Holden Beach, Here We Come!!

Wednesday marked the first day of our annual vacation to Holden Beach, NC. We packed the girls, three in a row, and loaded the van to maximum capacity (must say we were pretty happy to not have a van full of oxygen tanks this year) and headed south. This was the first year we decided to divide up the ride as well as the first time our family of five stayed in a hotel. Amazingly enough, the girls traveled well and slept well. Miss Belle went from carseat to bed in the hotel without stirring until morning. A true sign of a second/third child.>

These are some of the memorable questions heard along the way:

Daddy, where does the sky end?

(It doesn't, Savannah)

No Daddy, I mean, where are the edges?


Mommy, are you excited to be Nlivia's Grammy? (the baby she thinks she is carrying from now until adulthood).



Upon arriving at the beach, we headed to the ocean and did the ceremonious toe dipping. The wind, noise and waves had the little girls apprehensive but not for long. This morning we lathered everyone up and took them out to the beach. Lila Grace loved it but hated seeing sand on her skin. Thus, the beginnings of a tumultuous relationship with the beach. Miss Belle tolerated the elements quite nicely (something we doubted would happen since sand is high on the "sensory overload" list). She even sat down and splashed in the ocean. A huge smile swept across her face when Savannah sat down to play with her. Savannah, as always, loved it and wants to jump waves all day long. There is something truly serene about a morning beach outing when all the kids are fresh, the beach is empty and the tide is just beginning to come in.

I am so proud of all three of my girls for being flexible while traveling and brave while experiencing the ocean for the first time all over again.