Hilton Head Beach Trip

Well the girls finally got to see the ocean for the first time. We have had two other trips planned that were cancelled, but this time we actually made it to the coast. My parents were so wonderful to get a really nice 3 bedroom place through their time share. We had lots of space for the girls to run around and play and the amenities were great. The drive to and from the beach went amazingly well considering the dvd player quit working after the first dvd the girls watched. Luckily we had plenty of things to keep them occupied. Well, they kept Lauren occupied. Allison has not enjoyed riding in a car seat from the first time she rode in it on the way home from the hospital. She screamed the whole way home, and cried just about every time she went anywhere for the longest time. She really did good as long as she could have a lollipop or gum.:)

The weather was great. They were calling for showers most of the week, but it only rained about an hour one morning and then a storm blew up while we were on the beach late one afternoon. We had to pack up quickly and hop on the bikes to get back to the room fast. It only sprinkled a few drops on our way back.

The girls absolutely loved the water. We took them to the beach after we arrived on Sunday evening. They were dressed in their shorts and got completely soaked. I remember that happening to my brother and I on our first trip to the beach. We got our clothes soaked the first time we went on to the beach. They loved the sand, the ocean, and the pool. We pretty much spent the mornings at the pool, came back for lunch and a nap for Allison, and then went to the beach in the afternoons. Allison didn't sleep during her nap time, but I think Lauren slept almost every afternoon. We think Allison had some allergy problems. The first 3 nights she woke up coughing and couldn't sleep unless we held her up. After calling the doctor and getting some medicine to give her, she slept better at night, but still didn't nap well. The lack of sleep caught up to her on Saturday afternoon as she was exhausted.

We rented bicycles for the week with a babyseat and also a covered cart to ride the girls in. They loved riding. We would ride the bikes to get ice cream in the evenings, and also ride the bikes to the beach.

I have always loved going to the beach, but this trip with the girls was by far the best trip ever. We all had a great time and are looking forward to going back again next year.

Lauren wanted to drive us to the beach

Their first steps on the beach

Getting their feet wet

Allison running in the water

Lauren running in the water

Lauren loves her Uncle Bill

The girls in Uncle Bill's running shoes

Enjoying an ice cream cone

Riding in the bike cart

The ominous storm that blew up while we were at the beach

Lauren and Allison on the balcony

The girls with Pawpaw on the balcony

Family picture on the balcony

Daddy and Allison getting covered up with sand

Lauren getting covered with sand

Playing on the beach

I love this picture

The girls with Uncle Bill's sand castle

Both girls loved tearing down sand castles

Taking time for a snack

Playing in the ocean with Uncle Bill and Pawpaw

Poor Uncle Bill's arms had to be tired from doing this over and over and over

I love their faces in this picture

Soaking up the view of the ocean

Playing in the sand

It was very difficult choosing pictures for this post because we really got a lot of good shots. I love digital cameras. If you made it to the end, you are a real trooper!

Happy Birthday Allison

This was one of the first pictures Bill took of Allison. She entered this world on Saturday, May 19, at 6:45 p.m. by emergency c-section. She has blessed our lives from that moment on.

I can't believe we just celebrated her second birthday!!

Allison with my grandmother. My grandmother was so proud to hold Allison when she was just a few hours old! This is one of my favorite pictures.

One day old

The first time Allison met big sister Lauren

The sisters loved each other at first sight!

Daddy and Allison

Uncle Bill and Allison

Can't believe she had such dark hair!


This was her first birthday!

We celebrated Allison's birthday with family on Saturday, May 16. Allison wanted Elmo plates and napkins. I tried to make Elmo on her cake! You have to really stretch your imagination to see him in the top left corner. Oh well, my artistic abilities have never been all that great!

Allison's cake

She went right for the icing!

Lauren actually blew out the candles instead of Allison. Guess it was good, because I forgot to let Allison practice blowing!

Allison's party hat

She ate all the icing first

Then ate the ice cream

She gave up on using a spoon with the cake and ate it with her fingers

The umbrella was one of her favorite gifts

Big sister Lauren helps her open her presents

Allison got lots of beach related gifts since we leave for the beach on Sunday. We had a great time with our family celebrating our baby's second birthday. What a blessing it is to have two such wonderful little girls.

Lauren's First School Program

The three year old classes at Lauren's preschool had their end of the year program this past Tuesday. It is always fun to watch little children perform. You really don't know what will happen. The children walked in procession into the auditorium to the song "It's a Small World". That was a long walk for each child to walk in by his or herself.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, the children sang the following songs:

Jesus Loves the Little Ones Like Me

Barney Rainbow Song

Fuzzy Caterpillar

If All the Raindrops

My God is So Big

After singing, the children were presented with graduation diplomas for completing the three year old class of preschool.

We love Mrs. Jackie and Mrs. Christy and have been blessed to have them for Lauren's first teachers in preschool. Lauren has loved school from the first day. Seems like only yesterday when I posted her first day of school pictures.
She is already looking forward to going to the four year old class next year.


Lauren in the procession


Lauren standing on stage


Lauren's class


Singing


Singing "My God is So Big, So Strong and So Mighty"



Typical picture of Lauren with her head tilted

Cookies and drinks in the room after the program

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

We started a two week swim class yesterday. Can you tell which sister liked the first lesson and which one was a bit hesitant?


Lauren at her first swim lesson

Lauren testing the water

Allison having a ball

Both girls are excited to go back for their next lesson tomorrow. We had to miss our second class tonight because of Lauren's school program and graduation. Yes, my baby graduated from her 3 year old preschool class tonight! I can't believe how fast the year has flown. I'll post about her program and graduation another day.

Mother's Day Celebrations

I enjoyed my first Mother's Day celebration of the week on Thursday by going to a Tea at Lauren's school. What a wonderful morning we had together. I left Allison with Grandma so Lauren and I were able to spend some time alone! I was expecting cookies and tea in her classroom and was pleasantly surprised by a schoolwide wonderful brunch in their fellowship room. We got to sit with several of Lauren's good friends in her class, so that made it a wonderful time for all of us.

Lauren and I


Ariel, Darrah and Lauren

Ariel, Lauren and Esther

Our next celebration was on Saturday when we had a cookout at our house with Bill's family and mine. My parents and brother were there, as well as Bill's Mom, Tim, Dave, Jen, Parker, and Jared. It rained all morning, but fortunately when it was time to cook the rain stopped and Bill didn't get soaked cooking! We had such a relaxed and wonderful time being together with family. My sweet brother got Mom and I poster size collages filled with pictures of our trip to the mountains back in the fall.

Today we got to spend the day going to church and then just relaxing at home. There's nothing better than being home with the family! And there's nothing better than being a Mom to two beautiful angels that are gifts from God!

My two girls on Mother's Day


Mother's Day kisses!