We recently returned from another fun-filled week in Hilton Head. The condo is completely rented out this summer (yay!) so we took advantage of a Spring Break trip and got to stay in the condo for the first time as guests, not fixer-uppers. While there is still work to eventually be done (renovated bathrooms, a new ceiling, and an updated kitchen are in the distant future) the wallpaper peeling, painting, and general fixing up that we have completed is holding up well and the place looks really good! Will and I did lots of reflecting as we proudly looked over our handiwork last week. How in the heck did we get ANYTHING accomplished with 3 infants in tow, let alone some pretty serious condo renovations? I look back on those days and feel a dual sense of exhaustion and awe. People often wonder how we do it...the answer truly is that we just do it. You don't think about how hard something is when you're in the thick of it. Sometimes it takes some reminiscing for us to realize just how often we were doing impossibly hard things without even realizing it. But I digress...
We took the "scenic" route down to Hilton Head this trip, opting to drive through Knoxville and Columbia, SC to avoid what we figured would be awful Atlanta traffic (due to a combination of Friday rush hour, a collapsed interstate from a fire the night before, and Spring Breakers hitting the road). The good- we got to have lunch with Maria just outside of Knoxville, and the drive was pretty. The bad- we certainly didn't feel like we saved much time at all thanks to road construction and heavy traffic. In the end, our chosen route was probably a wash. We stayed in Columbia for the night, and 2/5 of us got a good night's sleep. Cooper kept Will and me up the majority of the night- he was stuffy and not feeling well and the only way we could keep him quiet was to let him sleep with me (Will and I took advantage of the double queen beds and each had our own). Needless to say, very little sleep took place.
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| Quick lunch with Grandma in Knoxville |
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| Our trusty helper loves to push the luggage cart! |
As usual, we are always glad to get to the island in time for lunch before checking in to the place for the week. We lunched at our usual spot, Skull Creek Boathouse and discovered that the boys are really, really big fans of frozen drinks (we ordered them a virgin strawberry-pineapple smoothie). Like, they went crazy for it, so much so that we had to get them a second one. Will and I were treated to a round of drinks from our neighboring table, 2 older couples from New York. That was quite generous of them as I would not have been as entertained by the 3 toddler boys who were chucking food toward them and screaming for frozen drinks the whole lunch.
We were spoiled by having Sue and her kids join us for part of our break as they were on Spring Break, too. The boys adore having them around, and we appreciate the extra hands! The boys are enjoying more and more freedom as we get from point A to point B, whether it's from the house to the car, or going outside. They would much prefer to walk over being carried, and thankfully they will happily hold your hands so we can safely get everyone to a destination.
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| Lots of walking thanks to extra hands (though they all wanted to hold "A-EEE"'s hand |
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| They are never happier than when they have someone else around to entertain them |
We also lucked out when we learned that Will's college
friends, Jake and Erin, and their 2 girls Saffran and Coley were also
vacationing on Hilton Head last week. Thanks to Sue and kids being in
town, Will and I were able to enjoy some kid-free time with Jake and
Erin- spending one evening at their condo and enjoying happy hour with
them at the Marriott property they were staying at down the road. We
also got the kiddos together for a beach day and did dinner the night
before we left. Coley and Cooper bonded over their shared love of dogs
and managed to find every dog that they could at the outdoor bar where
we had dinner!
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| Saffran and Avery hit it off right away, too! |
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| Stevens and Masons, party of 9 |
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| Attacking the dogs at the bar |
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| We loved all the helpers! |
With the boys getting older, our ability to get out and explore the island is also growing. We spent lots and lots of time outside last week. The weather was a bit cool and windy while we were there- a little chilly for swimming, though we did enjoy a few days at the pool and one morning at the beach. Thankfully there is no shortage of things to do outside when the pool or beach is not an option.
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| The view from the condo never gets old... |
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| This kid and his L-O-V-E of trucks! |
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| Masons and Overmohles, party of 9 (I was the unlucky one who had to stand next to my super ripped nephew, Luke) |
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| Annual family beach pic |
We rented bikes with trailers so that we could ride around the island. The boys enjoyed the trailers so much so that we ended up buying a used one from our neighbor when we returned home this week. One more trailer to purchase and riding will be our summer mode of transportation to the pool and park for us! We also enjoyed a few walks in the stroller most mornings.
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| Strollin' |
No trip to Hilton Head is complete without a stop for ice cream at the Coligny Ice Cream shop. Superman ice cream= yummy!
We also explored several parks on the island in search of the perfect playground. We found one at Shelter Cove that we really enjoyed. It's been so fun watching the boys become braver and braver as they explore the playgrounds. The loved going down the slides and even mastered an inclined climbing wall!
One morning threatened to be rainy and yucky outside so we took the boys to the Sandbox, a small children's museum on the island. There was a toddler room perfectly set up for the boys- it was filled with age-appropriate toys and gated so they couldn't escape. We eventually ventured into the main museum, which they also enjoyed. Mom and Dad- not so much. The museum looks like it was converted from an old home, so the rooms are small and and crowded. Add to that hundreds of other youngsters and their parents, and it made for a rather hectic morning. We were glad we arrived right when they opened so we had at least some time with little crowds. And we were also glad we left when we did. There was a waiting list outside when we left. Note to self for future visits- arrive early, leave early!
There was plenty of solo party of five time over the week, too:
We also lucked out when we learned that Will's college
friends, Jake and Erin, and their 2 girls Saffran and Coley were also
vacationing on Hilton Head last week. Thanks to Sue and kids being in
town, Will and I were able to enjoy some kid-free time with Jake and
Erin- spending one evening at their condo and enjoying happy hour with
them at the Marriott property they were staying at down the road. We
also got the kiddos together for a beach day and did dinner the night
before we left. Coley and Cooper bonded over their shared love of dogs
and managed to find every dog that they could at the outdoor bar where
we had dinner! 
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