Beach 2013

This week was our annual Allison vacation at Holden Beach. Holden is such a beautiful, non-crowded, family beach we return here year after year. This year we stayed in the west end at the same house we stayed in 2 years ago. It's ocean front, however we do have a hike through the dunes. There are now 19 of us so it takes a fairly large place to accommodate everyone. We've had gorgeous weather all week- warm and sunny but not overly hot. It's been a nice break from the rainforest where we currently live (we've had uncanny rain all summer and are beginning to mold!).

Isaac and his cousins have played in the ocean and tried to awkwardly scope out the girls next door. There are a couple girls around their age and we have cracked up because the 4 boys have been on the prowl. They even got into an argument over who actually said 'hi'. Today they were in the ocean and 'subtly' kept moving closer to the girls. They finally made contact with the alien species but the girls must have not been impressed because they didn't stay to chat. I'm not ready for this!

Eli has absolutely had a blast and is at a great age to really enjoy the beach. He has used his boogie board to surf the waves and has loved digging holes. We did have a scare yesterday when he tried to follow Mawmaw inside and we could't find him. We were all in panic mode but thankfully he was okay.

Olivia is a beach bum! This child just keeps turning browner and browner. She loves the sand and water and has been entertained 'washing' seashells in a bucket of water. Watching those little chub legs run in the water is just adorable. It's so much easier this year because I don't have to keep her under an umbrella out of the sun and worry about her over heating like last year when she was not quite 3 months old. Click here for pictures from last year.

Pretty sunset view

Olivia's first encounter with the sand and ocean

Eli is happy to be here

Cheese- I used bribery to get him to look at the camera

Isaac and his cousins 

Daddy dug Livi a water hole

This girl loves getting dirty... we tried to keep her from eating too much sand

Eli playing

Livi and her bucket

Isaac burying his hands

Our dune walk to the ocean

Really Mom

13 year old Isaac

Little E and his shovel

I turned my back and Eli pulled off his swim shorts and ran in the water. I sprinted across the sand to grab his trunks and snap a picture before making him get dressed again. He said his shorts 'hurt'. Humm.

Livi loving the sand

After a blow out diaper I had to wash her off in the ocean

So relaxing

2 of my sweeties out to dinner 

Salt washed wood, sand dunes, and sandy feet

Ahhh.. It's so much fun Mom

I got a smile :)

Joshie fishing

Josh's dad, Pawpaw fishing

Eli and his 'crack'

Sweet girl

Braedon and Isaac playing games at the room

Aggravating Dad

Someone put on too much sunscreen

We drove down to Myrtle to Broadway and Eli built a Lightening McQueen

He's loving this

Isaac, Bryce and Braedon did the ropes course and zip line

Livi hanging out while Isaac ziplines

Isaac ziplining

Riding the carousel

A sea turtle nest hatched and we watched the baby turtles head to the ocean