Days 3 and 4 VACA 2017 HHI

 I didn't have Sis here to upload my pics yesterday morning, so I didn't get to blog.  These pictures are all out of order, but I'll try to remember the stories.  Tuesday morning, Mama and I got up and went to the outlets to get Jamesy some new Crocs... everyone else headed to buy fishing gear.  When we got back from the outlets we headed to the beach to meet the rest of the crowd.  I literally sat down for one second and got right back up to head inside.  It was a terrible "storm about" coming.  I had to wait in this line to go get the car to pick everyone else up....

 A stormy day at the beach makes for a good nap...

 We were all upstairs getting ready for Nanny's birthday party and came downstairs to find Ben... He is precious when he is sleeping!

 After the party, we headed to find some supper.  One of favorite dives is Up the Creek!  The children and Jane loved it!  We had all kinds of food at our table... I bet you can't guess who ordered chicken and french fries... someone ordered a cheeseburger... and I got fish tacos!  So, so good!

 Yesterday morning, the boys dressed in their "4th day outfits" to head out for a little early morning fishing.  Aren't they cute!

We spent the morning on the beach fishing and waiting for the flyover.  Ben woke up with a sty in his eye...or at least we think that is what it is... swollen, red, and itchy... if that's our only illness on this trip, we will be happy!  

And here is Sis twisting that leg for the perfect picture pose....and she is so excited because there are people who are whiter than her on the beach!  

She got to spend all of two seconds with Matt yesterday... he has been entertaining the boys with baseball, swimming, and fishing all day!  

 They really do love each other!

 These two haven't had this much fun in a long time!  They are glad to be reunited.  I know Ben is going to miss James at the end of the week!

 Jane is standing up to get sun on her back.... she is blistered like never before on the front!

 For years she has made fun of Velda and me for sitting under an umbrella or a tent... look who had to have a little shade!

 Ben's eye still hurting... and maybe a little nap time!

 Sis is always digging for a snack!

 James and Matt are either throwing the ball or in the ocean at all times... they don't sit still.

 Sea Pines passed out flags for the flyover!

 Waiting on the flyover...

 Mama has also stolen Mark's hat!  She looks like Gilligan!

 James didn't really drink three Dr. Peppers for lunch, but he finished off all the opened ones!

 The McKinney on the 4th!

 Yesterday we were sitting in the den visiting and all of a sudden a man with a 2 X 4 came on our patio and swatting at something... after the initial shock, we discovered this bird (maybe a hawk) torturing a squirrel... after eating his insides, he/she was nice enough to move the squirrel to the wall and leave it there... Mama said she won't be going back out there to read anymore...

 Last night we headed to the 18th fairway to watch the fireworks.  There were SO many people out there...

 Ben and James were torn up that children were playing in the sand trap.  They decided to be good citizens and go rake it after the children left!

 Jane and her babies with their 4th day shirts....

 I'm not sure who the favorite is this week... Jane for the cooking or Matt for the playing...

I'm Ben's favorite...

 We were bored last night... Mark had been watching a 24 hour marathon of the show about catching tuna... I hope the remote never goes to that channel again... He got so good at it that he could name the price by the end of the night....

 This was Ben's bedtime snack... I've never seen honey bun cake slices that big in my life...

 This was at Up the Creek....

 Christie sent James 18 shirts to wear for the week... KB counted them when she unpacked his clothes... I decided he needed a new shirt, so he and Ben have on their new shirts from the outlets!

Fishing in the ocean!

 I don't think they caught anything, but who knows what might happen by the end of the week!

 Ben loves to fish.... I'm so scared he is going to bring up something that we don't really want to see!

 Thank goodness for Matt and all his expertise at fishing... Ben and James would be lost!

 James might be hooked on fishing too!

 Ben also felt the need for a cast net.... Of course we didn't know how to use that either...

 Check out that big fish they caught!

 Yesterday afternoon, we all napped, played Words with Friends, and snacked while Mark watched tuna catchers...

 Sallie's condo decorated for the 4th!  Our Heritage hang out....

I'm writing this and smelling bacon cooking from the kitchen.... We are headed out for  another day on the beach... good food... and relaxing times!  Happy 4th from the McKinneys!

