenty years have nearly passed and I sat on the same shoreline with my husband watching our children build sand castles and jump waves.  We even stayed at the same condo!

After a very long 24 hours of travelling (spent the night near the Minneapolis airport, took a 6 am flight into Atlanta, and drove 5 hours to Hilton Head).  We finally arrived on Saturday evening with Nana and Pops waiting at the door for us!  After a cold drink, we took Evan on the beach for a walk.  He was so excited as we approached the boardwalk, there was a playground nestled in the white sand.  Evan ran and kneeled down saying  "Look Mommy...SNOW!!!"   He plays in the sandbox every day at Apple Lane, but it's not the white sand we're used to in the South!

We made it to the beach and Evan ran wild, he said  "Oh My Gosh, this is soooo cool!"  We knew it would be a great week!

Nana and Pops joined us on the beach Sunday and we celebrated their 40th anniversary at San Miguels.  After dinner the four, no five of us (Buzz Lightyear tagged along too) checked out Shelter Cove Marina.  Welked around and looked at all the big boats. He and I danced together to the live music from one of the restaurants.  We cooled off with some ice cream treats --even Emery enjoyed my italian ice!

We looked forward to Monday and playing on the beach and going to the pool.  We packed lunches to take with us.  As we were getting ready, Evan hit his eye on the corner of the coffee.  It was bleeding so bad and looked like it might need some stitches.  I cleaned it up and put some neosporin with a bandaid.  With the injury being so close to his eye and it looked deep, we decided Alex take Evan to the Urgent Care center.  Two locations and two hours later, Evan came home with neosporin and a bandaid. I should've known!

Monday was a very very hot day.  We ate our picnic lunch in the condo and headed to the pool. I love Zero Entry pools. They are perfect for everyone!  Since it was just the four of us on Monday, we promised to take Evan  putt putting. I don't know why we happened to leave during the hottest part of the day, but I suppose we thought 5:00 would be cooling down. WRONG!  It was unbearably hot, and we took Emery in the stroller.  Putt putt courses are not intended for stroller use! Evan's first miniature golf experience was very memorable...well actually it was the second, we went Putt Putt last summer but we don't count it since it was a poor excuse for anything related to the sport of golf.  Like the putt putt we're used to back home, it was great to watch Evan get so excited.  He definitley learned a lesson in patience!  Alex made my favorite bbq spicy shrimp and we listened to music and danced with the kids! After watching the news, it had been a record high temperature of 103 degrees !!!

Auntie P drove in from Savannah on Tuesday to spend the day with us.  She brought Evan a  tic tac toe and corn toss game for the beach.  He adores his Auntie P and we loved her company.  Alex's parents arrived with his grandmother (Old Grandma) later that afternoon and she met Emery for the first time.  We had a wonderful dinner at Skull Creek Boathouse.  Auntie P decided to stay the night with us and after dinner we took a late night swim with the kids back at the pool.

Old Grandma, Nana joined us Wednesday for a trip to Harbor Town where we shopped, had lunch at the Crazy Crab and took Evan to the top of the lighthouse.  Late that afternoon we hit the pool and watched Evan play in the "Mushroom Pool".  Old Grandma is famous for her back scratches and she put Emery to sleep with it and Evan got hooked too. Ever since, Evan has to have his back scratched and has no problem giving direction on where to scratch!  "No Mommy over there, no that way!"  Aunt Anna and Uncle Charlie came over in the evening for dinner at the condo and Evan was excited to show them the beach and play with his new bubble guns.  Aunt Anna stayed the night.  It had been a rough week of sleeping for Emery-she would wake up between 2 and 4 coughing hysterically.  When we got home we learned she needs to have 6 nebulizer treatments a day. So Wednesday night while we were tending to Emery, Evan started screaming and had fallen out his bed.  Aunt Anna to the rescue!

Thursday was another beach day and Aunt Anna tagged along.  We  played, took walks, had lunch and took naps!! Everyone came back to our condo again and we had Evan's favorite --tacos!  Then we headed back to Harbor Town to watch Gregg Russell under the live oak tree!  We had a great time listening to his silly songs!!

Sadly, Old Grandma had to leave to return to North Carolina.  Evan really took to her this trip and still talks about her back scratches!

Friday was our last day on the beach before heading to Savannah for Auntie P's graduation.  While it was nice to see everyone all week, we enjoyed our last day, just us.  Emery loved the water, ate sand and slept in the heat without any issues except for her nighttime coughing spells.  Without any exersaucers or jumperoos, she quickly gained strength and had plenty of tummy time to get moving!  By the end of our trip she was scooting and getting to all fours!!!  Alex and I took the kids back to Skull Creek Boathouse for dinner --Evan loved getting pirate money there! The atmosphere was perfect for our last day!

Auntie P graduated with her doctorate in pharmacy from South University on Saturday and we are so proud of her dedication and accomplishment! We enjoyed hors d'oeuvres back at her apartment and then Nana & Pops brought Evan and Emery and we all went to the Crab Shack on Tybee for dinner--Evan loved feeding the alligators.  Grandma and Papy were very excited to see Evan and Emery and we celebrated Auntie P, now known as Doctor P!!

What a great week with family and lots of fun!  Now, we just need a vacation from our vacation!!!