South Carolina 2017

Right after we left the Outer Banks, we drove to South Carolina to meet Evan's parents - they took the kids for the whole following week! They all had a blast together - it was great for all of them to have that time. I think they exhausted each other!

They went to the beach, had dinner at the golf club, took a golf lesson, swam a TON, and just had a great time together.

We booked relatively cheap tickets to fly down and get the kids the following Saturday, staying until Monday when we all flew home together. Upon arrival, what did the kids want to do with us (that they had done every day there already) - go to the pool! Luckily I remembered to bring the waterproof camera.

 On Saturday night, we all headed in to Savannah, Ga together. We arrived early for our dinner reservation, and had drinks at a nearby rooftop bar.

 We had a great few days, just Evan and I, but man I missed these kiddos.

 The kids loved the view, and seeing the boats go past, but I think they enjoyed their "grown up drink" of Shirley Temple the best!

And it really was quite the view of the river.

 Later on, one of the giant cargo ships came through, which was so much fun to watch. Seriously, they're huge!

On Sunday, Evan and his dad went golfing for the morning. Lynn and I took the kids bowling, and of course had to go in style in the convertible. The kids had been enjoying that all week!

 Bowling was much fun for us all. In fact, I got what may have been my highest score ever on our second game - 109! I'm a terrible bowler. But it's tons of fun.

 And before we left on Monday, we took the kids out for one last ride in the golf cart.

Thanks again to Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Doug for doing so much with the kids, and showing us all such a great time.

Beach 2017: UVA photo shoot

On our next-to-last night at the beach, we gathered up all 20 of us and headed out to the beach for a group photo shoot. We did this two years ago (and although I posted the group photo on FB, apparently I never posted it on the blog - oops!), and wanted to recreate it again this year. We had all packed UVA shirts for ourselves and the kiddos;I brought my blue & orange ground cover, my tripod and camera, and then it was photo time!


We decided to capture the kids first, as they were at their most cooperative then. Here's the best one I got of all of them together.

And of course the kids needed to be silly after I made them pose so nicely for me!

And then all of us! I only took two photos with the tripod, and they both turned out so well (although this one was my favorite) - we didn't have to take a ton! What a photogenic bunch we are :)

I then took family photos of each family. We have such photogenic friends! But I'm only going to post my family's here. Henry of course had to go to the bathroom right before it was our turn, so while Evan took him back to the house, Kathy grabbed a few pictures of Natalie and I. I love this one!

And my favorites of all 4 of us.

Then it was time for more photos on the beach!

My dancer can't go anywhere without practicing her leaping.

This inspired my friend Jason to do some leaping on the beach...and we then convinced all of the dads to do it together. I haven't laughed this hard in a LONG time. They were all such good sports! Unfortunately Evan can't be seen in this first one (he's leaping in the back) but wow, I love this photo so much.

Take 2! Not nearly as great as the first, but you can see Evan in this one.

To be fair, it was more like take 10 - the guys really did jump a bunch for our merriment. What great hubbies we have!

While we were entertained by the guys, the kids wandered some down the beach. We needed to corral them back, and so they started running at us. Definitely a good photo opp!

Beach 2017: Family photos

In my penultimate beach 2017 post, I thought I'd pull together my favorite photos of the 4 of us from the beach. These don't really need much description - just my favorites! Let's start with photos taken with my waterproof camera - these first 4 were selfies. I've gotten pretty good at taking them with the waterproof camera!

 Beta was great about taking photos of everyone on the beach. She didn't go in the water too much, so she got photos of all of us while we were in the water. Here are some fun ones hat I didn't know she took!

A posed shot of us on the 4th of July.

 A family photo in the ocean.

 And one of Henry flying!

 Finally, Kathy used my camera to take this family picture in the pool (after I took them of all the other families). Yay beach vacation!

Beach 2017: Favorite shots from the pool

When we first arrived at the beach house, I pulled out my new camera to take some practice shots at the pool. This thing does not disappoint! Here are my favorite shots I took of the kids in the pool over our days at the beach.

 With this one, I tried to get all 5 to jump in at the same time. Katie jumped just a bit too early! But I still love the picture :) Look at those happy faces!

 Rosie (my friend Beth's daughter) absolutely loves Natalie. It was great that Natalie is finally old enough to be trusted to hold Rosie in the pool.

 I'm so glad that I finally invested in a good waterproof camera last year. The kids love when I take photos of them underwater!

 On one day in the pool, Kathy grabbed the camera and took a bunch of pictures of the kids. These are my favorites of the ones she took.

 Natalie looks like a mermaid here!

 On our last full day at the beach, we ended up being alone at the pool (I can't quite remember why; other families were doing other things). So, I used the opportunity to grab some photos of the kiddos. They loved these full snorkel masks that Zabby and Zane have; I think we'll have to get some next summer.

 Again, I tried to get synchronized jumping; not quite there!

 And finally, one last family selfie (of which there were others - I haven't posted those yet!) in the pool.