Audrey and Annelise slept in the same room and were apparently awake and chatting at 5:15am. I, on the other hand, slept until 7:15. I wish you could capitalize numbers, but since you can't, I'll just have to settle for repeating: 7:15!!! To my recollection, I haven't done that in years!
After a big breakfast of eggs and pancakes, we hung out at the house and then went over to Tybee Island to walk the beach a little. Since apparently I am new at this parenting thing, I did not think to bring a change of shorts or towels for anyone. Why would I?! We weren't actually swimming and kids always stay perfectly dry at the beach unless they're actually swimming. (Eye roll.) BUT, my redeeming move was not caring that they got soaking wet and then sandy, because I am in fact a more experienced parent that has learned to let them be kids. We weren't trying to take cute pictures, they weren't in danger, so I let them be and they had a blast. We discovered a dead jellyfish, found handfuls of shells, and wrote our names in the sand. After the adults had had their fill, we loaded up into the van and went back to their house. We ate lunch, let them run around outside, and then did afternoon baths. When they grew bored with playing with Norman, they put on "Just Dance" and cracked us up with their moves. Since there was no way we could get any of them to have quiet rest time, we put on the movie "Trolls" and they snuggled up together and watched that.
After the movie, we got cleaned up and went out to dinner at a local restaurant that had gluten-free pizza for AJ. At the end of our meal, the waitress brought out a piece of cake for Annelise and we all sang to her for an early birthday celebration (she was turning eight the next day.) She blushed and loved it. Back at the house, the kids cleaned off their piles off shells and sorted through their collection. We let Annelise open her present and then the girls got caught up in her new "Charm U" bracelet while Luke bugged Norman and the adults lounged around and caught up some more. We went to bed a little earlier than the previous night, full from delicious food and good conversation.
The girls "slept in" a little the next morning and woke up at 6am. Sheesh. We were trying to hit the road by 8:45am (we had to be back for small group since we were doing a service project that afternoon), so we got everyone dressed and fed (being sure to sing Happy Birthday to Annelise before eating!) and then they played outside a little. When it was time to go, we sadly said our goodbyes and loaded up. It had been a very sweet, but too short visit.
We drove about halfway back and stopped at a cool local restaurant in Macon called The Rookery that we'd read about on "Find Me Gluten Free"'s website. It was fun and delicious. We walked around downtown for a few minutes after to stretch our legs and then drove the rest of the way home. We made it back in time to unpack, start some laundry, run by the grocery store, and be at small group by 4pm. As you can imagine, we were all in bed and fast asleep pretty early that night.
I'm so glad we got to go and loved spending the time with them! Here are a few pictures from our visit:
We drove about halfway back and stopped at a cool local restaurant in Macon called The Rookery that we'd read about on "Find Me Gluten Free"'s website. It was fun and delicious. We walked around downtown for a few minutes after to stretch our legs and then drove the rest of the way home. We made it back in time to unpack, start some laundry, run by the grocery store, and be at small group by 4pm. As you can imagine, we were all in bed and fast asleep pretty early that night.
I'm so glad we got to go and loved spending the time with them! Here are a few pictures from our visit:
Luke, Audrey, and Annelise on Tybee Island Beach
Luke, aka Batman, soaking wet after he fell jumping "mini waves"
David and I with the kids on Tybee Island Beach
Playing "Just Dance"
Out to dinner with the birthday girl
Beautiful girl with her Daddy on her 8th Birthday
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