Day 4 and 5 - goodbye GA!

I am going to make this one quick ("yeah, right, Val", you're thinking) because we're about to pack everything up and put into the car. Even though we aren't leaving till 9 tonight, we still have to be out of the rooms by 1:30, so time to say goodbye in cyberland from me while sitting on Georgia soil.

I think yesterday was the best day yet. Bill and Martha went golfing so Ash spent the morning with us. The 5 of us went to breakfast, then we walked around Sea Island. Noah got to see the 1 and 2-ft long Koi fish in the pond by the spa. I think we spent 20 minutes there just watching the fish. Then we met Bill and Martha back at the rooms. They changed and then we all went back to the beach club and rented bikes to take down the island.

Maia wanted absolutely nothing to do with the bikes. We tried putting her in the back of my bike and she pitched a bloody murder fit with huge tears rolling down her face. There was no way she was going on that bike. If she had to jump out, I think she would have. So she and I stayed back while the others went on. They were gone about an hour and when they got back, grandma & grandpa took Noah and Maia to lunch so Neil and I could do a bike ride. It was great for just the two of us to be together. We biked about 6 miles and it was the most beautiful ride. The houses on this island are amazing. Condos here start at 2.5 million (@ 1200 sq. ft and 1 bedroom) so you and I can only imaging the price of a 4,000+ sq. ft home. I can't wait to show you pictures. It was like riding through Coastal Living magazine. I loved it.

Ok, so now Neil is waiting on me. (rolling my eyes) But last night we ate dinner at the yummiest place ever, called Cargo, which was in Brunswick. Yum yum yum. We had a great time. Bill an I both cheered with Capirhinias (Beth and Rod, is this how you spell it?) in lieu of our time in Brazil 6 years ago. They were tasty! After dinner it was back to Sea Island and we hung out on the main patio again till about 9:30.

I love love love it here and don't want to leave, but off we go very soon. It's been so fabulous. I can't wait to download my pictures (all 600 - oh my!). But, unfortunately, when we get home, it's back to the drawing board with non-stop going-going. It's going to be insanely crazy. So I'm even that much more thankful for this peaceful fabulous time with our family. It's been heaven.

On my must-do-right-away list: 2 weddings to proof, 2 wedding albums to do, a couple sittings and a few orders all before I can even begin to think about packing. Then we move in just 2 weeks from this coming Monday! EEEEEEK! The last week (just one week from now) we have to paint in the new house. Anyone want to come help me do my photo work, watch my kids, help me pack or help me paint?! Please?! I'm serious. I think I'm going to need some major help. (Chel, are you sure you don't wanna come "home" and help your sis?)

Back to reality I come! Thanks for hanging out with me on my vacation. It's been fun seeing that I've had some loyal readers who've been along on vacation with me. See ya back in Illinois!

(Rainy) day #3 in gorgeous Georgia

Well, I haven't been able to read my book or get online because we've been so busy. Not having time to read is normal for this girl, but not being online for almost 2 days is totally not me. I feel so detached from the world . . . from you guys. But, it's been so worth it.

Yesterday we ordered dine-in breakfast and then packed the kids in the car and headed to St. Simon Island. It's very touristy compared to Sea Island. Sea Island is way more secluded and although there are tourists, they aren't so "look-at-me-with-my-fannie-pack-and-visor" but instead everyone seems to just fit in so you can't tell who is local and who isn't . . . if that makes sense?

I've never been to the Hamptons before, but what I've heard Kelli Ripa and Martha Stewart say about it, and from what I've seen in tabloids, it seems very similar to me. And even though this sort of lifestyle isn't so much me, I have to admit, I like it. A lot.

So back to St. Simon. It was fun. We didn't do much but walk around the very touristy stores, but we did eat at a great restaurant called Barbara Jean's. I guess in that area it's known for homestyle southern food and is normally really hard to get into, but we walked right in and, yep, it was really yummy. Neil and I both had melt-in-your-mouth crab cakes and the butter for the bread was mouth-watering. Mmmmm . . . I can still taste it all.

After St. Simon, we went back to Sea Island. We decided to head to the beach again. We called Brad and Chel to see what they were doing and Brad says "it's raining". Ugh. So we're like, 'oh well' and we go anyway. It didn't look like it was going to last. I'm really glad we went.

We get down there and no one is there. Literally, no one. It's like we have the Atlantic all to ourselves. It's great. With the clouds out and not much sun, it was chilly, but it didn't stop the kiddos. An hour later the sun was out full-throttle and other beach visitors arrived. We even took some bikes out on the beach for a ride. Noah absolutely loved that. Maia just kept playing in the sand. She loved the sand and the water and the salty waters didn't bother her in the least. Later Brad, Chel and Ella arrive just when Maia is ready to head back for her nap. Ah well, such is toddler-hood and parenting inconsistencies.

That night we had dinner on our patios and then planned to meet B, C & E back out at the beach at 7 for a photo shoot of the cousins. To be honest, it's like the entire trip has been a photo shoot for me. I've been in photography heaven. And with this one, even though the clouds soon grew dark on us, I had a great time shooting and the girls looked adorable in their pink and white dresses and Noah in his white polo and khakis. I can't wait to show you pictures!

Later we meet grandpa, grandma and Ashley out at the main terrace for some drinks. We had a fun time. It rained the whole time, but it was so neat to be "outside" yet be totally dry. I love 72 degree weather, on vacation, on the beach. To me, that is one definition of perfection. Thank you, dad and Martha!

Hi from Georgia!!

We made it into Georgia yesterday afternoon. We drove from Atlanta to Sea Island (where we are now) later last night. I didn't even know such a place as this existed and I have to say . . . it's amazing and beautiful and just spectacular! We're staying at the Cloister where the G8 Summit was held in 2004! To think that the most powerful people in the world were recently here is just . . . amazing!

We spent most of today at the beach and we all got a little red even with SPF 45 sunscreen! (They mean what they say when they say southern heat can be strong!) So tomorrow we're heading into Savannah and spending the day there. I can't wait because a blogging friend, Candace, who I met via Wordless Wednesday at 5M4M, who is from Savannah, sent me all sorts of great information on the beautiful city. It just looks amazing. So so much (very old) history - something you can't get a whole lot of in central Illinois! I can't wait to see it all . . . my camera can't wait either . . . I can already see the old buildings and giant oak trees calling my camera's name ;c)

Maia had a blast today with her cousin, Ella, who she hadn't seen since December. Our time with her is few and far with them now being in Oklahoma. And when they were home in March, my kids had the rotavirus. Back in December they were some what into each other. Now, 6 months later, they are totally into each other. And it's a blast for all of us, I think especially grandma & grandpa!

The relaxation here is just sooooooo great. Today we drank sodas by the ocean under our umbrellas, walked the beach looking for seashells, I took a bubble bath while watching HGTV in peace and quiet, read a book on our patio overlooking the water, and then fell asleep reading that book. That's what you call bliss. I love bliss.