Enjoying Family Vacation at Ocean Isle Beach

We are officially half way through our family vacation at Ocean Isle Beach and having a blast.  We have hung around the island most of the time with mornings on the beach, afternoons on the canal (we got a house this year on the canal) and evening golf cart rides, ice cream and putt putt.  Today we took we went for the afternoon/evening into Myrtle Beach and hung out at Broadway at the Beach with shopping, more putt putt, more ice cream (hey that is what we do at the beach!) and a dinner at Senor Frog. 

 

Our house we rented this year is perfect layout for us, with 4 bedrooms that sleeps 10!  This was exactly what we needed this year since we let Jonathon and Christian bring their girlfriends and Logan brought his cousin Mason. Everyone has someone to hang out with and it has helped with the bickering (I think?!?!?, sometimes doesn't seem like I ever escape that completely with my boys - someone tell me that is normal).   We even have our bottom floor of the house that is a game room with couches, tv, full size pool table, air hockey and fuse ball. The kids have enjoyed down time in the evenings there as well.

 

So I have taken over 200 pictures and have decided to be intentional at going through them each night so it isnt' so much when I get home. I also decided to update the blog half way through and even that was hard to narrow down my favorites. So enjoy, there are several good ones, and hey I have 8 kids here....

 

 

 adorable huh?

 

they both love the water, difference - Grace runs into the waves, gets thrown down and back up again, Olivia has fun running from the waves

 

Pure joy!

Loves the water, can you tell?

Bahaha - this one makes me laugh.

My goofy Logan - I think its the age

Grace managed to crawl in the hole the boys dug

Love Graces' hip popped out with her sassy self

Logan and Mason made friends with boy next door and enjoyed jumping off their boat in the canal

Cousins chillin on the pier

Riding the waves with big brother, Jonathon

They buried Christian - see his head?  Made him into a mermaid....lol, he is such a good sport

Christian and his girlfriend Hannah, and Jonathon and his girlfriend Allie

 

The four teens chillin in the canal

All the kids playing putt-putt

Jonathon and Allie

Guy and I

 

Christian skim boarding - he's good

and riding the waves - love the smile

 

Cute couple, look how tan

 

Funny chairs and Senor Frog 



 These girls love each other

 

Sillies.....

4th of July!

 

We had a great 4th of July!  My sister and I took our kids to see the fireworks and enjoy festivities at a local park.  Jonathon and Christian each had their girlfriends join us. Kelly was minus her two younger ones.  They are just too young to hang and our hubbies were down for the count too, Fred due to back injury and Guy due to having to work. We still had a great time!  Thanks to all who serve our country and make our freedom something we can celebrate! 

 

Christian and his girlfriend Hannah

 

The gang of kiddos

Kelly and I

The girls, Olivia, Lily and Grace

Olivia

Logan and Mason

 Me and Olivia waiting on the fireworks to begin

 



Me and Grace..let the fireworks begin

Grace

Jonathon and his girlfriend Allie, chillin

Christian Got His First Car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well Christian got his belated 16th birthday gift, but I think he would say it was worth the 3 week wait.  Yes he got his first car!  He had been wanting a Scion Tc and we found one that met his wants and our needs - win/win!

 

 

Cooperstown Dreams Park

Guy and Logan spent a week in Cooperstown, NY at Cooperstown Dreams Park .  This is a dream for all boys who play baseball.  His brother went two years ago and he has been waiting his turn. Unfortunately I couldn't attend this trip because Christian also had a tournament in South Carolina.  That was tough on this momma.  But these two had a great time. Guy was one of the coaches so they got to stay in the barracks together.  The team didn't do as well as they would have liked, but hey it's Cooperstown and they had a ball!   Here are a few pictures Guy got.

 

 

 

 

Grace's Gotcha Day

We had a blast celebrating Grace's 3 year Gotcha Day!

 

We had a trip to build a bear

and first go kart (or as she would call them race cars) ride

Wouldn't be the same without a celebratory "Cars" Balloon

One happy girl!

Happy Gotcha Day Grace

Three years ago today we met our beautiful 22 month old bundle of joy, Grace.  She changed our lives and touched our hearts from the first moment. Just a glimpse back to that day.  It brings back so many emotions. My heart was forever changed.

 

The first moment I laid my eyes on her, the orphanage worker was bringing her through the door.

She wore herself out, bless her we waited for her for 4 years, but she didn't know us at all and was so scared.

But I held her tight and loved her through the tears. When she woke in my arms she was miraculously a little girl full of smiles and laughs and was pure joy.  Transformation occurs and peace reigned just through being wrapped in the love of her mommy. God is so good. 

She is legally ours!

 

All the little ones in our travel group.

Grace and her new cousin, Lily then

Grace and her cousin now...melt my heart.  What a gift. These two adore each other.  A bond no one will ever separate. They began their journey together in the same orphanage in China, separated and sent to two separate foster care homes in different cities, reunited forever!

Our Grace now!

Graduating preschool, and about to start Kindergarten!

And dancing in her first ballet recital

 

We are blessed. We love you Grace.  Happy Gotcha Day!