windy day

the 2nd day of vacation the temp. dropped about 10 degrees…but that didn’t stop us!

we decided it was a great day for the kites……after a quick snuggle of course!

in the afternoon we headed into Charleston to catch the Blue Angels Air Show…..the kids couldn’t resist the invitation to sit in the fire truck first…..so cool!

what a view!!! we sat at Waterfront Park on the Cooper river…..our Cooper loves the idea that he was named after this river. We could see the new Cooper River bridge on the left and the aircraft carrier on the right.

   

the show was amazing!! so glad it was a windy day…or else we would of never left the beach!

vacation

just got back from vacation…well a few days ago…but still recovering….it was wonderful!

lets see…….over 450 pictures….where do i begin?!

i guess i’ll start at the beginning…..our 15 hour drive.

a car packed for a week on the beach and enough snacks and activities to keep the kiddos busy during the trip.

the iPods made the car really quiet at times.

we saw the Christmas tree tied to the roof in New Jersey….too funny.

and lots of traffic in Delaware, Maryland and DC…..not funny.

all in all…it really wasn’t a bad drive….we have had worse….like the year Caroline got car sick…for about 10 hours of the trip….the kiddos have become great little travelers….it went something like this……snack, coloring, iPod…..snack, craft, iPod……repeat for 15 hours….the kids had a lot of fun with car bingo and learning about the states we went through. About midnight we stopped at a hotel and got some sleep, with only a few hours left for the morning.

in the morning we were able to check in early and enjoy the beach all day!!!

   

still going through pictures….more pictures tomorrow!

gone surfing

Dramamine for Caroline,

bathingsuit for Rob,

3 bottles of homemade wine for me,

3 backpacks full of toys and a shovel for Coop,

this is all we need (and a car FULL of other stuff)

for a week on the beach.

just dance

since she was 3 we have been bringing Caroline to dance class once a week

over 20 minute drive 2 towns over

this year i take her off the bus and race her to class, snack in the car, rush, rush, rush to make it to class on time.

every 5th class they do a little show for the parents

i love watching her concentrate on the steps

 

i hope she always loves to dance.

Sunday afternoon at the lake

we have been blessed with a some warm weather…on Sunday afternoon we headed to Nana and Grampa’s house to enjoy the sunshine.

a little bike riding first

 

cooper is very serious when riding and honking horn.

caroline got right to work checking out the shore line

bare feet in April….lovin it!

Cooper is very excited the lake isn’t frozen anymore!

 

a beautiful sunny day,

spent with family,

no worries,

just being together…..so precious.

Easter Morning

baskets ready

Caroline woke up first, hopped into bed with us because we wouldn’t let her wake up Cooper too early….she was so excited!

so many thoughts about the bunny

“i saw his shadow last night, but i didn’t hear him, i thought he would make a thump, thump sound, but he was really quiet. mom, did you tell him not to come in our room? because, he left a special egg outside our door. there must be lots of bunnies because South Carolina (?we live up North) is really big! the one we saw at the store, was he real? I think i saw our baskets when i went to the bathroom, and they were full of toys! can we wake up Coop? can i wake up Gramma?”

at 7am we let her wake coop….he was out!

and needed help going down the stairs because i think he still wasn’t awake.

they got busy picking up the trail of eggs the bunny left.

and coop looked out to the porch and found the goodies!

 

so excited about new toothbrushes!!

 

and then off to church! not sure why Caroline’s head bands always end up around her forehead….funny girl!

Easter part1

on Saturday we had my mom’s side of the family

from Vermont, New Hampshire and New York,

all traveled to have Easter lunch together at our house.

the kiddos both had gymnastics in the morning…which allowed me to clean house and get a start on the food.

this is Cooper’s favorite kind of meal…..the meal before the meal….i think it was the longest he sat all day.

caroline can’t get enough of cousin Hayley

and was by her side the whole day.

 

Uncle Jamie gives the best baskets!!!

 

our traditional family picture on the front steps

getting ready part2

 

the kiddos sealed up the tomb last night after we made the Easter Story Cookies

we woke up and “opened the tomb” 

yummy cookies…..a great gluten free dessert for our guests coming today.

the kiddoes set their table

i love how we clean the house like crazy when we are getting ready for a house full of family and friends!

the tables are set

 

the fridge full of food,

the bathrooms cleaned,

and the floors vacuumed, again.

ready, set, Easter party!!