We're back... finally!

Hello hello! We've been on vacation for the past two weeks and even though I had my iPad, I just didn't feel like blogging. I was too busy sleeping in, taking longs walks on the beach, reading good books...

Oh wait, I didn't do any of those things! I have kids now... which means vacation is no longer the relaxing thing it once was. *sigh*

But I did have a great time seeing family and enjoying all the activity surrounding me, including the Olympics! For the first week we were with my whole family at North Litchfield Beach. And when I say my whole family, I mean my WHOLE, ENTIRE, HUGE family! We had a reunion with my dad's side, which includes him and his four brothers and four step-sisters, twenty-four of us cousins (and our spouses), and six of our own kids. I think there were 48 of us total :) We all hung out on the beach every day and then gathered for dessert at a different house every night. It was great seeing everyone!

The second week were we with Cole's family at Isle of Palms Beach. This week was quieter, with just his immediate family, his aunt and uncle, two cousins, and grandmother. But the big thing about this week was his brother's engagement! Chad decided to follow in Cole's footsteps and pop the question on the beach. Donna was so surprised and said YES!, of course :) We also had fun playing games, going into Charleston, and filming Chad & Donna's engagement video (well, mostly Cole did that part, but we all helped)!

So now we're home again! I'm tuckered out from all the activity and glad to be back. Claire got pretty whiny by the end of the second week, so I'm hoping that she adjusts well to life at home again. Clay was a champ and was great for both weeks, though I'm still not getting much sleep at night. (We're gonna work on that this week!)

I'll leave you with a sampling of the pics we took:

My dad reading to Bru and Claire.

My fam - James, mom, Caroline, dad, Clay, me, Claire, Cole, Rochelle, Margaret, Bruton, Cal, & Sam.

Sweet (and sometimes feisty) cousins - Claire, Clay, Caroline, Margaret, and Bruton.

Sam, Cole, and James buried alive!

Even Claire got buried! 

Cole's family and the Texas cousins! 

Donna and Chad - she said YES! 

Nickell gang - Claire, Cole, me, Clay, Chad, Donna, Dana, Granny, Nick, Ryan, & Julia.

Our little family :)

My man!