100731 - First Rays

100731 - Up before dawn and we went to the beach. In all the years L&I lived in Wilmington NC I always wanted to see the sun rise on the ocean and never did. Today we got to the beach and this red ball slowly rose up out of the water. What an amazing sight. If you did not know the world was round what would you think? Endless water that had a ball of light come out of it every morning...



The boys played and we had to force them to look; I hope they remember it... Back to the condo and rested a bit from the early 6am rise. Then back to the beach where the boys raced, we flew our pocket kite, rode the waves, jumped the waves, built a castle, buried ourselves and enjoyed our last day at the beach. We all said goodbye to the ocean and headed back for lunch and dip in the pool. Then another rest break. All back up and out for dinner and then some final shopping. J got a water toy, D&G had already blown all there $ PLUS the additional $ I gave them and had their noses out of joint... We got some ice-cream



and then headed home to ply with the pets L bought the boys... hermit crabs... :-o




One last night trip to the pool! We played and swam and had a good time. We took this photo



Which we compared to another vacation photo from several years ago. These boys are growing too fast and there are not enough vacations...



Back for a snack and bed. A long day I wish was longer......

Location:Valencia Rd,Hilton Head Island,United States

100730 + Lizard Men

100730 + Up a little later today and ventured out to a local pancake joint that had six trillion people waiting. So we bailed out and found an ihop. Full now we head to a Veteran memorial park to find a geocache.






Grant and I left the others looking over the marsh and dug through an overgrown path and Grant found the cache 'I fwound it! I twold you it was dere!'






It was hot and we headed to an alligator pond to find another cache. Reportedly there is a LARGE gator in the pond where this cache is and it is recommended to have one person in your party be a look out and don't take your dog. The boys are a bit bigger than a dog... Jack found this one, but because everyone was afraid the gator was in there Dylan had to risk his arm to reach in and get it.






On to a skateboard park to check it out and found another cache. The at was starting to overheat :-o so we headed back to the condo. We relaxed during the hot hours. JG&I went to the pool to grill our dinner and take a dip. After dinner we all got on the bikes and rode to the ocean to play in the sand and tide pools of the low tide. Jack and I connected a couple of tide pools by digging a channel. A nice ride back and L&G took a nice bath, had a snack and played while DJ&I headed to the pool. We found a little friend (video) and swam. Back for a snack and bed. We plan to get up early and see the sunrise tomorrow :-o

Location:Valencia Rd,Hilton Head Island,United States

100729 - Legs & Golf

100729 - Up and out to the beach. It was REALLY HOT (118 degrees!!!) today and we all got a bit too much sun. Back to the condo for lunch and naps for J&G while D&I headed out looking for some stuff he could buy (he is out growing the cheap beach toy store items :-( We didn't find anything suitable on our trip and headed back to pick up the nappers. L&I wanted a good seafood meal so I found a place that had a playground close and we sat under a awning and ate while it rained off and on and the boys ran back and forth to the playground across the courtyard. We were there early before the dinner crowd and it was easy and pleasant meal. If you look in the photo you can see the huge pile of crab leg shells Lori left behind.


After dinner we did the ONLY THING Grant wanted to do on vacation! Pirate Putt Putt!!!! The boys had fun and loved the skeletons and ghost cavern. Grant was thrilled :-)

A stop at Walmart of all places... and D finally found something to make him happy, a LEGO set. Back to the condo and suited up and off to the pool for a night swim. It was a fun time and LD&G headed back early so D could build his LEGO thing and J&I stayed and swam like fish for a bit longer. Back for a snack and G smashing a glass and bed.

Location:Valencia Rd,Hilton Head Island,United States

100728 + Grantacus

100728 + Up and a different schedule today. We had bfast and then went to then pool. Back to the condo for a quick rinse and then to a different area of the island for a good seafood lunch.


A stop at the toy store and then a couple of hours on a big boat dolphin watching, seeing HUGE houses and a trip out on to the ocean.

Back to shore and climbed the light house.



It was really really hot so we found the Salty Dog Ice Cream Shop and everyone got a cool treat. Back to the condo for dinner and Grant tried on his new gladiator outfit and felt pretty indestructible as he attacked his brother in his full armor.


After dinner we went to the beach and played in the waves until it was too dark to see.


We had some glow stick things to throw around a bit and then headed to back for snacks, TV and bed.

100727 - Swim Sing Bang

100727 - Up early and to the beach...

And then back to the condo and a visit from our gator and turtles.


A fast lunch and then to the pool and back for naps then out for pizza.


We took a walk to a nearby outdoor mall with a stage and participated in the 'Shannon Tanner Show' where the kids got to dance around and we all got to sing and embarrass our boys.



After the show, cut short by heat lightening, we watched the Hilton Head fireworks on the way to the car.


They were good but the heat lightening was just as cool.



Back to the condo for a snack and all boys to bed.

100726 - Surfping

100726 - Up early and straight to the surf. The big boys and I rode waves on our boards and then L traded me and G&I built a really cool sand castle with a moat and a tunnel door. Back to the condo for lunch and right back out to the pool where G is jumping in and swimming across the pool and the big boys doing fancy tricks.

Back for a snack and rest for all, except D who fought it by practicing his new ability to throw peanuts high into the air and catch them in his mouth. All back up and we headed into town and found some neat shops and a pub for dinner and beat the crowds. More shopping after dinner and all the boys got something that they could compare and argue over whose was cooler and faster and better... Back to the place into our suites and more swimming at the pool. One more snack and all joys to bed. L&I watching tv, checking email and relaxing as L put cream on my splotchy sunburn.

100725 - WATER!!!

100725 - WE MADE TO THE ATLANTIC!!!

100725 - Up had bfast at the hotel. back on the road and we made it to check in early so we went directly to the beach and the boys loved it. We got checked in, unloaded the car, went to Walmart to get some beach stuff & groceries and then back to the condo for dinner. Jack had a rough day, too much time in the car... for all of us really, but now we are here and ready to go!