spring break 2008

Our week at Hilton Head was peaceful and relaxing...well, at least as relaxing as it can be with three kids. ;-) We had a couple stormy weather days, but enjoyed plenty of sunny days at the shore. This was a trip filled with sand digging and looking through tidepools. As I watched the occasional teenager go down the beach (Hilton Head is really a quieter family beach.) I realized that the days spent looking at crabs and sand dollars will eventually change. Dave and I swam more in the heated pool than the ocean (see Dave in the sweatshirt in that photo with Grace below?), but the kids did not seem to mind the water temperature.


Grace on our beach walk the first morning. A huge thunderstorm came in not long after this photo. The kite surfers were out in force on the beach.


On our way into church on Sunday. It must be a miracle...all three in one photo! Yes, that is the infamous orange dress Grace was supposed to wear at Easter.


Grace spent most of the afternoon hauling water for her sand projects...or helping Jordan and William with their projects. She seemed to enjoy the chore so I left the questionable tasking alone!


My two littles splashing in the tide pools.


William headed for the surf at full speed. I feel fortunate to have caught the look on his face at that moment.


Dave helping Grace jump the waves.


Jordan with the boogie board. I can't believe she will be finishing 5th grade soon. Next spring break will find me with a middle schooler.


The boogie board in action.

stain removal

In my Easter post I mentioned the beautiful orange smocked dress which got dry erase marker on it minutes before we headed out the door to church services. My dear husband made that his project one morning. To be honest, I was afraid to touch it because I thought it might get worse from my efforts. Dave started with rubbing alcohol and that did not budge the stain. He did a little research and found the miracle remover...and I would have never imagined that this product was the one to use. Apparently Murphy's Pine Oil Soap works wonders. Dave made a strong concentration of it, used a toothbrush to work it into the stain, and it came free from the fabric leaving no evidence. After rinsing and airdrying the dress looked as good as new.

Thank goodness for my clever husband. His determination and elbow grease saved the dress. Thanks to all of you who offered suggestions. This was a tough one and such a bummer on a brand new dress.

We are trying to get all our work and family projects done this week before heading off on Spring Break. I can hardly wait to let the kids run wild on the beach and dig in the sand to their heart's content. The most wonderful thing is to see them physically exhausted and content at the end of the day. They are so full of fun by the time they pass out in their dinner plate. The hardest part is schelping all the stuff necessary to be at the beach for a full day...but playing at the beach makes it all worthwhile. The nice thing about going back to the same place is that we are beginning to build a family history there. I've become all too aware that our years with them (Jordan especially) are fleeting. Spring Break has become a good time to reconnect.