My girls are confused as to where exactly home is these days.  I don’t blame them.  We have been gone a good month from our rental home here in Oklahoma.  I can’t tell you how many people asked me if the rumor was true.  “Are you moving back?”  

I couldn’t help but laugh. :-)

As far as I know, no.

Last year’s trip back down south was a week long and not nearly enough time to cram in family time, friend time, beach time, logistics with our house there, and vacation time for our family.  This year we visited Myrtle Beach with my family, caught up with family and friends in the upstate, got some much-needed work done on our house, got to be a part of a fabulous wedding in North Carolina, and visited more family in Atlanta.  We rounded our trip out with a night in Birmingham, Alabama on the way back.

To say I feel behind here on the blog is an understatement. :-)

Even that might be an understatement.

But I’m back.

Refreshed. Motivated. Inspired. Rested.

It’s a good place to be.

After 21 hours of driving to get to the coast, we were pretty excited.   The kids had stayed occupied with a borrowed DVD player, {thanks Lauren!} snacks, Dora coloring book, and Kid’s Praise Song CD.  Real troopers those kids…

Daddy was working back home during our week at the beach with my family…and we missed him sorely.

 I would give you the rundown on how each of my children bonded with the ocean, but this picture says it all…

At first he wouldn’t even let me let his toes touch the sand.  He wanted to camp out in a chair and talk with the women…

“This is NOT happening,” I thought to my beach-lovin self.  Over my dead body, we will be a beach family.

By the end of the week, Keller had pried himself away from my leg long enough to do a little exploring, and wonder of wonders!  He decided he was a beach bum after all.

I can die happy now.

Meanwhile, the girls were happy as clams and never had to endure my “initiation rituals” to get comfortable with the coast.

They played with that little dog nonstop and it almost…almost...convinced me it was time.  Then a real one came along and although it melted my heart, the work was just all too right-in-my-face-feeling.

I did find a pet star fish while I was out walking…

I got all excited and got the girls to come look at it, hoping it would take their mind off of the dog thing for a while.

Emma Claire picked it up {with her BARE hands} like it was the most natural thing in the world.  I was so proud of her, and then I had the thought, “Do these things sting?”

She’s still breathing, so that particular kind must’ve been safe.

When we weren’t looking for a pet to bring home, we chased seagulls, dug baby pools for the little ones in the sand, sunbathed, read, collected shells, and tried to keep things out of this teether’s mouth…

And you could not do all that with funnier people then my siblings…

My brother, Tim, and sister, Abby.

 The beach house we stayed in was beautiful.  Many mornings I would go out and sit on the front porch and take in the breeze, the smells of the coast, and the sunsets.  I got a head start on some books I’ve been wanting to read and got some visiting in with my mom…

We took lots of  walks since the stomach bug hit pretty hard, quarantining us for a few days.

My dad, my grandfather, Keller, and my brother James.

It meant so much to be able to spend time with my grandparents who live up north…

Love you, Mom Mom and Pop Pop!

 The last day of our beach week was Easter.  My sisters stuffed some eggs for the kiddos with goldfish, yogurt covered raisins, and gummy bears.  My kids were in heaven and there may have been some hoarding going on.

 No need to worry.  I think my brothers and sisters thought the contents were a bit of a letdown.

 What a privilege to be able to take my kids to the beach this year and spend time with all of my family.  I realize it is a treat to be able to go and I am so so grateful my kids are getting to experience it.

I’ll be back with more tomorrow!

{And I’ll try not to be long-winded.}

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