Just Can't Wait to get on the Road Again...

After lots of Guerard family fun, we headed down the road (10 minutes!) to the Isle of Palms for some Folse family time at the beach. Gammy and Pops, Niki, Uncle Clete and Ryan all joined us.

The kids loved the beach! And I loved it, too, because they entertained themselves out there. We had a great time playing, swimming, coloring, reading, eating delicious food, telling stories, enjoying the porch and devouring WAY too much ice cream!

One crazy story from the beach time...

Turner and I shared the blue room in the house. Several months ago, some birds flew into the house through the dryer vent, where there was an opening. The birds all died, and my poor aunt found them and had to clean the whole house out and dispose of the birds. YUCK! (There is a whole blog worth of stories from her trip, I am sure!). Anyway, we had all put the incident behind us. Especially my mom, who is deathly afraid of birds...literally.

So...flash forward...I had just changed Parker's diaper in his room and headed back to mine to get something. I leaned down by the bed to pick it up, and I smelled a really foul smell. I assumed it was from changing Parker's diaper (something lingering in the air or something). Anyway, I got up, re-washed my hands and forgot all about it.

The next day, I was packing some stuff and happened to be sitting on the floor in the same area by the bed. I smelled the same smell. What was it? So, I started looking. And lo and behold, there was a DEAD bird IN the bedside table drawer! I have NEVER in my life screamed like I did at that moment! Poor Thomas had to clean and bleach everything, and my mom was ready to pack it up and go home...

Now, we can laugh about it! And we can also pray there are no more "fowl" surprises at 811 Ocean! Parker loved the beach, and it was so much nicer this year, because he didn't EAT the beach!

Turner got her first real pedicure. It was so special, because we've talked about doing it for almost a year. Since my mom, sister and I were all together, we finally scheduled it and took her.

That day before we left, she was sitting on the floor drawing something diligently on a notepad. I asked her what she was drawing, and she said, "Three big toenails -- one with a flower on it, one with a butterfly and one with polka dots. I am trying to decide what I want them to paint on my toes!" To see what she decided, keep on reading...

The Folse Girls!

TA-DA! Pink with lavender (not to EVER be confused with purple) polka dots!

Story Hour with Popsie

TRUCK! DIRT! WATER! HEAVEN!

Gammy had to work all week (boo!), but she managed to find a little time to join us on the beach!

Baking (and Bathing) Beauty

Fresh local corn, field peas and butter beans...YUM!

This kid is double fisted when it comes to corn on the cob!

Sweet girl!

Precious Boy!

Cousin Ryan ROCKED at playing with the kids. They adore him.

Turner and Me

Our sea turtle! Quite an amazing feat if you could have seen how many times Parker jumped on the poor guy!

For the beauty of the earth...for the beauty of the skies...

Fun Family Times!

Ice Cream Run(s)

Turner's favorite activity in the evenings was to go get ice cream. She tried to explain how important it was for her to try ALL the flavors, so she could decide on a favorite. She had cookie dough, rainbow sherbet, rocky road and birthday cake. Her favorite??? Well, the jury is still out...she probably needs to try a few more before she really decides...