Our Daddy


The girls adore their daddy and hate it when he is "on called" as Elsie calls it. They love dancing with him and love the music he plays. They love the tickling and the wrestling and his monster impersonations. They love the snacks he makes--all involving peanut butter. They love the big hugs, bedtime stories, and sweet songs. They are lucky lucky girls, just like their mommy!

Swimming Sisters


Two things:

1. If the girls kept getting along as they do now--or better, I'd be pretty happy. They get frustrated with each other, but seem fascinated by the other. Elsie tends to wake up earlier than Kit and can't wait to get her up each morning. When someone gives her something, she always requests another one for her sister. She makes up names for her little sister and interprets what she says. Kit says something that is sister, sissy, or Elsie.... hard to tell which--but she wants whatever she's having. They play together decently. Let's hope there is an upward trend here.

Of course, Barbara and I did not always get along so harmoniously--we have had some not-so-pretty moments over the years, but to this day, her laugh may be my favorite laugh of all. While she is so organized, rational, and in control of things, her laugh is her spontaneous, silly, lose-it side and I like that side so much and view myself as triumphant when I bring it out in her. The other day, the girls were in the stroller cracking each other up when Kit burped and made Elsie laugh and then fake burped to keep her laughing. That there is a good start!

2. These girls love to swim. Elsie got swimmer's ear and it was debilitating keeping her from the water. For a long while, she has been quite the water baby--and took up boogie boarding this summer. Now Kit is something else in the water, too. When she gets near the surf, she wriggles to be put down and walks into the waves with her arms out, embracing each one as it comes. Sometimes they knock her down and she gets up--sometimes she sputters and spits, but there she is ready for the next one. That can be interpreted to mean different things about her personality--some good, some bad, but it is a stunning sight to see and we are hoping for the best!

Bathing Beauty






Sometimes it is hard to be at Hilton Head, now as a parent. What was once the ultimate in relaxation and peace is a lot of squealing and sunscreen, confusion and chaos. I still can't help but pack a pile of books and can only manage to get through a few--clinging to this idea of our time at Hilton Head and what it once was. What in the world did I do with the whole day to myself to run and read and plan meals and drink cocktails and lounge on the porch, in the hammock, and on beach chairs.... oh and sleeping in.... well, you get the picture. I have finally given up--only recently--even attempting to bring even a magazine to the beach. Reality bites... in a way.

At the same time the Hilton Head we once loved and knew is gone forever, we have learned that Sea Pine is perfect for inhabitants with short attention spans: there are a myriad of 20 minute bike ride destinations; excursion opportunities like Harbor Town, Salty Dog (with cocktails), or petting zoo for easy, free ambling; the outstanding children's museum for rainy mornings and pool fun once the beach gets old; and does the beach ever get old? There it is just right down the stairs and a few steps away for sand castles, surfing, shell walks, and splashing around--brand new every season with new sealife and new every hour with changing tides. It is easy to make daily discoveries of turtles and gators, birds at the bird feeder and on the banks of the lagoon--it is easy to take the time to notice here.

And then one day, the Belzers came over and their girls introduced Elsie to the idea of making a "crab apartment" for sand crabs. David found himself able to sit in a chair on the beach--IN A CHAIR ON THE BEACH--FOR HOURS.... FOR HOURS. So, perhaps one day, we'll be able to marry our relaxing Hilton Head of old with the renewed Hilton Head of our girls.

Our Little Mermaid




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So clearly, we have been spending some fun time at Hilton Head. We had our two weeks (with various visitors) then popped back over to see my folks who had just gotten down there for the next month. It is always good to see them and be spoiled by them--Mom's meals and wine always leave me momsick for days to follow. Dad has developed such a sweet rapport with the girls and it warms your heart so. Kit adores to play peek-a-boo with Poppa (her favorite word) and she has translated Grammy to Mimi so she can say it and express her great affection for her grandmother.

And Elsie couldn't be more at home at 20 Belted Kingfisher, particularly on the beach, sprinting and swimming, sandy and smiling.

Who is the cutest 18 month old? Answer:

Love

Uncle Benji and Aunt Jamie

We were so lucky to have Benji and Jamie visit us for the first time at HHI. They generously devoted their vacation to entertaining their nieces and helping us celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We're looking forwarding to having them back next year!

Beach Week(s)

So we headed to Hilton Head for just over two weeks beginning June 5th (hence, the blog negligence). We enjoyed day trips from Kelly, Mark, and the boys for Kelly's birthday and at another point from the Belzers for beach and World Cup fun. I'll have to upload some photos from the night the Remlers boated over from Savannah for dinner at the Salty Dog for Nancy's birthday. And of course, we had our long-awaited visit from the Bachabels. Here you see some nice shots of Elsie and Alice enjoying D's super smoothie snack and also a shot of Chris reading to the girls--he knows lots about literature! It flew by so fast....

Auntie Mere says "Accessorize!"

Just before Memorial Day, the girls were thrilled to have Aunt Meredith visit for a week to teach them the value of nail polish and accessories. Daddy was thrilled to have his sister visit and hook him up with All Access Passes to the G Love show. I'd call that a win-win!