A Hike and a Cold Swim

My middle brother and his kids invited us to go hiking/ swimming with them at a State Forest in NC.  We jumped at the chance!  

Awkward selfie group shot!  Look how big Oakley is getting!

Mantis, Queenie, and Oakley met us as well, we ate lunch, and then took a mini-hike to another waterfall.  

The adults!

It was packed!  My brother, ever chivalrous, let us unload and then had to park in "BFE".  The 8 kids (minus Ashton who just couldnt take the cold water) jumped into the water and swam/ climbed through a mini waterfall.  The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast.

Hunter and Aunt Anna having a laugh about something.

Hunt is such a good brother.  He jokingly call him "Daddy Hunter"  He made sure Bennett was safe on the rocks.

Nephews and Shep

Shep, he busted it about 10 times at this swimming hole and where they went to jump rocks.... Mr Clumsy

Ever brave, Bennett ventured where the big boys went.  I did not allow him to slide through the waterfall though!

Ashton did not even get into the water and he was cold!  Eva did get in but was just shivering!

I cant trash talk Ashton though because, as you can tell, I am dry too!  It was chilly water.

 There are many funny stories of us getting lost on the way, leaving the lunch in the car and having to hike to go get it, and mom driving around the parking lot endlessly trying to find a spot to park... but, we will pretend that it was perfect with no complications! :)

All the kiddos and a tired puppy

Thanks for the invite Z and A!  It will be smoother next time!

Edisto - Part 2

This has to be a record for how quickly I have blogged this beach trip... I was smart this time and while I was loading pictures at the picture, I just blogged the first entry.  I have a feeling that I am going to want to post house updates pretty soon so I need to finish up the beach stuff.

During the Checkers tournament, which I had zero desire to participate in.... Sandee, Tommy, PapaHub, the 3 littles (Jo, Sam, and B), and I went to the Snakeatarium on Edisto.  None of us had gone before so we didnt know what to expect.  We were pleasantly surprised not only with the number of animals but the very informative presentations- one on snakes and one on alligators.  The kids did a great job (my older ones wished they would have gone with us.)

PapaHub really enjoyed reading all the info sheets.  

Snack break

3 little alligator snacks in Alligator Alley

George and Bennett- this guy was HHHUUUGGGEEE

Waiting for the Snake presenation

The snake handler with a rattlesnake

Hungry alligators gathering for lunchtime...I named these four, Hunter, Ashton, Shepherd, and Bennett

I had to take a picture of myself to prove I was indeed there... haha.

 We also had two reasons to celebrate.... On Wednesday, Sami turned 5 and Chad and I celebrated 14 years of wedded bliss.

14 years ago...geez.  

Happy 5th Samantha!

 Our annual beach family pictures .... We were planning on doing them at Botany Bay but it was closed (we think due to the hurricane last year).  Papa Hub suggested the same beach access we went to earlier and it was a really pretty place to take them.

The group- thanks to the stranger who offered to take the picture

The leaders of the pack

hahaha- Joey!

Oldest to youngest

And of course, the silly pictures bribe

Uncle Tom Tom and Aunt Sandee with the girls

The little stud

Hunter looking quite grown up

Shepadoodle

My Beezer

Love this face

Some other pictures from the week.

I walked the beach for about an hour every morning...  I morning I got up early enough to fully watch the sunrise.  I love this picture.

Papa Hub and Hunter enjoying an ice cream

My Joey girl!  This girl is a spit fire.  "I've got that shunshine in my poooocket." 

A delicious dinner at the Sea Cow- thanks PapaHub and Grandma.

Another great year of amazing memories.  PapaHub and Grandma, thanks for a wonderful trip!  (Oh, and without even meaning to... 30 pictures exactly on this post.) :)

Edisto - Part 1

It is that time of year again.... beach time with Chad's side.

Selfie time with my boys

We always look forward to our beach week at Edisto.  We are on Year 3 of coming to Edisto and staying in this same house and it is just as fun as the first year.  We have our routine down and we always leave feeling refreshed.

This post will, as usual, be picture HEAVY as I dont know how to do a beach post without an insane amount of pictures.  I have over 200 but will try to narrow it down to the top 30... lets see how I do.   Let's scratch that- a week long beach trip merits two posts.

Cousins!

So, lets reserve this post to beach play which is what the majority of the week is designated for.  The "part 2" post will be our family pictures, Sami's bday, and the Serpentarium, and other fun pics that did not include sand or the ocean.

My boys---

Boogie boards--- worth their weight in gold

Cool kids

Bennett enjoying the water

March to the beach

Ashton getting his surf on

Ashton spent most of the time just like this

Kickin and splashin

Pensive Hunter

Goofball Hunter

Brave Bennett (on day 1- once he stepped on shells and crabs, he was not so brave)

Happy Shepherd

hmmm, he got some ups

The nieces----

Charlee loving the water

Joey loving her "coke"

Precious Joey

Love love love... Sami looking out at the dolphins

A water girl

So proud she buried her feet

Some of the other things we did on the beach included....

Fishing...

Ashton giving it a try

Uncle Tommy and Ashton patiently waiting

Hunter gives it a go

Hunter reeling it in.

He caught a shark (I think he helped catch a couple more---- I didnt see it as I went in)

Sand Playing....

Sam and Beezy relaxing in the sand

Sand castle time.  

A group effort

Bennett hard at work

The 7 all working together after Tommy dug a big hole

Shepherd flying like the birds

 Beach Lounging....

Relaxing

Aunt Sandee posing

Taking a break from the big waves.

Bennett and Sami watching the big kids ride the big waves

Sweet B

Aunt Sandee and Grandma giving the little ones some luvins

After I went out on the "big waves", Bennett gave me some luvins.  ** Thanks for the picture Sandee.

Chad playing a game with Ashton

Uncle Tom Tom in the sand with Charlee and Joey

Evening beach time

Wave Riding...

Ashton and Char wipe out

Hunter and Joey

Riding the big waves

Uncle Chad with Bennett and Jo Jo

In depth conversation between Shep and Charlee

Hunter holding onto Joey

Love :)  Joey was just a squealing!

These three....

Hunter riding the wave in

Watching for the waves

Chad, Shep, and Ashton are actually on the other side of this

Charlee riding a wave

Chill time

 And a little bit of kayaking...

Tommy brought his kayak and Hunter gave it a try

Kayaking on the ocean

Ok, so I went wwwwaaayyy over 30 pictures.... almost double (I promise I knocked out a bunch of them)

Such a fun group

 Part 2 coming soon.....