Welcome To Paradise!

My little family and I had the wonderful opportunity to take a family vacation and make some memories at my favorite place...Edisto Beach! We have made the drive here many times, beginning with our honeymoon. So many happy memories. We began coming alone, then some trips with family, and of course now have begun to bring our children! Our big kids as well as we have been really looking forward to this time away from the world. Time to restore. Time to be together, fully involved with no agenda and nothing to do but hang out. And I would venture to say, that's just what we did. We did a lot of beaching, a little sight seeing and a ton of bike riding! You know if you have only been in the car two times in 5 days that it was a good trip! ;)

On the day we arrived, the first thing we saw was a sign that said, "Welcome to Paradise"...I couldn't have said it better myself! The big kids and I walked down to greet the ocean. It was fun to watch Grayson's eyes fill with that same amazement I have for the ocean. And no matter how many times I go, it still amazes me. You can not witness its magnificence and ponder if there is a God. You see it and KNOW. It was fun to walk and talk. Ada would have picked up every shell on the beach, I believe! And Grayson loved exploring!

Our first full day there, we of course made our way to the ocean ASAP! We did take an early morning bike ride to explore a little. Grayson feels very big now that he gets to ride along on his own bike and I am so proud with how well he handled himself on the road....although I will say this made me very nervous! ;) The beach trip was a blast! Ada continued her shell hoarding and Grayson set out to master the boogie board...once again, he feels like a big kid and looks way too much like one on it too! Grady was a little under the weather (okay, realistically...a lot under the weather, but we were doing our best to make the most of it!) and wasn't very impressed by the cold water, wind or sticky sand! Ha. Maybe next year! ;) The rest of the day was spent picnic-ing and hanging out! 

 Day two, we decided to check out Botany Bay. It is a natural preserve and very fascinating! You can't take shells home, so the beach is just covered in the magnificent shells and raw natural beauty. The kids were particularly fond of the marsh land creatures...fiddler crab was by far their favorite. And Grady actually did enjoy this one! Not sure what the difference was but he had fun. And loved the sticks! And then, of course, the day wrapped up back at the beach!

Day three the big kids and I had a breakfast date and then we made our first trip to the Serpentarium...really cool place! The big kids were mighty impressed and we were too! We watched a snake show and an alligator feeding. Both kids were brave enough to hold a large snake!I was very impressed!! And then dad and the big kids went down to the beach and the little one napped...and I, I was ALL ALONE...weird! But a nice little treat. I sat in the sun and read a book! ;)

The last day was nothing more than packing up our memories and heading home! But what wonderful memories they are!!! I tried, and think I was almost successful, to talk Chris into staying a couple more days...I so hated to see it end! So many precious memories made with my very favorite people on earth at my very favorite place on earth! I could have stayed forever, here in paradise...and I think they would have all agreed! <3