a life less ordinary: Sometimes, life's a beach...

In late September, we took our fourth annual family vacation to Hilton Head Island. I have to admit, the attraction for me is not so much the sand and the sun. It's the time with my family. There are so many things I love about this trip. I love the morning-of chaos, trying to decide who is riding with who and which vehicle will carry the "big cooler". I love that the big cooler always has my favorite cake inside, my Memmie's Hundred Dollar Cake. Chocolate, coffee, delicious! It is my own personal tradition to have a slice of this cake after lunch and dinner every day until it is gone.

I love that time sort of stands still while we are at the beach. The afternoons seem to last forever, long stretches of time sitting in the sun, punctuated only by snacking, sipping, or sun-screening the kids. Then, before you realize it, the sun has reached it's zenith and and it's time for lunch and naps and sitting by the pool.

I love that when the kids are in bed, I get to sit up and sew with my sister. I love that when I do go to bed, I get to cuddle with my hubby. I really love waking up to a huge pot of coffee in the morning.

This was Bella's fourth trip to the beach. She is pretty much a pro now. She knows to stay out of the deeper water, she knows not to eat the sand, she knows to run into the ocean to pee (*eye roll*).

Abbigail is still busy, busy, busy exploring the beach. She has a sweet little sideways run, with her left arm crooked up and swinging hard, and her little legs flashing. Abbigail still puts sand in her mouth. She still wants you to take her out in the deep water and let her go. And, of course, she still ...goes right in her bathing suit. It's good times.

Well, mostly. We have a bizarre family habit of at least one child keeping us up all night at least once on every beach trip, and this was no exception. Abbigail pulled an all nighter one night, waking us up at 10:30, and 11, and 11:30...at 2:00 I took her downstairs to hang out on the couch and at somewhere after 4 she finally gave out and fell asleep on my chest. I dozed till 6:30, then woke up with an aching back, dying to pee, and a deeply asleep toddler laying on me! Needless to say, the first person to wake up that morning got Abby and I went back to bed!

Here are some pics of our trip.

Kenneth playing in the sand with our girls. He likes it
as much as they do...maybe more! He is a great dad!