Round 2 of paradise!

   At the end of July we packed up our beach wear and headed back to Hilton Head. This time we were joined by 4 other couples: 3 were coworkers and 1 a friend of mine from college. We had a great week!

   It all started with our first night on the beach.

This is the work crew! Adam was at home with our sleepy boy.

  Everyone loved the beach!

There's Ann and baby Hailey technically is there too:0)

   We spent lots of time on the beach - it was a bit overcast that week though. The boys didn't seem to mind. They were all about finding sand dollars.

There are some happy Kansans in that ocean!

  Harrison loved playing with Leo - we looked at it as giving Leo some daddy practice!

Yeah covered with sand... Oh well. It's vacation!

   Most of us also rented bikes. Do you know the last time I rode a bike? Yeah me either. And add on a bike trailer with my crazy man. I was a bit sore...

There are some talented ladies!

   Adam was a little rusty too. 

Only real dads cart their kids around in a bike trailer!

   Of course we did the touristy things - we visited Sea Pines to see the famous light house. 

They were just so happy discovering it all!

   We went by Salty Dog because it's not a trip to Hilton Head without some shirts!

The Salty Dog - Jake!

   Our friends got hooked on Frosty Frog - the crazy daquiri bar.

Two mascots in one trip! It was crazy!

   We ate our weight in seafood.

Trying to figure out how to eat it all. Love Stephanie's face!

   Then there was the ice cream. Yummy cotton candy - Daniel is right! It is the best!!

I still dream about this!

   We saw several alligators - one on our way back from Sea Pines and the other on a bike ride. 

Tim getting up close for a picture. 

  Gator #2.

See him swimming?

   We went on a 2 hr dolphin cruise. I was worried about Harrison but he did great. 

Family picture!

   Well let me rephrase that. He played with every other adult (thanks guys!) and he watching "movies" on my phone.

Thank you Renee for harnessing the crazy man!

   We pretty much went 1.5 hrs with no dolphins. Beautiful scenery just no dolphins.

A parasailor and the sunset. Doesn't get much more beautiful than that!

  Harrison even got to drive the boat! I think his turn was over when the captain said, "Uh we're getting close to those kayakers. I think I should take over."

What's your name? Harrison!

   When we got back to the dock, we finally saw some dolphins! Totally figures. The captain was super nice and drove us around for an additional 30 minutes so we could get our dolphin fill!

How cool!!

   Our week ended with a ziplining adventure! Oh my gosh! It was sooo cool! I can't believe we've gone to Hilton Head for so many years and never known about this! I do have to laugh that the part of the waiver we were most concerned about was the part that mentioned snakes... not the death part...

Signing our lives away. Leo is very focused.

   We suited up...

The equipment was a bit intimidating.

   We worked through a practice course...

Nothing about this adventure makes you look attractive.

   We went through suspension bridges and I think 7 or so ziplines.

Bridge #1 - we were all a bit nervous.

  Striking a pose in the tree tops.

Can you feel us shaking?

   Here was our highest point. Just don't look down.

AHH!!! 

   We took a group photo at the top to prove we all really did this!

This is the highest point you can be on Hilton Head Island...

   And of course a group shot at the end - we all were drenched with sweat but we survived!

Yeah we did it!!!!

   I told Adam we're definitely doing this again next summer! Lucky him - he actually didn't go on this adventure since he was home with Harrison.

   All in all it was a great trip and I'm so thankful our friends were able to join us! Until next time!

Say "Piggly Wiggly!!"

~Emily

 

Let's play catch up!

   New goal. Get caught up by Christmas... We'll see how that goes. Last post we were in Hilton Head for the 4th. We came back home for a couple of weeks before turning around and heading back! Here are some of our in between trip adventures.

  Adam scored us some SWEET All Star Game tickets!! Oh my gosh!! Such a fun time! Adam was a sweetie and let me take a friend to Sunday's festivities. Katie and I enjoyed the Future's Game and the All Star Celebrity Softball Game! Oh and let's not forget those scrumptious $12 margaritas...

Just the girls!

   Monday Adam and I watched the Home Run Derby. It was awesome! I mean really, the clydesdales were there!

Yes. One big horse!

 

Seriously awesome seats!

   Tuesday was the infamous All Star Game. All in all it was a great 3 days!

George Brett threw out the first pitch to Billy Butler. Pretty cool!

   Our other July adventures included - growing a garden. I learned cucumbers are crazy plants and tomatoes can make it anywhere.

They just kept growing.

