Vacation at Hilton Head

Aaahhhhhhh, vacation!!!!!  I love going to the beach and we have been blessed with many wonderful vacations.  For the past three years we have enjoyed taking the girls to Hilton Head with my family.  Hilton Head will always be special since it was the first beach our girls went to.  They fell in love with beach life as well as life by the pool that first year we went.  I'm so glad they love the beach, because it is one of my favorite places to vacation.  (I'm also looking forward to taking the girls to New York one day!)

This year we had a few minor setbacks with our vacation.  The drive down was challenging because we drove through storm after storm that slowed us down to a mere crawl at times.  We did manage to avoid the speed traps and a speeding ticket (which I got while driving last year).  Lauren ended up getting sick with a fever and nasty cold while we were there.  She missed a whole day of going to the beach or pool because she had a fever.  She did feel better after a day of rest, but she certainly wasn't her normal self they rest of the week.  When we got home we had to visit a walk-in clinic where she was diagnosed with an ear infection, sinus infection and also had to have wax from her ear flushed out.  It took her around 4 days on the antibiotic to get to feeling better.

The weather was perfect once we got to the beach.  We stayed at the same resort we stayed at for the first trip.  The accommodations there are wonderful with plenty of living space and a great pool area.  This resort is about a mile from the beach, but we really enjoy riding our bikes to the beach.  The first day we rode to the beach, we were getting ready to lock our bikes up at the bike rack and as I stepped off my bike, Bill (brother) said, "There's a snake!"  I ran over it with my bike!!  

Allison and I saw a sea turtle from a distance as we were walking on the beach one day.  I could see something as we were walking but I couldn't tell what it was.  As we got closer, it went back out into the ocean, but some people who were standing there told us it was a sea turtle!  Lauren and I found a sand dollar that was still alive.  We saw just one alligator in a pond by the golf course.  We were disappointed to not see any dolphins this year.

I really enjoy getting to go to the beach with Mom, Dad and my brother.  I am so glad they like to spend a week of their vacation with us.  The girls get lots of attention and have lots of fun and I'm thankful for my parents for sharing their time share with us. 

Despite not feeling well, Lauren did a great job swimming in the pool.  She loved swimming under water.  If we could just get her to stop holding her nose and use both arms to swim, she would be all over the pool.  She loved jumping in and swimming to one of us.  Allison did a great job putting her face in the water and swimming with her swimmies on.  She was so cute to watch because she would stick her bottom up and kick those feet like crazy.  Both girls loved playing in the ocean.       



Allison at the pool

Allison at the beach

Allison and Lauren on the balcony

Allison and Lauren before church on Sunday morning

Allison and Lauren eating ice-cream from McDonald's

Allison with her ice-cream

Lauren and Allison at the pool

Lauren with her ice-cream

Lauren with her ice-cream

Allison in the ocean

Lauren getting a body scrub

Daddy, Allison, Mommy and Lauren's toes at the beach

Daddy tossing Allison up at the pool

Daddy throwing Lauren up

The alligator we saw in the pond at a golf course

Allison and Lauren on the balcony again

Allison and Lauren playing in the hole they dug

Lauren and Allison on the beach our last night

Lauren and Allison on the beach the last night

Family picture on the beach the last night

Happy 4th Birthday, Sweet Allison

This picture of Allison and my grandmother was taken when Allison was not even 3 hours old.  My parents and grandmother drove down and made it to the hospital just before Allison was taken by c-section.  My sweet grandmother hung out in the waiting room until we were out of recovery and in our room.  She was so excited to hold Allison.  We wanted her to look up for the picture, but she just wanted to look at Allison.

This picture was taken when Allison was 2 days old.  Uncle Bill is holding her.  I love how it shows how dark her hair was.

I can't believe you are four years old.  What a beautiful young lady you are.  My sweet Allison, you have blessed our lives so much.  You are the most loving child.  You give the best hugs and the sweetest kisses.  We love you so much!!!

We enjoyed having dinner at the place of your choice, Firehouse Subs and then ice-cream at Brusters today.  We will celebrate your birthday with a family
party on Saturday.  I love you, my little angel!!!

