Will and Jimmy took the kids to the driving range. McIver needs clubs more his size, but he still had a good time.
According to Will, Olivia is still showing promise.
Olivia loved playing with JuliAnna & Amelia.
Robert & Amelia, Jay & JuliAnna, Will with Olivia & McIver
After lunch and the egg hunt, we sneaked down to the beach for a little while. The weather was perfect and the sand felt good in our toes. Olivia found a cool shell. McIver found a dead crab.
Will met us at the club for lunch after his (very early) round of golf. McIver was glad to see his dad to show him his find - the dead crab.
GranGran tried hard to be impressed with the dead crab.
In case you're wondering, the dead crab made it all the way back to Houston in a ziploc bag sealed with duct tape in my pocketbook. We weren't sure he'd make it through security, but apparently a dead crustacean does not cause any sort of security concern. The crab has been named "Crabby" and has made the rounds at school in McIver's magnifying cup. He's starting to smell, so I think we're going to lose him soon (meaning, I'll toss him in the trash when McIver's not looking!).
The Dunes Club Easter Egg Hunt was lots of fun. Our kids found plenty of eggs - and consumed their weight in candy (before lunch).
Here are 2 mamas with 2 precious girls! Olivia loved playing 'big sister' to Amelia all week long.
All that was left of McIver after the candy consumption...
Amelia surprised everyone, I think, by not being the least bit fazed by the Easter Bunny. Olivia knew it was just 'a person dressed in a costume' but McIver would have NONE of it - until lunch when the Bunny came around with a basket full of goodies.
Will and I hit the road for Augusta to see Ashley & Mark. We were delighted to hear the good news that they are expecting Baby Pritchett in September. We loved being able to spend time with them in Augusta - dinner at TakoSushi on Saturday, golf for the guys on Sunday/church, a movie and shopping for Ash & me. We had a brief visit with Susan & Lenson, Ashley's parents. We had not seen them since Ashley's wedding - they have not changed a bit!
This was actually our 2nd attempt at the fishing game. Normally, I would not waste money on this sort of game, but this was a 'play til you win' game. You might be able to tell from the picture - Olivia and Mae had already won and were (somewhat) patiently waiting for McIver to (finally) win.
This is what Olivia looks like when she's hot, tired and OVER the carnival! Just in case you wondered.
She did hang tough just long enough for us to go to the livestock arena so McIver could pet the rabbits. Earlier in this morning, he was trying to convince me that he needed and could take care of a rabbit. Me: McIver, who in the world would take care of the bunny while we're out of town next week?
McIver: (rolling his eyes) But, Mommy, did you know that we can take the bunny on the airplane?
The kids LOVED the slide. It's amazing to me that they're old enough to do these rides by themselves.
Mae opted out of this ride the first time around. This was the one ride that made my heart skip a beat once I saw it in motion. By then, though, it was too late, and both Olivia and McIver were laughing their heads off and having a great time.
Lana and I especially liked the rides when all 3 children could ride in the same car. The pirate ride was one of them - ahoy matey!
We took a much-needed break for ice cream and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
Here are the girls, clearly wondering where in the world Hannah/Miley is and what is taking her so long to change clothes and put on/off a wig.
This would be me, thoroughly enjoying myself. It doesn't matter which song it was b/c I loved them both!
And, so did Gay!
It was definitely a special day we will all remember forever.
We had great seats for the Rodeo and the girls were actually pretty interested in it. We could see the cage (for lack of a better word) where the cowboys were held before they were released. It was pretty exciting once you knew what to watch out for. Only problem was that Gay & I didn't realize just how much rodeo there would be before the concert started. So, we got to our seats about 3:40. Rodeo action started at 3:45. Hannah started a little bit after 6. It was a long wait, but like I said, the girls were into it so it wasn't too bad. We also were on the side of the stage where Hannah's dressing rooms were so we could see her enter and exit them each time she changed clothes or changed from Hannah to Miley and back. THAT was pretty exciting!
Hannah Rocked the Show - some parts were very Disney-esque, but it was a great time!
Olivia wasn't so into the dancing, but she belted out every word she knew!
Abby was singing AND dancing!
After a prelunch treat of icecream and then our 'rodeo picnic' we were on a mission to find tshirts and souvenirs. Last year, they sold out of tshirts before the concert even started so we were prepared. Abby decided to forgo the tshirt for the HM Memory Book and a set of back-stage passes. Olivia stuck with her plan for a tshirt and has worn it every day since. For the record, the rodeo folks figured it out this year and we noticed that there were PLENTY of tshirts to be found. They were not going to lose money on that cash cow this year - $30 for a tshirt, $60 for a hoodie, it was crazy! But, since our tickets were free, we felt like we could splurge.
The obligatory picture of children and a rodeo boot. We have this same picture with various poses/children/rodeo outfits from each year that we've been to the rodeo.
If you're going to enjoy 2+ hours of rodeo action (seriously - bareback Bronco riding, saddle bronco riding, bull riding, calf roping, team calf-roping, FFA calf scramble and 2 rounds of chuck wagon racing!), you'd better have sustenance. For me and Gay, that meant beer. For the girls, that meant whatever they asked for - we started with cotton candy, then on to a pretzel, popcorn and as many trips to the bathroom as they wished.
Gay & I really had just as much fun as the girls, but we decided against spending all that money on the souvenirs. We'll just blog about it for memory's sake.
Will finally was able to get home at a decent hour - and because of the time change, he and the kids were able to enjoy some QT in the backyard. They even took Murphy for a walk. And, yes, Olivia is STILL wearing her Hannah Montana tshirt from Sunday's concert (and, no, she has not taken it off long enough for me to wash it yet!).
McIver's got a pretty good arm.
It won't be long before O has perfected her cartwheel!
Rest assured that a good time was had by all four of us (Olivia, Abigail, Gay & me). Olivia will not soon forget her first concert ever . . . Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana - The Best of Both Worlds Tour. I am certainly in the running for Mom of the Year - or at least Mom of the Moment!
Gay took her camera so I could leave my big heavy one at home. We've got lots of pictures to share, but it will take a day or so to go through them all. I know you're on pins and needles!
I don't know what is so fabulous about the Rocketship 3000 (or how it got it's name), except maybe for the fact that McIver made it himself at school today. What cracked me up was the fact that he was so eager for me to take his picture so we could 'put it on the blog.' I'm not sure McIver has any idea what the blog actually is, besides pictures on the computer. Sure hope that people are seeing this cool rocketship!
Squirrels, and birds, prefer chocolate chip muffins over bread crusts. Imagine that!
GranGran and GranDaddy's birdwatching must be rubbing off on us.
A less-silly shot of all the hosts: Top row L-R - The Butlers, Notleys, Schlegels, Sticklins
Mid-way through the party, I realized that I was not taking any pictures. Thankfully, several other folks had their cameras. Here we are enjoying ourselves at the Beaufort Stew table.
