Spring Break at Hilton Head - Day 2

Today is perfect!  (We slept in until 8:10)  The sun is shining, the sand is clean and the water is calling us.  To start our day Devon and I go for a 30  minute jog on the beach.  We jog towards the place where Jessica and her friends are staying but don't make it the 5 miles distance.  We clean up and head out for breakfast and BEACH!

Everyone came down to the beach.  A few words sum up today:

BUILDING SAND CASTLES

sand castles turning into

BUILDING A SAND CITY

SUNSHINE = SUNSCREEN

MAKING NEW FRIENDS

PIZZA BY THE POOL

WILD LIFE ANIMALS:  

crab, star fish, sand dollars and a shrimp

WAVES

VOLLEYBALL

FAMILY CAN BE BEST FRIENDS!

Last word of the day:  SUNBURN - OUCH!

Spring Break at Hilton Head - Day 1

We are so blessed to have a wonderful place to stay while we are at Hilton Head Island, SC.  We stayed at the Marriott Resort and Spa in Palmetto Dunes.  The view was wonderful to the winter-fested eyes.    Having already looked at the weather report, we knew the beginning of the day was going to be cloudy with a chance of storms.  Well, the storm came while we were sleeping, but the morning was chilly - so - we decided to spend that time wisely by eating breakfast out, exploring the island and shopping at the outlets.  By the time we were done, the weather was wonderful and it was okay to hit the beach.  Robert and Marissa seemed right at home.  They found the hammocks, beach, sand, waves, pool - they left nothing unturned.  

Marissa in the hammock

The beach was wonderful.  I love it here!  Their is a peace and a serenity that makes me feel relaxed and comfortable.  The roll of the ocean waves rocks the soul and the sand of the beach gives to and fro as you walk.  There doesn't seem to be a care in the world except for when it gets close to dinner time.  I also love the colors and hues of the beach - the fresh green of the ocean grass against the stark contrast of the soft tan of the sand mixed into the surf that eventually turns into an enormous  shade of deep blue.

The kids build sand castles and play in the waves while I play the role of photographer and memory maker.  I love it.  I love capturing their free spirited fun so they can look back and remember.

Robert and Marissa jumping waves

The perfect jump

The start of a sand castle

Can you see "Robert" in the sand - 12 years old

Can you see "Marissa" in the sand - 14 years old

After an afternoon at the beach there was still time and energy for some fun in the pool before heading out for dinner.  Just so you know, Devon decided to stay in the room to do homework.  We all cleaned up and ate a delicious dinner at Outback.  It kind-of upsets me that we are at the beach - I love seafood, but that non of my kids do… so we eat steak and potatoes instead.  Hum…at least all the kids are happy with their meal.  

After dinner we went down to the Harbor City to do some more shopping.  The kids found a shoppe with the cutest and smallest turtles they'd ever seen.  Marissa is holding one right now.  A very busy day makes for very tired kids at night.  Sweet dreams!

A Day of Travel

Monday we left on a journey for Jessica.

Jessica left on Friday immediately after school with her good friend, Lucy Gibson (from the basketball team) and Craig Grimm's family, Craig, Amy and Larkin (teacher from school) to babysit their cute 3 year old son, Larkin.  Grimm's family met Amy's sister and her family there (Aaron, ? and ?).

Robert, Marissa and I left Louisville to pick up Jessica from Gatlinburg, TN at 9:00 am.  We got to Gatlinburg around 2:00, it took about 1 1/2 to get back on the interstate…continuing our drive to Hilton Head Island, SC.

We drove Jessica to the place she is staying with best friends, Amanda McCall and Jenny Orr.
We finally pulled into Hilton Head at 10 pm.

NOMS beats Shelby West

On Thursday Robert's school team played the hardest team in the division - Shelby West.  They have some huge guys on their JV team.  This was the first game that Mark got to see Robert play.  He was mid.  They boys played very well winning 5-2.

What a Stressful two weeks

This has been a very stressful time.  Mark has been in Singapore since March 20 so I've been manning the fort on my own with everything that's been going on.

The activities were manageable, although they were a lot to keep track of, it (amazingly) was doable with only a few tight calls.  Robert has three soccer teams, and Jessica and Devon are running track for the school.

However, Devon has really been struggling since the start of March.  It first started when he was assigned a 750 point english project.  There was "plenty of time" to work on it according to the teacher, however Devon didn't properly estimate the amount of time it would take to complete the whole thing.  He did work on it from time to time, so not to procrastinate, but it is obvious now that he should have done much more earlier.

Well, long story short, it was due on Friday, but there wasn't any way Devon was going to have it done, so he was given an extension until Wednesday (due to the bullying, etc.).  Well, Wednesday came and went and he was still a long way from getting it done.  So, then his teacher told him he could turn it in on Monday.  We worked on it until the wee hours of the morning for nights; I expected it to be turned in…but on Monday evening Devon told me he still wasn't done.  I came unglued…yes I did.  I'm ashamed to say I was so mad at him, but I was.

Anyway, and needless to say, Devon didn't do anything until he finished it that night and he turned it in on Tuesday - he also went to Track practice on Tuesday and the rest of the week.  

Jessica leaves for Spring Break

Jessica has a crazy week a head of her.  She left Friday right after school with her best friend from the basketball team, Lucy Gibson and her basketball coach, Coach Grimm and his family for Gatlinburg, TN.  She will stay there until Monday afternoon.  At that time, I will drive to Gatlinburg, TN with Devon, Robert and Marissa to pick her up and take her to Hilton Head Island, SC to spend the rest of her Spring Break with best friends Jenny Orr and Amanda McCall.  Jessica will get back Saturday evening.  I hope she has a wonderful time with her friends!

Marissa's 14th birthday party

Marissa's birthday party was postponed until 4/1/11 this year because of campouts, games, etc.  We had a bunch of her friends over Friday night for the famous - loved Betsy's pasta dinner.

After dinner, Betsy drove the girls to St. Matthew Mall for shopping at Forever 21 and more.  They had a blast.





We left there around 9:00 p.m. and went to Target for goodies, etc.  We arrived home around 10:00 p.m. and got the basement entertainment room set up to sleep the girls.  After everyone was snuggled in they watched two movies - Tangled and Despicable Me.

In the morning Betsy made "teal" waffles - some with chocolate chips and some without.  Even though they look very strange - they taste wonderful.