Hilton Head- the first couple of days

I sit here on Hilton Head Island, listening to the ocean behind me and the excitement of my wonderful kids.  It has been a beautiful start to our week long vacation in South Carolina.  We left early Saturday morning (shot for pulling out the driveway at 4am, left closer to 4:40am) and started our 12+ hour drive.  The kids were instantly excited and ready for the trip.  We drove for just about 3 hours and stopped at McDonald's for breakfast and a potty break.  The kids were so excited when they learned they got to eat breakfast in the car!!

A nice plate of pancakes and sausage with some milk and we were back on the road.  What amazed us the most was the long stretches we got without having to stop and go potty or calm down restless kids.  Unfortunately the good times ended when Maggie got car sick and threw up her mid morning snack all over herself.  It seemed to make her feel better though and after getting all cleaned up, we were back on the road.  All in all we made it to the beach in one peace (except for what Maggie left behind in TN) and even made incredible time.  We arrived just shy of 5pm, and that was including the traffic we hit crossing the bridge onto Hilton Head Island.

Papa & Gee joined us about an hour later and we all wandered down to the beach, for the first time!  Brian and I were prepared that one or both kids weren't going to like the beach or water.  We were prepared that someone or both would seize up with fear and cling to us for dear life.  Not at all the case!  Their feet hit the sand and they were immediately in love and awe.  Then they saw the ocean, and that was it.  Maggie likes the ocean, sand, waves, etc.  Jack...LOVES it!  He ran straight for the ocean without hesitation.  No fear, no second thoughts, just pure excitement.  I wish I would have thought to grab my camera because those first moments of Jack's delight was priceless.  We splashed around and soaked in the last few moments of the sunset before heading back to the beach house and getting all cleaned up.  By this point the kids were exhausted.  Jack hadn't slept more than 10 minutes since 4:30am when we woke him to put him in the car.  Maggie had two small 30 minute naps during the car ride, but that was it.  So needless to say, they crashed in their beds without a fuss. 

Our precious little ones snoozing together

After some yummy BBQ for dinner, Brian and I crashed as well.

Sunday we casually started our day and enjoyed a nice stroll with Gee to check out the General Store of Palmetto Dunes were we are staying.  On the way back I rented a bike with an attached wagon which the kids love!  Later we wandered down to check out the pool.  This was Jack & Maggie's 3rd experience in a pool.  They had fun splashing and "swimming" around.  Since we were all wet and actually in swim suits this time, we took another trip to the beach.  It was just as exciting as the evening before!  After some fun we showered and got all dressed up for some lunch at the Salty Dog Cafe.  After some souvenir t-shirt shopping and a yummy ice cream treat, it was time to head back.  By this point the kids were showing signs of fatigue, especially big man Jack who had been running strong since about 7am!  Both Jack & Maggie crashed in the van on the way back and slept the entire time Gee & I were grocery shopping.  They needed it too!  We had a yummy pizza dinner from the Mellow Mushroom, hung out with each other for some fun play and then it was time for bed!

We're headed to a restaurant

Hurry, let's go!

Cheese!

Dinner at the Salty Dog Cafe

Jack got mad because I wouldn't let him hold his ice cream cup, so he put himself in time out!

And then decided he would rather just have some ice cream then fight

"The human head weighs 8 pounds."

My pretty little lady

Monday was a beach morning!  I wanted to get them out on the beach earlier in the day before the sun was right on top of us.  We took our chairs, buckets, shovels and had a nice time.  This was our first experience making sand castles, and the "twins" couldn't be more different in the sand fun.  Jack is very meticulous, building his sand castle, carefully moving around and placing things just right.  Maggie is destructive and all over the place, especially once someone else has built their castle.  We played in the water some and once it started getting hot, we came back for some lunch. 

Jack & Daddy in the ocean

This kid loves the ocean!

After a goldfish bread pb&j sandwich, gold fish crackers and grapes it was time for a bike ride in the wagon.  We enjoyed a nice ice cream cone and headed back for naps...

...which didn't happen.  Jack & Maggie were too pumped up from their fun day to nap, so we just hung out and played in the beach house.  We just finished a delicious spaghetti and meatball dinner made by Gee (YUM!) and are waiting for the sun to completely set so we can go crab hunting.  More of our adventures to come...