Where’s the Beach … not in the village.

First, I’d like to say how could be possibly even consider coming home when the sweeties look that stinkin’ cute in the pool? With happy babies like that – we should pack it all up and move South… seriously!

Now we’re home in the village..

.and we “escaped” Hanna. Though we were never really worried about the approaching hurricane – we just followed what the “locals” were doing and figured that if we had a reason to run and hide… they’d let us know it! Only one house in all of Palmetto Dunes was being boarded up. So we weren’t to bothered by the impending storm.

All – in- All, It was a wonderful family vacation that made me appreciate my family so much – Being able to share these special moments and memories with Seth and our babes really was very cool. To me, family vacations are so very special – it’s an escape from all things responsible and stressful and a chance to just “be” a family and do “family” things together. 

I’ll recap – 

For the most part our days worked out that we’d wake up (nice and early if you are an Everitt kid, say like 6 am) eat some pancakes, watch a little playhouse disney whileChef Mom packed up a picnic lunch for the beach and we’d be out the door by 10 am to get the ideal beach spot over at the Disney beach house on Hilton Head. We’d be home around noon, take a quick dip in the pool – take a quick rinse off shower and put the kiddos down for a nap come mid-afternoon.  Then we’d eat dinner and go out for a walk on the boardwalks/plazas and get ice cream. 

Come Wednesday, Seth and I had our share of sand and chasing Dylan around and keeping sand out of Natalie’s mouth – so we opted for a little day trip to Savannah. We fell in love with Savannah, ate the most delicious meal at Paula Deen’s place (though we very well may have eaten our weight in pure butter…oh well!) and shared a few laughs. 

When we arrived in Savannah and went to take Dylan out of the carseat he pretty much exploded his diaper (dang, that boy drinks some water!) and well, I had beach brain and didn’t pack the back up outfits I typically carry in the car – So Seth and Dylan hung out in the car while Nattie and I hustled our backsides to GAP…which just happened to be so strategically placed at about 4 blocks away(yay!).  In arriving at the G-A-P I noticed that my sweet daughter had also exploded on my hip. nice. nice. So about $40 later – the kids are stinkin’ cute in their gap-wear (which will also double as their outfits for our family picture) and we’re off for some good eats and a little retail (like in window shopping) therapy.  I found two of the most adorable stores in which I could have easily spent a small  fortune on their goods – and due to cranky kids – I was only allotted about 3 minutes in each store, therefore not enough time to make the decision to purchase anything (boooo!). My first favorite store was @home (http://www.vintagegeneral.com/)– this ultra-cutesy vintage home store. With tons of goodies.

I wish I could have picked up that entire store, loaded it into my suv and brought it home with me to decorate every nook and cranny of my house with. I loved the throw blankets they had and all the little “kitchy” nicknacks and fun, funky jewelry… but most of all I loved their oven mitts and pot holders and dish towels – and my heart stopped for their half aprons. Very cute – Very in my hand, going to purchase… until I hear a wail from one of my two chicklets. booooo. I think Daddy was pinching’em so I didn’t spend money!

I got back to the vacation house and immediately googled the site and found the store’s blog – I am also going to email them to see about shipping that adored apron to the village. It would make me a very happy housewife. very.happy. 

Second store – Nourish… (http://www.nourishsavannah.com/) lotions and potions and handmade soap. lovely. beautiful and sooooo sweet smelling… I had 3 bars of soap and 2 candles on my radar, but alas… they are still resting on their shelf… which is in Savannah…not Sunbury (booo).

Back to family news – Dylan is now convinced that Chocolate and Ice Cream are every day treats – he became very use to going to the general store and then to the beach or boardwalk to eat’em.  He’s talking up a storm now, and even holding conversations with us about the

 most random stuff. He’s swimming on his own (well, with the help of wingies and a noodle…but hey – ya’know) and he’s got a little color to his pasty body! I think he really enjoyed spending all that time with Seth! 

Natalie is cruising – everywhere, which just started on Saturday (sept 6). We’re thinking that she’ll be walking by Halloween… (lawd, help me!) She’s a

 cheerio machine and is lovin’ herself some pancakes! If you say “kisses, kisses” she’ll smack her lips together  like she’s giving you a kiss – so sweet! 

Seth is back at work – sufferin

g from what we’re calling “allergies” and is getting ready to celebrate a b-day in about a month (whoot! whoot! makin’ the plans now!)

It was so nice to have my husband with me all week – uninterrupted and ready to help with the daily “kid” duties. It was so nice to be as relaxed as we were together, having fun and hanging out. I think (know) that Seth really liked the vacation too. He had so much fun playing in the pool with Dylan and snuggling up to Nattie.  

As for me – I’m jonesin’ for the beach, bad. I miss it so much – I miss the atmosphere of HH and the general vibe of chilling out. Even doing laundry was relaxing there (I know… crazy! right?!) – which must have something to do with being less than 5 miles from the beach, or maybe that I was doing nothing but washing bathing suits and beach towles… eh, whatever! The kitchen of where we stayed was out of this world (aside from the fact that they need some new knives – next year, the Wustof is coming with me) and I played scrabble every night with Jackie – in which we’ve discovered that we are scrabble genuises (meaning we scored well over 300 almost everytime we played). 

Coming home is stressful and a little depressing – Natalie projectile vomited in the back of the SUV, which lead to an interesting moment or two and the Wendy’s in Charlotte messed up my order, not once, not twice but three times… which, when you are jonesin for some Wendy’s and then it’s not what you expected (not once, but three times) – well, that’s just sad and disappointing! (Note to Charlotte’s Wendy staff – A Chicken Club does not include a Spicy Chicken breast … me and my raging heartburn for the remainder of the

 way home thank you. I live in the hometown of Wendy’s and I’m telling Dave Thomas on you!)

Though we got home in awesome time and had 2 days to recover from vacation mode and start back up the “reponsibilities”.  I did become the MOMS of Sunbury, Ohio’s new Secretary (meaning I write up the newsletters and send out weekly email updates) and did get an interesting proposal from a friend that may be something really cool… more to come on that later.

I’m in a sour mood because my Nikon is shot. Dead. Gone. KERPLAT. I’m so upset and sad and trying to figure out how to get a new camera considering that Natalie is on the border of some first steps and I’ll be so mad if I miss getting those recorded.  My 30th is approaching, and I think that may be a nice gift for someone turning 30 (which also happens to be her “golden birthday” 30 on December 30th – hint hint – wink wink) So maybe I’ll just go buy a back up cheapie until then. Suggestions (or gifts of a new camera) are always welcome.

In summary: family vacation = fun times. And to think positively about this whole thing (and not let being 730 miles from the beach get me down) it’s less than 365 until we return! yay! 

I’m hoping next year to spend more time in Savannah – and this time purchase the lovlies that I found!!!  The kids will be older and, again, it will be fun to explore the beach and cities with them! 

I’ll leave you with the best pictures of the vacation… for your “oooh-ing and ahhhh-ing” pleasure!

…Daddy and Dylan, last time on the beach…

                                                                                                   

… Nattie’s first ocean experience…

… an attempt at a family picture on the beach…

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