More Vacation

The pictures say it all. We spent our time hanging at the beach watching for dolphins, hunting for seashells, swimming, or playing some sort of golf. We really enjoyed ourselves and were bummed that we had to come home to snow. Brooklyn did not want to put away her spring clothes. She insisted that it was spring because we had spring break and that means warm weather and shorts and tank tops. Now we play the waiting game here in Ohio for Spring. It better come fast or else I will have to take another vacation.

Glad swimming lessons are paying off

Driving to Botany Bay to go seashell hunting.

Tons of crabs along the way.

The Loot

Clam beds

Waiting for Dolphins

Miniature Golfing

Sydney says HI!

Playing under the chair

Pedicures from Bugga

Building Sandcastles
Playing in the sand

Hallelujah! Finally at the Beach.

Alligators in the complex

Golfing What more could you ask for on a vacation? (Other than it being free.)

We concluded the vacation on Friday by heading to Charleston to the Aquarium. We saw dolphins in the Harbor. Then when we went in we saw a giant sea turtle, sharks, jellyfish, and all sorts of ocean life. It was fun but too expensive for my taste.

Spring Break In South Carolina!!

We had such a great time and got to do many things so I am going to post in smaller sections.

North Carolina

We headed out on Friday March 20 and made it to Princeton, WV. We stayed the night, thanks to Grandpa Steve, at the Hampton. The girls and Greg got up the next morning and swam while I tried to sleep a little bit more. Sydney had this awful cough and her bum was so sore that it even started bleeding. Every time she coughed she would poop a little and then she would start crying. It was not a good night's rest for any of us except Brooklyn, who snored through the whole thing. But at least they got to swim before they left! Instead of going through Charlotte, we took a detour to Asheville, NC to see Grandpa Lou and Grandma Carol. We had a great visit. Tracy and Les brought the girls over to play with London and Brooklyn.

Jean watched the all the girls for a bit while we went and looked at grandpa's new house (Sydney got to screaming and poor Jean was probably beside herself-good thing we were minutes away). Carol fixed us a wonderful meal and we stayed up and visited. We went to PF Changs for lunch and then left for Columbia to see Bugga (my mom).

Edisto Island, SC

We stayed at Bugga's for a night before we headed to Edisto Island, SC. We rented this condo which was perfect for our family and Bugga. It was on a resort so we were able to use all the resort's activity centers like the pools, miniature golfing, playground, movies, games, and whatever else they offered. When we got there we went to the Piggly Wiggly for groceries and then went to Bugga's good friend's house who fixed us a yummy dinner and we got to enjoy their beautiful home and scenery on the Marsh Lands.

Thanks to George and Gailya for a great evening.

George and Gailya's hospitality didn't end there. Then next afternoon we met them back out at their house so they could take us on a boat ride to see the marsh and the dolphins in the bay. Bugga stayed at the condo with Sydney so we could go. Thanks mom. It was sunny but windy so as we were just about to approach the bay, the waves were getting too big and we were getting all wet so we turned around. We didn't see dolphins, but we saw some really beautiful scenery. Thanks again for a great afternoon.

Greg and I got some golfing, if that is what you call chasing, hunting and losing golf balls, in that morning. It was awful. I haven't played for at least 18 months and boy did it show. My putting game was better than I thought but I couldn't hit worth crap. Greg was doing alright but there were holes that we were even on. That doesn't happen very often. At least we got some sun while we were out.

More to come on the rest of the week later.

NEW CAR!

After 2 failed attempts of buying new vans, Greg bagged the Odyssey's and moved on to bigger and better things...SUBURBANS! He started looking at them on Auto Trader and called on a few. One that he called had already been sold by the dealer, but they said they were getting another one in the following week. When it came in they called Greg and we headed up to Cleveland to look at it knowing that we were 99% sure we were going to get it. As long as there wasn't major body damage and the car didn't smell like smoke. Luck was on our side this time. We already did the negotiation over the phone, Greg had a check printed out, so it didn't take hours upon hours like it normally does to buy a car. Greg drove the beast home with Brooklyn, and I drove the van with Sydney and London. Of course London was a little upset she had to come with me in the van, but I told her I would pick her up from school in the new car the next day and she wouldn't have to ride the bus home. That did the trick. She doesn't enjoy the bus so that was a good incentive to ride home with me.

