Sunset Beach Part 3: More Conchs!

Today we were at the beach just after 8am to take advantage of low tide again. Gigi and Mark found 8 more live conchs. Once everyone got to see them we put them back. Since it was low tide there was a nice big tidal pool to play in. Sarah enjoyed playing with the other kids on the beach in the tidal pool. She swam and had many boat rides. Sean enjoyed splashing in the water and watching the tiny fish by his feet. They nibbled his toes which made him kick his feet in delight! After he played in the water, he took a good nap. After Sean's nap, he went in the boat for a ride. He had a good time!

Sunset Beach part two: Digging up conchs and olive shells

Today we were to the beach by 8:30am, so we could take advantage of low tide. As we were walking on the boardwalk to get to the beach, we saw a shrimp boat with a lot of dolphins following behind. This is the first time all week that we have seen dolphins. Since it was low tide, there was a sand bar that we could walk out to. Gigi started to dig up live conch and olive shells. We put them in the bucket of water with sand, so that we could show Mark and Sean once they got to the beach. Mark and Sarah put them back where we found them, so that they could go back home.

Sunset Beach

We arrived at Sunset Beach this past Saturday. The weather has been nice and the water is warm (80 degrees). Sarah and Sean have had a lot of fun playing in the water and on the sand. Sarah is fearless in the water. She requests to be let go in the water. Sarah has given us all good exercise chasing her! Sean has enjoyed digging in the sand and sitting in the water. The first time Mark put Sean's feet in he cried as he was unsure of the water. After a few more times, he really enjoyed it.

Yesterday we took a day trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. We ate lunch at Joe's Crab Shack and went to Ripley's Aquarium. Sarah enjoyed walking around the Aquarium twice. Sean enjoyed looking at all the fish. Once he had enough of the aquarium he fell asleep and took a nap.

After we came home from the Aquarium, Sarah, Gigi, Aunt Tracy and I went to the beach for a swim. After swimming, Sarah and I played tag on the beach. As we were running up the beach a man started to talk with Sarah. He gave us a whole sand dollar that his wife had found. We wondered what his wife was going to think when he came back without the sand dollar!

Last night we had a big storm with lots of wind, rain and lightning. We had a leak in one of the bedrooms with a couple of layers of ceiling coming down in the corner. We are supposed to have a good weather the rest of the week.

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Today we went to the Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center, which is the Air and Space Museum annex in Chantilly, VA. Grandad came along with us for Family Day at the museum. For Family Day, the museum has pilots fly their airplanes in for everyone to admire and look at. Its both private and military planes that fly in. There was also a fire truck, ambulance, and hot air balloon there as well. Sarah got a free fireman's hat to wear. Sarah really enjoyed going into the C-17 transport plane, and the KC-135 refueling tanker. After we saw the planes, we went and saw the space shuttle. They have the space shuttle, Enterprise on display. On the TV screens, they showed the Space Shuttle Endeavor, which was returning from space live. We got to see it land, which was really neat. After we had a great time at the museum, we all went out to lunch at Texas Roadhouse. Tutu Gail met us at the restaurant for lunch. We all had a great time.

Birthday Party, redoing the Garden, and trying to stay cool!

This past weekend we didn't go see any sites in VA, since Sarah had a classmates birthday party on Saturday to go to. Sarah and Mark had great time at the birthday party. The party was at a place that has bouncers to bounce on and climb. Mark said Sarah was a "pro at climbing and jumping on the bouncers!" We also redid our garden in the backyard. We put in two azaleas bushes and several impatients. It looks really good. The temperatures have been in the high 90's with heat index 105 to 110. We have been trying to stay cool by going to the splash park before it gets too hot in the day! Next weekend we are off to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which is an Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, VA. They have family day, so we are going to enjoy the events there! We hope it cools down for it!

Sean's First Hair Cut

I decided today to give Sean his first haircut, since it was getting really long in the front. Also it was getting hard to style it. Sarah had her first haircut at 2 months, so I figured with Sean it was time! Sean didn't mind it, but he also didn't sit still, so it made it hard!

Rockville, Maryland

We spent part of the day in Rockville, Maryland for Grandad Phil's company picnic. The picnic was at Smokey Glen Farm. Sarah enjoyed playing on the playground and the moon bounce. Daddy got to bounce with her, so they had a lot of fun bouncing. Grandad Phil got to show off his grandkids, which he really enjoyed doing! We all had a great time!