Little River Beach Bums

I've always loved the beach. Although I have a terrible memory and typically struggle to remember most details of my childhood days, there are a few memories that I can recall quite vividly. And several of those involve the beach. We would go nearly every summer with another family, the Blackmons, who had three kids the same age as Brook, Whitney and me. I remember getting matching bathing suits with my friend Alice, building drizzle castles, lazily floating out in the waves on our boogie boards, going to the water parks and daring the tallest, curviest, swirliest slides; but most of all, and I know this is a little weird, I remember the smells--our Mom's Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion, the salty air blowing through as we played underneath the pillars of the rented beachhouse, the smell of cotton candy and pretzels and the musty haunted house at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion. Man, I feel like I'm eight years old again--I wish!

And so all these things I want for Olivia to remember. Of course not my childhood, but her own. I want her to have fun, exciting memories--and if she has a poor memory like her mom, I hope that she--much like I do--has an overall sense of fun, enjoyment, happiness from her summer days. Melting ice cream, sand between each and every finger and toe, splishing and splashing away that hot sticky sun.

This past weekend was one for the memory bank. Even pictures can't do justice to the fun and joy we had at being with friends, building stronger relationships, seeing Olivia's smile and energy and eventual exhaustion after long days with her own best buds! We are so grateful for a place (thanks to my Mom and Dad) to be able GET away that is not so FAR away...but just far enough to let our worries and hectic lives and busy-ness go for the weekend.

Here are some shots from the trip!



The whole crew--The Severance, Edwards, and Emert families.




Olivia gets a lesson in bubble blowing from Mrs. Jennie.


Jeremy, Olivia, Stacey, and Abby enjoying the ocean before our long discussion later than night about sharks! Thanks Brian!


There's that joy I was talking about!


Beautiful mommies and babies!


The guys getting some frisbee time.



Thank goodness for big buckets, plenty of shovels, and endless amounts of sand.



Carlisle with a beachy smile!



Moms and Dads entertain the kids with a puppet show.



Who's hungry?

Abby goes exploring.

Good times at the beach! What a great weekend. Hopefully only the first of many, many more!