Blogging at the Beach, Volume 2

Sunday afternoon, after a day of lots of rain and settling in, we venture out to eat as a family.  I know, I know, I had just written that we are eating most of our meals here, but the rain stopped and we were ready to get out!  Oh boy, are we learning all about that.  Three small children + nice restaurant = chaos!!  We get compliments on how well behaved our children are all the time, that is not so much the issue.  It's just the timing issue and you never know how that is going to go when eating out.  We called ahead to make sure the wait wasn't insane, and were told, no wait.  Great, but we get there and end up waiting about 10 minutes.  No big deal, but we are sat at a middle table so it's kind of cramped and loud.  The boys are hungry, mistake numero uno, we waited too long to feed them.  Mistake numero dos, Jason orders a spicy appetizer and Noah whines that it hurt his belly.   Elijah has to go potty everytime we sit down to eat, lol.  Ava is overstimulated.  Noah wants to play musical chairs.  I take Elijah for a walk in between appetizer and meal.  Ava wakes up and wants to be held.  I eat my dinner with one hand as fast as possible, which I am pretty much used to by now.  So then a really nice northern lady who had obviously drank a few glasses of wine, comes over to me and says, "It's a bitch, right? I used to be in your shoes honey, I totally get it. " LOL!!!!!!!!  I just replied, "It can be crazy at times, but they are such blessings, it's totally worth it."  She talked to Noah for several minutes which was hilarious also, he talks in this really interesting voice when he meets someone and I have to translate everything he's saying because I am the ONLY one who understands it.  Add translator to my list of credentials.

Go Potty Mom, pwease.

So we head back to the condo, make some cookies, and act silly the rest of the night. I ate too many cookies and got a rush of energy.   I was chasing the boys around like I was a bird, "cawing" pretty loudly until I remembered, we are surrounded by neighbors on almost all sides and it was after 10 p.m. here.. They were loving it, laughing so hard, but I think it scared Ava.  She was looking at me like I was crazy!! lol  Then we played "freeze dance"; dancing and freezing when someone turns the music off.  Noah loved controlling the radio, he got so tickled.  Elijah can really "cut a rug."  Jason couldn't resist and joined us in the fun, so after that we were all wore out and headed to bed.
Monday, we woke up to a really loud thunderstorm.  I actually slept in with Ava since I knew we couldn't go anywhere until the rain stopped.  Around 11, it stopped and the rest of the day was sunny, hot, and humid!  We left a little late in the day and went to a camera shop to get a tripod for beach photos. YAY! :)  I am looking forward to getting some family beach pictures with my new camera.  Eli fell asleep and since we were getting hungry, we concocted a different plan.  Noah, Ava, and I would go to the shopping center we were headed to and find a place to eat.  So while Jason sat in the car with Eli, we headed off and found a really neat little restaurant.  It was kind of swanky, New York-ish, if that makes any sense.  Very slow at this time and a really neat menu, so we headed inside to order.  I ordered for everyone and called Jason to bring Eli in when the food arrived.

Sleepy boy

Worked out pretty good until Jason and Eli arrived.  Eli wasn't ready to get up so he was cranky and didn't want to eat.  Then Ava woke up right as the food hit the table.  My dreams of eating a meal with both hands and chewing my food instead of swallowing it whole were no longer taking place. lol  So, we decided AGAIN that eating out is just a crazy idea.  We do have a couple more places we want to eat at, but we are learning how to make it go a bit smoother, so hopefully the next experience will be a better report. lol
So after that, we decided to go shopping for a bit.  Lesson number 2:  little kids do not like shopping.  lol  They actually did pretty good once we found the toy store, but we hit about 4 shops and then proceeded to the ice cream stand.  It is quite comical to think about Jason and I figuring out this being outnumbered thing.  When all else fails, toys and ice cream seem to fix the problem, for everyone!
One of our goals on this vacation are to spend one on one time with each of the kids.  So when we got back, Jason took Elijah down to the beach to go crab hunting.  They grabbed their little net and flashlight and off they went.  Noah got a new boat for the bathtub so I gave him a bath while they were gone.  Jason and Elijah found a few crabs at the beach and then Elijah had his turn with his boat in the tub.

