Let's stay outside!

It was back to work for all of this week...well at least for some of us. But we spent lots of time outside with friends and family enjoying the summer between cool-ish weather and rain events! We had friends (adult friends - this isn't all about the kids lol!) visit over the weekend and I spent most of Sunday reading - it was nice to have a down day!

Defenders basketball pizza and pool party on Monday! 

Matt and Brenner met up with PawPaw Floyd and Grammy on the Lamine to do some fishing. They didn't get anything but an invasive carp that jumped INTO their boat! 

She has taken over my Birkenstocks.....and looks so tall!

On Sunday, our church had a track and field day to kick off VBS. Nola took first in the 100 meter! 

Brenner took fourth in the 100 meter - not bad with two recent high school track grads competing! 

Matt took third in the 100 meter (silver division lol)!

Nola finishing second in the 200 meter! 

These knuckleheads in the three legged race. Lots of fun being had! 

Brenner took first and Nola second in the potato sack race!

Second place in the mile! 

Nola on the relay 4x100. Brenner's team tied for first - it was an exciting finish with one of the recent high school grad coming from behind to catch up with B. They were so fast that my picture of it was blank!

Nola jumped over 8 feet in the long jump! She placed but I don't remember where!

Brenner and Matt both jumped over 11 feet to place 4 and 5 (I think). Love Brenner's form. I have a slow motion video of Matt....but promised not to share it ;)  Now - I was photographer so didn't compete but did run one lap with Brenner during the mile! 
 

Tybee Island - Part 3 (Excursions)

We did take some breaks from the beach and cooking for ourselves at the condo!

                                                  
Grandma Val and Nola wanted to do a dolphin tour. We selected a sunset cruise! Would we see one?

We saw tons! Here Nola is seeing a baby dolphin - they were so cute!

You can't see it from this picture, but there were dolphins mating! They do this spinny dance thing - so if you see their pink tummies, have the kids look away ;)

A shrimp board parked in the bay caused all the dolphins to descend....we figured the boat captain and the dolphin outfit had an agreement worked out because the captain was sitting and eating on his deck!

It was great tour! 

Bonadventure Cemetery was really interesting to see! So many old gravestones. I would NOT want to do the night tour of the place though - creepy!!!!

It was super hot in Savannah so we didn't walk around much. Amazingly, the one square that we walked through to get to River Street was Reynolds Square which held the statue of John Wesley. Kind of neat for us Methodists! 

We had an amazing lunch at the Savannah Seafood Shack. Brenner and Matt got to try a low country boil, Nola enjoyed fried shrimp, and Grandma Val and I scarfed down the fish tacos. All that food called for a walk....did I mention how hot it was?! I then stood in line at Leopold's ice cream for an hour to get everyone ice cream....we decided that we wouldn't wait that long again! 

The kids hadn't been to South Carolina so since we were so close we took a drive....our adventure there? My phone getting broken so we were then off to find a repair shop (which we easily did!). 

Matt and I took advantage of Grandma Val's offer to stay with the kids so we could go out to dinner. We found a great sushi place. Everyone was happy! 

Grandma and Nola did a little shopping!

Sea kayaking Little Tybee Island at sunset for Brenner, Matt, and me. I hadn't been in this type of sea kayak with the rudder before - it was so handy!!! Brenner had a steeper learning curve but did great!

Our tour went to the boneyard where the beach and maritime forest are eroding naturally - the trees die and fall over. 

The root mases can be massive!!!! 

Heading back at sunset!

It didn't disappoint!

Lunch at the Crab Shack......Brenner wanted crab so we are here to please! He order Dungeness and Matt got the Captain Sampler.... 

Ever since our trip to Louisiana, Brenner has wanted crawfish. Once he had one in his hand, the enthusiasm dropped.....Brenner ended up not trying it!

Nola thoroughly enjoyed her barbequed chicken!

Oh no - don't let the alligator get you! 

One last dinner out complete with drinks! It was great to have mom along with us!

Goodbye, Tybee. We made a lot of memories that won't soon be forgotten!
 

Tybee Island - Part 2 (Beach Shenanigans)

Brenner and Nola said the first day at the beach wasn't really the beach because it was overcast. Us pale folk should appreciate the cloud cover. I said well I see sand and waves - looks like the beach to me!

Toes in the sand! 

Grandma Val and I were all ready to read and chat in the shade! 

The girl gang! 

Lots of football for the boys before we got our body boards!

Family pic! I will tell on myself with this swimsuit. I didn't buy a new one because I rarely go swimming. But I noticed that when I put it on that it was pretty saggy. Well when I hung it out to dry at the end of the day - I noticed that the material had started to break down and was see through-ish on the backside (which was all black). Good thing no one I knew saw me!!!! 

Bury me, Mom! (But only my legs!)

Sand couch...it's a tradition. 

Lobster boy said you all can do it while I sit in the shade

Completed!

Comparison to the previous versions!

Body boarding! So much to take in with this picture. Father-daughter race is underway as Brenner hunts for a bigger wave! The cargo ships cause wave changes which can be fun...but can also float your beach items away if you aren't careful (we were careful!). Handstand, anyone? 

Matt and I enjoyed on evening walks - alone time! 

This girl was ready to hit the waves early!

Cheese! (In my new swimsuit lol!)

Tons of oysters with attachments! 

Snack break.

Brenner chose to spend a lot of time doing Mindcraft.....Matt and I didn't agree but decided we would enjoy ourselves and not battle the teenager. His loss! 

Eventually, we found the pool and enjoyed some time there as well!

No one else in the pool - yay! But late in the week Nola was beached out. So she spent some time with Grandma in the condo reading. 

Matt, Brenner, and I spent a lot of time the last couple of days down on the beach relaxing. It was so breezy which was a welcome feeling as the A/C went out in the condo!!!!