I asked Greg if he had buyer's remorse, but he said not at all. We are very happy with our purchase and I am sure even at the gas pump we will still be just fine. Let's hope it doesn't get up to $4 a gallon.

We got a 2005 Chevy Suburban Z71-Color -Silver Birch. As you can see, it is loaded. The must have feature for me is the DVD system. I was so sick of having the portable ones in the van and having the cords all over. Now this has the wireless headphones for each girl. Now only if Greg would share with me and let me drive it, I could tell you how well it drives :) I think this will suit our family great for years to come!!!

Sydney's Latest and Greatest

All my girls have been a little slow on the whole sitting, standing, crawling, walking, and teething things. Sydney is 8 months old and is starting to get a little more comfortable sitting. She is still very wobbly and sometimes stubborn and just gets really stiff. But we were trying to capture a little bit on video and this is what we got.

She also is trying to eat baby food, but she gags on all of it...green, yellow, orange, soft, chunky, warm, cold or however else it may come. Mind you this isn't the first time she has had baby food. I give her at least a jar a day. Now all she wants to do is spit it. This makes for a messy dinner but lots of laughs. She refuses to eat rice cereal so I have been sneaking it in her bottles. I'm sure if she could talk she would say forget all the food and just give me a stinkin bottle. Hope this isn't a sign of what's to come.

This thing is fantastic. It is a mesh bag that you can put food in and then she can suck the juice or flavor out of it. We have been trying that lately too, to see what kind of funny faces she will pull. She likes apples, but I think strawberries are her favorite and of course the messiest.

Morning time

It seems every morning everyone is so excited to see Sydney. She has definitely brought so much happiness to our home. It is hard to believe that she is already 8 months. But a few Saturdays ago, I slept in a little while longer and when I finally drug my butt out of bed, this is what I woke to.

I can't complain. The girls love her and are constantly in her face and want to be holding her. London has gained a lot of confidence with picking her up and walking her around. It makes me nervous because I remember (mostly because my mother told me) carrying around my brothers and I actually dropped Cade on his head. (So that might explain it Cade). London is very careful, but it makes Brookyn think she can do it too, and that right there is just a big accident waiting to happen. But I guess too much love is better than none.

Valentines Fun

Where is the surgeon when we need him? Cutting on someone else instead of London's shoebox. Greg and I went to Hobby Lobby and picked out some fun embellishments to decorate London's Valentine Box. But when it came to decorating Greg was working. So when I got the knife out and got ready to cut the box, this is how the conversation went between London and I.

London: "mom, have you ever made one of these before?"

Me: Yes London-remember I went to school too.

London: "Well, do you know what you are doing?

Me: Yes London

London: Do you know how to use a knife?

Me: What do you think?

London: "Well, I wish dad was here cuz he knows how to cut?

Me: Thanks but he won't do as good of a job as I will.

London: I'm not so sure because he is a doctor and you are not.

Great-since when you do you have to have doctorate degree to make a Valentines Box. Nobody's fingers were cut off and no blood was spilt, so I think I got her approval. Gotta love her! This is what she made...

This is what she gave to her classmates. I thought she was pretty clever, instead of writing each kids' name, she just wrote To: You---Fantastic idea! Why didn't I think of that.

Of course we can't leave Brooklyn out. She got to make her box at school. Since I didn't have a regular size shoe box, she had to use my boot box. She was proud that her box was the biggest one in her class. Since she made hers at school, I had a little craft for her to decorate. It was a little foam purse, but that got boring too fast so she resorted to decorating herself.

I went to both of their school parties but forgot the camera for Brooklyn's but they are all the same...games, food, and craft. Very fun for them. And I have to admit that I even had fun. London was even proud of her box because she got so many compliments on it. In fact, one parent told me that her child said she wished she could have a box like London and the parent said well, then go live with London. I just laughed because I have told London the same thing about other people.

All in all Valentines was good. We even got a special delivery. I got a dozen roses and the girls got a single rose with a teddy bear and a balloon. They were excited that daddy didn't forget them. Too bad Greg has such a crappy wife who didn't get him anything. Hope he knows we still love him.