Lake Oconee with the Benichs

We spent a long weekend at Lake Oconee with the Benich crew in August. It just so happened to be Nicci's birthday as well, so we had extra reason to celebrate!! The 4 cousins have really started to play well together and they can't wait to be together again. Wade talks about Lake Oconee all the time and holds on to these memories year after year! What a great family tradition!

Renting jet skis was a favorite activity

We buried the 2 trouble makers...

Most of our days were spent in the pool (or lake)

Lots of eating and drinking!!!

DeDe brought great goody bags for the kids. Rowan and Wade were pirates. Ellis and Bree got Hello Kitty stuff.

I don't know where Bree found these rings, but they offered hours of entertainment in the pool. She'd stack them on her head, dance around until they all fell off, rinse and repeat...

2 best friends.

2 more best friends.

And then as soon as the smiling's done, this is what happens. Rowan and Wade immediately switch gears to army battle.

The adults enjoyed one night out without the kiddos! A little adult time never hurts :)

Of course, S'mores by the fire pit are a necessity. We get rooms that are right there at walkout level by the S'mores. The kids have a blast eating lots of sugar, swinging, running, and playing flash light tag

One night they had a Native American fire ritual. So fun!

We pressed our luck and made the kids take this picture with Poppa and Dede. Can you see how fried they all are at the end of the day. About to crash!!!

Someone Barbara Jones (a friend of the family that lives on the lake) taught the kids to say "bunny farts" to smile in pictures. So as we're begging them all to smile for the picture, Wade screams "BUNNY FARTS". Dede immediately covered his mouth, but thankfully all the families around us laughed.

I guess I can't be too upset with Barb for teaching my son to say bunny farts (let's be honest, it could be worse!), she did get us into their private pool with a water slide. The kids + Beau had a blast cruising down the slide!

What a great trip!!! We miss Nicci, Rowan and Ellis in Charleston and we will cherish our summer days together!!!!

Amelia Island Vacation

At the end of July, my family ventured to Amelia Island for a week of fun at the beach. This was our first group trip to Amelia Island, but Beau and I had been to the house with the Crawfords years before. Mandy's family just started rented it and we JUMPED at the chance to be all together right on the beach! It was the perfect set-up for our large kid filled crew!

We filled the week with lots of family meals....

what spaghetti on my face?

 Wresting with Uncle Beau....

Play time on the beach....

Lots of fishing....

yes, that is a small shark!!!

Family pictures...

Cousin pictures...

One of our favorite parts of the day, cuddle time before bed...

One morning, Beau and Wade were up early enough to catch the sunrise. Lucky daddy :)

 More fun beach time!!!

The main past time on the beach was shark tooth hunting. It is so relaxing and "rewarding" when you find that awesome shark's tooth! The kids made necklaces at the end of the week.

Lots of wakeboarding...

Walks with Sheesha...

One of our last night, Nonna & G.G. watched the little kids while us "big" kids went out to dinner. Beau had already returned to Atlanta and I was newly pregnant so became the default DD. No tequila shots for me!!

 CHEERS!!!!

 

 Beautiful sunset!!

It was a great week of family time. We hope we can do the same next year!!!