Patterson Fun

We were back in Little River for what will most likely be our last visit for the summer of 2007. It was a nice long weekend--wasn't exactly the greatest weather, but a little rain and a cool breeze can't keep beach freaks like us away from the sun, sand, and pool. The guys always take the opportunity while they're all together to enjoy some time on the links and this weekend was no exception. My brother, Brook's, game has apparently gotten much better since the last time they all played, so Jeremy is now convinced that he needs some new clubs to get up to par with the rest of the crew (forgive the pun). And we added a new feature to our weekend...the women (and my brother-in-law who's not into golf) decided to find something we could get away to do to enjoy some childless/grandchildless time. So Granna, Tracy and Eric, Jayna and I went to Le Grande Cirque--what is the Chinese equivalent of the Cirque de Soleil--and though we thought it was going to end up being a bust when we were told to arrive 45 minutes early to get our tickets and were the only people in the theater, it turned out to be a great show and we really were able to enjoy our night out on the town. And thankfully, lots of other people showed up to watch it, too.

The weekend was complete with a day at the beach, a day at the pool, catching up on the latest Hollywood gossip thanks to Jayna's PEOPLE magazine, a trip to Calabash Creamery for the best ice cream around, and lots of just laying around lazily watching the kiddos running around having fun while moms and dads and grannas and poppys relaxed, laughed, and just enjoyed being together. Though the weekend ended with me forgetting my purse at the beach house and having to turn right around after arriving in Florence to go back to get it, even that stupid mistake couldn't ruin all the fun we had! We really missed Chris and Whitney and our family pics just don't look the same without them. But enjoy the pics that we did take! I had lots of good, willing PATIENT subjects!

The newest addition, Nolan Charles Patterson.


Nolan gettin' some love from Daddy, Brook.


Olivia having some early morning fun with her cousins, Connor and Myles. Cora was still asleep!


Olivia feeling VERY important as Connor's chairmate...though they just can't seem to take their eyes off the TV even for a second.


All the cousins ready to head out to the ocean.


Oh, we'll play hard...


and I do mean hard...


but we'll sleep even harder!


Nolan catching some rays.


Granna and Cora looking beeeeutiful.


Olivia sharing some sand with her Poppy.


Olivia's hero--her cousin, Cora.


Can you guess which of us didn't want to be taking this picture?


The adults enjoying the rays...um, I mean, rain.


Like fathers, like sons.




Granna and Cora.


Dinner at Crab Catchers up on the top deck.


Our tan family...we'll see how much has stuck around come January in Florence.


This is Myles waiting to eat dinner while watching a shark be cut to pieces on the dock down below...he has quite the dislike for all things gross--especially blood.


Connor's reaction to Myles' dislike of blood.


Granna took Olivia down to listen to the live music as we were waiting for our meals to arrive. She had fun dancing along and was not too happy when our food came and Granna had to drag her back upstairs. She kept asking for "more music, another song."


Taking her cue from the rest of our hungry clan, Olivia thoroughly enjoyed the fried corn on the cob.


And Nolan just enjoyed any attention that came his way. Such a happy, happy boy!


The whole crew! Picture taken by aforementioned live musician--what a brave soul!


The young(er) Patterson family.


The Lubsen family.


The Emert family.


Poppy, Granna, and their 5 grandkids...all smiles!