I made popcorn, a much loved snack in our family, and we played a new game we bought at the toy store called "Pop Up Pirate."  Jason was the last one to do it, and his competitive spirit couldn't hardly stand it!! HA HA HA!! I had to rub it in of course, isn't that what a good wife does?
Tuesday, we wake up around 9-10 a.m.  to a beautiful sunny day.  Jason made pancakes and eggs for the boys.  I cut up some fresh cantelope and watermelon for my breakfast, my stomach needs a break from all this vacation food!  We called and made reservations for Jason and the boys to go on a pirate ship adventure.  I REALLY want to go too, but it is midday and I don't think that is a good idea for the baby, so it's a guy adventure this time.  It will be great bonding time with their Dad, and Ava and I will go shopping while they are out on the boat.  I also made my spa reservation to get a facial and reflexology pedicure, I can't wait for Thursday!! :)
We ate lunch and dinner at the condo today. lol  Dinner was yummy, parmesean crusted tilapia, grilled veggies, and sun-dried tomato foccacia bread.

We had an early dinner so we could spend the afternoon at the beach.  Earlier in the day, we rented some bicycles to ride around the island.  The sand is really compact here so you can even ride them on the beach.  We rented a little carriage for the boys behind one bike and I put Ava in her Ergo carrier and rode the other bike.  We headed off to the beach and rode our bikes to a nice little tide pool.  The boys played and Noah built his first sand castle all by himself.  It even had his boat hidden inside , lol, he was so excited!

Ava woke up from her little nap and did not want to be in the carrier any longer once we started back to the condo.  So we stopped to give her a break and a chance to dig her toes in the sand.  And I couldn't resist a mini-photo session, she's just too cute!  I could take a million shots of her.

Jason offered to carry her and push one bike while I drove the bike with the boy's carriage.  It was not an easy task to manuever those little dudes on a narrow sidewalk in the dark!  It was close to a miracle that we made it back in one piece.  Then I turn around and see Jason had really rode behind me with one hand holding Ava, the other on the handle bars!  Lawd, no wonder the guy we past said, "you guys have really got your hands full!"  And he didn't say anything because I would have never let him do that, good thing it was dark and no one called child protective services! :-/  But since we all made it back in good condition, it was something to laugh at once again.  Maybe we are crazy for the things we attempt with 2 toddlers and a baby, but it sure makes for an interesting life, lots of stares, and a few comments here and there.
We came in and bathed everyone, ate popcorn, and the boys called Pa and Nanny, then went to bed.

Jason and I watched cable for a bit.  We don't have cable at home anymore so it feels like a treat.  Now it's time for us to go to bed.  I am really tired and having allergy issues or something, so good night for now.
Big day tomorrow for the boys, can't wait for Volume 3!!


   
  

  