Day 2 of VACA in HH

It's day two of vacation, and it is HOT!  There are so many people all around us at the beach club that we are considering pulling into one of the mansions down here that has no one home and using their beachfront.  I'm hoping that in the next few days some of these people will go home!  By the way, I have taught my child how to stand properly and lady like, but she refuses.  She says, "Mama, then it will look like one fat leg!".  Maybe that is why I'm always cutting my legs off in pictures... don't tell her, but I might try it... I think I still need to just cut one of my legs off... cut the other one in half... and use those two stilts to hold up the junk in the trunk!  

 Mark took a three generation picture of us Saturday, but no one knew it.  It wasn't much better than this one, but at least we were looking at the picture.  Mama has taught me many tricks for getting sun the last two days... I have never twisted and turned my legs so much to get sun in my life.  I'm sure people walking by thought I was crazy!

After several hours on the beach and having lunch there, we came back to make YooHoo ice cream.  It's the easiest homemade ice cream I've ever made... and it tastes just like a Frosty from Wendy's.  You can tell from the pictures that everyone was waiting with a spoon for a taste. 

 Sis loves chocolate better than me!

 Ben had three helpings in one cone... needless to say it was a soggy cone.

 James said it was the best he ever had!  He was one happy camper!

 For supper we decided to grill steaks.  I loved how Sis decorated the table with the variety of knives we were given in the condo.  One of them could have served as a machete!

 Potatoes and veggies were our sides....

 And then we decided to dig in!

After supper we decided we would go stalking... I was looking for a reality stars house, but I can't find it.  Sea Pines has hidden it well!  While we were out, we decided to get gas.  Mark was pumping the gas, and Mama and I noticed this man getting into his van.  In all good Mattison picking fun, we laughed about his shoes.  These are favorites of the Spratlins and also Bobby McKinney... he loved a white shoe.  I know it will only be a matter of time before Mark switches to these!  

 For breakfast Mama fixed sausage, eggs, grits and cinnamon rolls... these boys are eating like they haven't seen food in forever!

 James has a new best friend.... while Ben played golf yesterday, Matt and James played in the ocean!

 James is a foot taller than Mama... he is her protector!

 The golf pictures are coming to the publisher a little late... sorry they are out of order.  Ben and Wyatt see each other once a year... sometimes twice, but they always have fun.

 Wyatt joined Ben, Jefferson, and Mark in his own backyard for a day of golf.  I heard that the little boys beat the big boys on the first nine pretty bad!

 Jefferson claims he hit in the Donna's yard to look at her house... I don't believe him!

 Aren't they cute!

 Mark said the bugs were real bad... Betty Carol will get a giggle out of this picture!  He sends me random things like this all day....

We are now deciding what to do for the day... the boys want to fish... the girls might shop... we have sun to get... I hate that I can't write more, but these little buzzards have been up since 5:30 with a workout and are raring to go.... ugh... I like to relax and rest on vacation... no such luck today!

Vacation 2017 Day 1

Several months ago I booked a condo at Hilton Head because it's my second favorite beach in the world, and I thought Daddy was going to be well enough to travel with us.  We like to travel like Sanford and Son when we go somewhere and take everything but the kitchen sink.  In my defense, I want to have everything I need to cook, wear, and play.  With the pop up shower storms, this make-do tarp/cover protected all my goods on the way down... Mark just wanted his golf clubs covered or he wouldn't have gone to this trouble.  So the Sanfords headed to the beach early yesterday morning.

 While it was a first day of vacation for us, it was this precious baby boy's birthday... he was only 53! He is so old that they only had black and white pictures!

 When I booked the condo, I just knew that Daddy was going to be with us.  He hadn't seen the new clubhouse, so I thought that this view would be perfect for him.  Our condo would have been the perfect spot for him!  He is here in spirit with us!

 Not to leave Bobby Carol out, we let Ben and James get up on the toolbox to ride to the beach... Mark never got above 5 MPH... he wasn't drinking... and the boys never stood up!  They were safe!

One of the reasons I love coming here is that the trip is short enough to enjoy the beach on the first day here.  We unpacked, we got into our suits, and we headed to enjoy the waves!  

 KB wanted a picture... Mark can't be serious... he has to interrupt our session!  I'm sure the people around us thought he was crazy.

Last night we had spaghetti for supper because I always think the first day we have to have that!  It was delicious with a huge salad!  We were so hungry I didn't even have time to post a picture.  The laundry is done, the kitchen is clean from quiche and grits for breakfast, and it's almost time to head to the beach!  I also noticed this morning as I was organizing the grey is the new tennis shoe color!