   Harrison rediscovered sprinklers.

Sprinkler! This is before the grass turned brown.

   We also had a crazy weekend with three birthday parties! The first was at Chuck E Cheese. The second at a gym - guess which crazy man loved that.

Hanging out at the pit with cousin Kaitlyn!

   The third party was a pool party. It was with several of Harrison's daycare friends.

The fountains were the main attraction!

   Harrison also got to see his favorite Aunt Jenny from Chicago!

We love our Jenny!

  We took Nana and Pawpaw to Deanna Rose.

Showing Pawpaw where the ducks are.

   And of course there was plenty of swimming.

Crazy pool boy!

Next up? Hilton Head round #2.

~Emily

The 4th on the beach!

   Let's talk 4th of July (on this balmy August 26th...). We have started an awesome tradition of spending our 4th of July on the beach. Yes. The wonderfully toasty, humid but oh so close to the water Hilton Head beach. I love it. Adam loves it. And Harrison? He's a cute little beach bum.

I drawing mama. In the sand.

   Unfortunately this beach excursion was a little tainted by the fact our flight was all kinds of messed up. Yes we made it to the airport on time. Yep we even boarded the plane. But about at take off time, the dreaded announcement. "This is your captain from the flight deck. It seems as one of our electronic pieces of equipment is not functioning correctly. We're going to run a few tests. If that does not help, we will be unloading the plane until we can get a new part."

   Fast forward 40 minutes later, we're in the terminal. Our flight delayed 3 hours. Fast forward 3 hours. Our flight is still delayed. 

   Adam managed to get us on the standby for the next flight out to Atlanta - where we needed to catch our connection. Ironically enough Harrison made standby... By himself... Within 5 minutes Adam got me on that flight too. He decided to take one for the team and wait for the next flight as there was no more room. The flight attendant just about laughed when we asked what would happen to our luggage. Harrison and I survived our flight to Atlanta, ran to our connection and made the flight to Savannah, GA. 

   We started the trek to baggage where I was sure there would be nothing for us. We found our cab driver (Atlas) and ta-freaking-dah ALL THREE pieces of our luggage made it!!! Atlas offered to put in the car seat while this mama got a Starbucks drink for surviving the longest travel day ever!

45 minutes later I forgot everything... We were on the beach.  

Brodie are you ready!!!

   Adam made his later flights and made it to the house around midnight. Sunday it was nice to wake up to a complete family again. We also made the traditional jaunt to Kenny B's for our southern style brunch. 

That's Chowder. He belongs to Kenny B and spends quiet mornings at the restaurant.
He's also on a diet and eats watermelon.

   We spent lots of time on the beach - digging holes, splashing in tidal pools, throwing sand and swimming in the ocean. 

Just living life on the beach. 

  After every beach visit, we swam in the pool. Harrison learned to swim with his new puddle jumper floaty and loved climbing on the raft and Adam. It was nice to cool off and relax without the beach breeze blowing everything around. 

I did it! I climb!

   We hit up all of our favorite restaurants and Adam had the meal of a lifetime for his birthday. Can we say GIANT steak? Made us all think of John Candy in "The Great Outdoors." (Can you throw in some shirts for the kids.) As always I ate way too much. As always Jane swore she wouldn't be eating the next day. However, I would like to think my morning walks - you know the ones where I sweat to death - totally burned off all of my calories. 

Yes. He ordered this 26oz steak.

   For the 4th we hosted some family friends for dinner. 

Hanging out with my favorite Miss Mary on the 4th!

   We ate Kenny B's southern fried chicken and jambalaya and Mary's infamous berry cobbler. 

It was hop on Pop after dinner. Poor Pop!

   Harrison busted out some ink on his arms (temporary tattoos) then it was off to the beach for fireworks. 

He's not too young to be tatted up right?

   Too bad it was high tide but we still saw some good ones!

Happy 4th of July!

   Our crew on the beach.

Top left: Matthew being patriotic, bottom left: Mary's annual whistling of the National Anthem, middle: a star struck baby, top right: How many Peaks does it take to light a sparkler?, bottom left: Emily & Matthew

   Our newest Hilton Head adventure was our excursion to the Children's Museum. 

Sand table!!!

  Oh it was great! That will be a new tradition as well. There were lots of fun things to do and play with!

We have a budding artist. He made all of the black dots. 

   Hilton Head was amazing as ever! We had a great 4th of July with family and friends! Is it too early to start the countdown for next year?!

See ya later beach!

~Emily