She Sells Seashells by the Seashore

When I was in the South, I went to the beach not once but TWICE! This is the first time I've been to a beach (on a real ocean) since our honeymoon. I guess I take that back. We went in December after we were married, but it was December so that really doesn't count as a beach trip. 

Anyway, the first was to Hunting Island with my sister. Becca and I stopped at Grandmama's for the beach pass and she gave us lunch and water and a walk down memory lane along with the pass. 

It was windy and the beach was mostly empty. This is the benefit of going on a school day.

It was so windy that our little "campsite" got completely covered in sand.

We went back to Grandmama and Granddaddy's to return the pass and ended up with dinner and sunset-watching.

Grandmama has a duck for every grandchild. I added one for Carson the year we got married, and Becca added a massive one for Thomas last year. I don't think one has been added for Caleb but we'll change that.

The following Tuesday, I joined Jillian, Graceanna and Emily for a beach trip to Tybee Island. I'd never been there before!

Mother-daughter matching outfits before the beach trip.

Gracie was a grumpy little beach goer. She most of the ride there.

This little bird walked next to us all the way down the beach.

Hunting Island doesn't have a pier, so I thought this one was fun.

 Graceanna must have been very tired, because she slept the whole time. I think the sound of the ocean helped.

A movie scene was being filmed there; I was told later that it was for the movie Spongebob Squarepants 2. We had fun watching and guessing what was going on.

I've never seen seagulls lying down. I know it must not be something special and new, but it was to me.

We made sandcastles of various shapes and sizes while eating grapes and talking about life. It took us right back to high school, except there was a napping baby in a stroller next to us.

Emily and Jillian braved the cold-ish water.

I babysat, and it was difficult work. Clearly Gracie was a handful.

I became brave soon after and Emily decided to join me. It was cold but not unbearable.

Fun little swings line the way down the beach. We didn't sit on one, but aren't they lovely?

And naturally, we took a squish picture.

I went to the beach so often in high school that it seemed like deja vu to be back there and with the same friends (and sister but she's a friend too). Our conversation was different but the sand and the sound of the ocean were the same. It was lovely, and next time I'm back, I might try to squeeze in another trip!

In Which I Drive a Lawnmower with a Dog on My Lap

I recently returned from a last-minute trip back to South Carolina. Carson stayed behind, while I spent seven days with family and friends. On my first day back, I planned on sleeping in (I'd worked at 6 the previous morning, then flown home that night at 10pm. I was tired and being home equals sleeping in to me... but not to my father. 

Dad came into the room I was staying in and shook the end of the bed, then had Oscar bite my feet (oh yes, the dog slept with me. It was just like old times.) so I was up earlier and in a more rude manner than planned. Once up, I sort of helped with some yard work. I was given the job of picking sticks out of the piles of pine straw that Dad raked, which I think means "You're useless, but here's a job" in a nice way. I'm kidding of course.

Speaking of kidding, we took a break to visit the goats (get it? KIDding? Goats?) 

We let them out to go munch on grass in the yard next door, but they headed for the plants in the front yard. Goats are seriously fast eaters!

They didn't respond to verbal commands, so they had to be physically removed from the yard.

Daisy enjoyed the satisfaction of having them out of the yard.

Then we got to work hauling pinestraw. Oscar is the constant helper/follower/lawn-mower rider.

This bridge was SCARY to drive over. 

This was after I crossed it. Lovely. Oscar's face doesn't look too sure either. His little paws were digging into my legs, which were already covered in poison oak, so it really just added to the discomfort of the situation. 

When he wasn't sitting on the lawnmower, he was looking up like this. Big baby.

I love Daisy's judging face here.

Oscar decided about this time that it was time to play. He ran over to his soccer ball in the backyard and waited expectantly, and sure enough, Dad was willing. 

I almost edited out the soccer ball just because it would be funny, but then it might not be funny anymore.

He looks like he's rabid here. 

Tired puppy.

Over here is where we got married. Now there's a swing (I think it was actually there pre-wedding, but was taken down for that event)

And when we went over to look at the goats, I took this picture. It's not my parents' barn; it goes to the property next door, but the goats get to eat the grass over here somewhere.