Fall Break in Pictures -- Part 3 The Beach

  We drove to the gulf side to what we had heard was a great beach Fort Desoto (close to Tampa)

It was a bit wild for me--but the boys loved it!!

 We have some good friends that moved to Tampa and they met us as the beach!  It was so much fun

  Back to the resort--

and some more pool football:)

Ended the night with pizza and a movie.

Where my Heart Is

 Last week,  was such a blessing  to soak in lots of sun, enjoy beautiful beaches and most of all to rest--which I needed after the last few months!  I felt exhausted from the heart problems, tummy troubles, multiple Celiac diagnosis es, fevers, ear infections, breathing problems, horrible colds, heart surgeries and although I didn't blog about it all, the list seemed to go on and on lately...!  It has been rough at our house!

So, I did simply LOVE ...

the long walks on the beach, listening to this powerful inspiration (seriously good for my soul)...

 staying in a beautiful resort  (so grateful that Brad's company does these wonderful trips and we get to go)

  and especially all the one on one time with my sweet husband (that rarely happens)!

Although, I truly did enjoy the days spent in this beautiful place... 

by the end of the week, 

my heart was longing to be here...

Call me crazy, but home really is my favorite place on Earth!

There is no where I would rather be (well, most of the time--ha ha) than surrounded with these boys of mine!

They have my heart, that's for sure!

It was so fun to see all 5 of them out playing a game of front yard baseball after church Sunday.

Everyone  healthy, happy and rambunctious...Life is good!

Happy Monday!

By the way--we saw the BEST movie this last weekend --I can't wait to tell you about it tomorrow!

xo

New Hampshire Seashore

We spent the first day of the Christensen family reunion at Rye Beach, part of a very picturesque New England town. I wasn't too good about taking pictures that day--but we had a great time!

 As soon as we got there the children ran for the waves!

 And let me tell you--the Atlantic ocean up north is COLD!  

The kids were so thrilled to be with each other again, they didn't seem to mind the frigid water.
 It really was so fun to catch up!

 Brothers~Brad and Marc

 Bridger--my beach bum!

 Kyle (11) and Coleman(10)

 Brad, his sister Carrie and Mom

 My cute little Cannon.

We LOVE a day on the seashore but most of all we LOVED hanging out with family

A Birthday at the Beach

Bridger turned 6 while we were at the beach--just like last year at Hilton Head and just like last year the day started out with everybody singing 'Happy Birthday' to our boy just as soon as he was awake:)

Then we took off for an early morning shell finding walk on the shore BUT

not before a stop at the local Piggly Wiggly (yes that really is a grocery store chain here in the South and the only one on Edisto Island) for some donuts and cinnamon rolls (our Birthday Boy's favorites)!

And the shell seeking expedition begins:)

Success:)

The Birthday Boy and brothers

We had a miniature golf course at the resort that we stayed at and Bridger LOVED it!!

After the beach and opening his presents this was his next birthday request!

The whole trip he was constantly wanting to go play this course!  Luckily it was just across the road from our unit and right next to the jungle gym, so we were happy to oblige him:)

Brad told him he would get $5 for a hole in one and guess what?!

Bridger got 4--he was $20 richer by the end of that round!

We could not believe it!   I think we have a golfer on our hands!

How I love this sweet boy and can hardly believe that he is already 6!

Crazy, I tell you!

Some fun Bridger facts:
*He was by far our biggest boy at birth (almost 10 pounds!!)

*He is also by far our pickiest eater (yes he inspired this post here)

*He can ride a two wheeler like nobody's business (without training wheels--for over a year now)

*He is VERY fast and athletic

*He  LOVES playing football and soccer and wrestling with his brothers--let me tell you he is TOUGH!

*He LOVES green smoothies and requests them everyday (it is the only thing that I don't have to require him to eat at meals)

*He is very very good on the computer and Wii--he is electronically talented:)

*He is not a loud child, but he can talk your ear off--we love it!

*He loves going to school each day with Coleman--I love to see that look of pride when he proudly tells me about his day and shows me the contents of his backpack.

*He may be big and tough around his brothers but he still loves to be tucked in every night with his two special blankees that he has had since he was born:)

After his requested dinner of pizza we served up Oreo ice cream in mugs!

He decided that we would postpone the requested football cake until we got home:)

Our 6 year old Birthday Boy

Getting so big...

but not too big to still snuggle up with his Momma (&and those blankees:) to watch a movie! 

 Thank heavens!

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Bridger!

This morning we all sang to him while we were still in bed here in the early morning light. It was sweet!

He then gave birthday hugs and exclaimed "I get to pick my birthday breakfast, right?"

To my relief he picked cereal:) Phew! That is exactly what we have stocked in our little condo!

We are off to rent bikes for exploring the Hilton Head island and celebrating our big 5 year old boy all day!

Beach Bums

It is offical...I am in love with this place! Hilton Head Island is heavenly!

What is it about the beach that is so...good for the soul?!

We are now cozy in our hotel room enjoying Monday Night Football, but this morning we were up at the crack of dawn with 5 boys begging to get to the beach.

So that is where we spent our day and it was PERFECT!

Our activities included:

Early morning football in the waves

More digging

What a happy surprise that in the middle of October, it is still warm enough to swim!

Oops, TJ dropped his head:)

The boys spent hours diving for sand dollars and builing sand castles.

Coleman had a cute little pet crab for a couple of hours.


We finished off the day with a walk on the beach (with the football, of course) before retiring to our room to cheer on the TN Titans!

I had a very tired little three year old at the beach this evening, who is now bouncing off the walls at bedtime! Why is that?

Up tomorrow: a birthday boy! Yeah!!
Well, I am off to snuggle my baby boy and try to remind him that he really is tired!
TN is up by 14, mayble I can talk the boys into turning the game off and hitting the sack?? Wish me luck!