Blogging at the Beach Volume 1

What a better way to share our vacation fun than blogging about it in REAL time! :)
We are at Hilton Head Island, SC this week.  We LOVE it here, this is our second time to return, it feels like our home away from home.  The first time we came was when we had only Noah, who was 21 months old.  That vacation was VERY special to us, it provided the break we needed from almost two years of feeling like our home away from home was doctor's offices.  It was seriously the point at which my soul was restored and I knew everything would be okay.  So this place holds a special place in our hearts.
The trip here was great.  Jason and I love road trips, we connect on the drive and although it's filled with tons of stops for the kiddos, the moments in between are much needed soul connecting.  We left Friday at around 4 pm.  Elijah and Ava drifted right off to sleep and we decided to use this time to let Noah just "be still".  No movies, music, or video games.  He does great with stillness, no complaining.  I just wish I could see the thoughts going on in that sweet little head.  I also wanted him to be able to listen since I knew we'd be praying before long. 
And that's exactly what happened, after talking about some current life, some of the heart issues, other people in our lives, and our vacation, we began to just pray to set the tone for this week.  It was amazing, a super great time of fellowship with our awesome Father.  I just LOVE Him so much and know He loves me too.  Like I told my friend Missy the other day, it feels like the face of God is right in my face smiling all the time.  Amazing feeling.  If you are reading this and think God is anything other than good and loving, testing or trying you, I challenge you to give Him a chance to prove differently.  He LOVES you so so so much and just wants an awesome relationship, no strings attached.  Okay, okay I'll stop by sermon now. lol
So the drive was fairly good, it took us 10 hours to make an 8 hour trip.  We had planned to drive half way, spend the night and then drive the rest of the way on Saturday since we couldn't check in until 4 pm.  But an awesome blessing happened instead.  I called the condo owners to see if there was any chance it would be okay to check in early on Saturday since we planned on arriving around noon.  She said the family who was here last week had left a day early, so we could check in anytime on FRIDAY!  So we drove straight through and got here at 4 am on Saturday instead of 4 pm, a whole extra 12 hours, thank you Lord! :)  The boys awoke as we pulled in and went crazy running through the condo checking it all out.  Noah was so cute, and Eli just repeated everything he said.  "cation"(Noah's version of vacation) had begun.  I was afraid they'd never go back to sleep, and it did take them a long time, but eventually they dozed off.  Ava and I were out in about 2 seconds!
We rested up and then set out to grocery shop and get things we need for the week ahead.  There is a Fresh Market here, kind of like a smaller version of Whole Foods, so I was REALLY excited to check it out.  We ate lunch at a neat little New York style Deli and did our shopping.  Fresh Market was awesome!  But they didn't have everything I needed so we headed on to Publix.  We don't have a Publix where we live, but I used to shop there in Florida a lot so I was also excited to go to that store.  I know, I am dweeb for loving grocery shopping, but I do.  Jason sat with the nappers in the car while I ran in.  OMG, it was INSANE in there.  Everyone was beginning their week I guess, seriously it was a mad house, so my love for grocery shopping wasn't so great at this moment.  And first let me clarify, that I have nothing against northerners, lol, but it was like New Jersey and New York up in Publix.  It was hilarious!  They are so loud and descriptive about everything they are doing.  If they go to pick up a watermelon, it goes a little something like this, "I am going to pick out a nice juicy watermelon.  Don't you think watermelon will go great with cereal and fresh berries in the morning?  Do you think Bob will enjoy it?  Oh, here's a nice one, let's get this one.  Look at how nice this is."  Ha ha ha!! They are so loud and descriptive, I love it!  So here I am, quiet southern girl, smiling at everyone and getting some weird looks for smiling, and striking up conversations at the Deli counter with a bunch of well-to-do northerners ordering insane amounts of Boar's Head meat...I mean like 6 pounds of deli meat and cheese!!!  Hilarious!!  They are super nice once you start the conversation, it was a great people watching experience but took WAY.TOO.LONG! 
So we get back to the condo, or "combo" as Noah calls it, lol, and unload the goods.  Jason can't wait to get to the beach, so we get load Ava into her stroller and head for the ocean.  Oh the ocean, a piece of heaven on Earth.  So relaxing.  We didn't put swim suits on anyone because for some reason we thought it was about to get dark and we didn't want to do the whole "swimming" thing.  Just go play in the sand and breathe in the salty air.  HA HA HA, what were we thinking?!?!  Two little boys run straight for the first tide pool they see and waller in it like little pigs!!  No reservations on what they are wearing, lol.  Noah introduced Thomas the train to the sand and was so happy to finally be at the beach, he was singing his own little song.

We spent about an hour there and decided to head back to make dinner.
We clean everyone up and as I'm showering, I decide pizza sounds good.  So we ordered pizza and played games for a while.  Jason laid down with the boys and dozed off himself.  Then he came and laid down with sweet girl, and I had to take a picture, it was too cute.  After some time online and straightening up, I decided to get some much needed sleep too.

I woke up the earliest today, which basically NEVER happens.  I LOVE to sleep in, but decided I don't want to waste my morning opportunity of some free time everyday this week, so I got up and made a pot of amazing coffee we bought at Fresh Market, White Chocolate Raspberry Beret.  Noah got up about 30 minutes later and then Jason and Elijah, Ava was the last to open her eyes, she's just like me, loves to sleep in the morning hours.

Good Morning!! My new favorite picture!

We had fresh blueberries, pancakes, and eggs for breakfast here at the condo.  It is so cool to be able to cook a lot of our meals, as eating out is an EVENT with three little ones, shew, I get tired just thinking about it!! We do have a few places we plan to go eat out at, but for the most part, eating will happen here at the "combo."

The boys got all suited up for swimming about a hour ago, but had to come back about 10 minutes later because it started thundering. 

The weather forcast looks pretty rainy this week.  So far though, we have been blessed with some good weather when the forcast shows constant rain.  No rain yesterday or early this morning.  As long as we have some outdoor time each day, it is all good.  Spending good quality family time together is what this vacation is all about...indoors or outdoors.  So that is all for today, I'm going to go spend time with my beautiful family.  Love ya'll.

  

Summertime!

Fresh Raw Salsa

I love summertime.  The sunshine, swimming, vacation, and the fresh produce in abundance!  Today I made this yummy raw salsa and ate a ton..oh how I've missed it! 

And the corn, sweet juicy corn!!  There is now an organically grown farmer's stand about 10 minutes from our house!  They sold me 2 dozen for $4, wowsa!  They have affordable prices and no pesticides are used, awesome!

And this sweet baby is now nursing, so that's all the one-handed typing I can handle.

Just wanted to give a shout-out for summertime and all it's glory!