Kindergarten Graduation

Seriously.........graduation......I just dropped her off on her first day of kindergarten.....really it had to be just a couple of weeks ago.  Has it really been a year?   This picture below was taken right after she walked in her classroom and put her backpack and things away.  Was she really smiling that big when she got to school for her first day?  I don't know whether to be happy or sad!  Well, of course I am thrilled that she loves school, but also a bit sad, too.  This picture is one of my very favorite, because it captures the essence of Lauren.  She did not know anyone in this class, but she was so happy to be at school.  I love that child for the joyful spirit she is filled with.  I pray that she is always this happy!   I know that is not possible, but I do pray that she will always look for and find the joy in whatever comes her way.

Here is the first picture I took of Lauren with her teacher.  There's another picture near the end of the post with Mrs. Israel.  Lauren really loves her teacher and when she was asked what she would miss most about Kindergarten, her answer was, "Mrs. Israel."

Last night we attended Lauren's Kindergarten graduation.  It was an informal affair that took place in her classroom.  When we got to the classroom, Lauren had a portfolio filled with work she had completed through out the year.  Mrs. Israel spent quite a bit of time laminating and organizing so many treasures that we will keep to remember this special time.  One of my favorite things in the portfolio was a book of the song, What a Wonderful World.  Each child had illustrated the pages of the song so beautifully.  As I read through the words of the song, I got teary eyed.  That was just the beginning of a very emotional evening.  In the portfolio was also a hard bound book the class had published. Each classmate wrote and illustrated a page in the book telling about what they liked about Kindergarten and what they did not like about Kindergarten.  Mrs. Israel also typed a full page letter to each child and gave it to them with their little diploma.  She was very specific with the letter detailing Lauren's personality so eloquently.  That will be another treasure Lauren will enjoy for years to come.



Lauren holding her portfolio

Lauren wearing her graduation cap that she made in class

Lauren, Maggie (the dog) and Allison.  Maggie came to Lauren's class every Tuesday.  The kids got to read to her.

This is classic Lauren, looking and listening so seriously.  Mrs. Israel was reading the book, I Knew You Could by Dorfman Craig.

Another picture in her graduation cap.

Lauren and Mrs. Israel

Lauren and her best friend Lilly

We were truly blessed with a wonderful first year of school.  One down, twelve more to go.  We could not have had a better start.  Thank you, Mrs. Israel for taking such good care of my little girl.  She has grown so much and learned so much this year.  I am so proud of you, Lauren.  I love you, sweetie!

Easter Pictures

I'm just now getting around to posting our Easter weekend pictures.  We had a wonderful weekend at Mom and Dad's and the weather could not have been more perfect.

Daddy and his girls



Sweet Allison....she looks like a little doll sitting there



Smilin' Allison



Sweet Lauren smiling with her missing bottom teeth

Sweet Sisters.......I know I won't be able to dress them alike forever!

Bill and I

Daddy and Lauren

Daddy and Allison

Mommy and Allison



Mommy and Lauren



My favorite picture of the weekend....compliments of Uncle Bill



Boosterthon Fun Run

Lauren's school participated a fun run today.  This was my first experience with this particular fund raiser for schools and they announced today that after expenses, they raised over $28,000 for their school.  Not bad!  Lauren's Kindergarten class was the top class for getting the most money pledged. 
I was able to leave work at 11:30 today to see Lauren run.  I'm very proud of her.  She ran 33 laps, which the Boosterthon people said those students who completed 35 laps ran/walked a total of 2 miles.  Way to go my little athlete!!  Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!!!  Uncle Bill will be proud of you, too!



Lauren at the Boosterthon



Lauren and her best friend Lilly, holding hands during the friend lap.

 

Waving at Mommy and little sister.



Staying hydrated during the run



Lauren and Lilly picking up the pace near the end of the race

Resting after completing the run

Lauren's class picture after the race

  

Snaggle tooth Lauren

My sweet baby lost her second tooth tonight.  Or should I say her dad yanked it out!!!  I cannot believe Lauren lets him to pull her teeth.  This one was loose, but when Bill actually pulled it, it made me a little queasy!  That girl is one tough little cookie!  She's very proud of that big gap in her smile!  Here's a short video of Bill at work.  Be sure to listen for the "pop" when the tooth comes out.  I love the expression on her face.