Beach Trip!!

Long time, no blog. We just returned from an amazing week at Isle of Palms, followed by a long weekend in Hilton Head. 1,050 miles later, we are glad to be home!! For the first leg of our trip, we met college friends and rented a big house a block from the beach. We ate well and enjoyed being together. With kids popping up everywhere, our visits seem to get more precious by the year! Samantha had a great time with her friends, too. She wasn't too fond of the ocean, but she loved being on the beach and playing in "mud puddles." For those not up to par on Samantha-ese, mud puddles are actually tide pools! She also gained quite a bit of confidence in the pool. Given the choice, she probably would pick the pool!

It just so happened that the end of our vacation coincided with the beginning of Jerry and Connie's. They twisted our arms (wasn't actully that hard), and we drove from Isle of Palms to Hilton Head on Saturday for the long Memorial Day weekend. Ten days on the beach doesn't stink!! After a few tears, we left Samantha (and a big chunk of our hearts) with Wawa and Papaw in Hilton Head for the rest of the week. I am happy to report that she is still having a great time, and seems to be more fascinated with the playground across from the condo than the beach or the pool.

Steve and I are counting the days til we get our sweet girl back, and trying to bide our time by getting the house organized to start prepping for baby Carl. Just so you know, Carl is NOT his name, but a nickname given to him by our friend Jason that stuck. Since we won't be telling his name til he is born, we have to have a nickname to keep ourselves from saying it accidentally. Hence, baby Carl. Here are a few photos of our great week.

Samantha and Daddy in the pool at the beach house.

All greased up and ready for a day at the beach!

Not too long after this, we decided it was time to go in and take a nap. You have to be tired to lay in sand.

Playing in "mud puddles."

Checking out the creatures caught by Kate ... fish, crabs, and even a baby shrimp!

Samantha and Kate playing in their hand dug trenches.

Enjoying a snack with her friend Lane.

Chasing pigeons in Battery Park.

Wiped out (thankfully) on the drive from Isle of Plams to Hilton Head. She fell asleep with her new parrot and shark, just purchased from Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.

In the fancy pool at the Marriot Grande Ocean, riding a gator with an assist from Papaw.

Looking for mud puddles on the beach in Hilton Head.

Jumping in the water with Daddy. She was getting some serious air!

Eating ice cream with Wawa at the Salty Dog Cafe.

At the playground across from condo.

Giving Daddy a kiss in the Samantha-sized pool.