Daddy's Birthday...

 Daddy's birthday was the end of May and while we did have a party for Joel- we squeezed in a party for Michael and Uncle Ben too.  And we took Daddy on a picnic for his birthday complete with Graeters ice cream.  Michael's favorite cake is Butterfinger Oreo cake.  

Fire Field Trip

 Fire safety field trip at the end of the school year.  

Koesters Visit

 On the way down to the beach, we had a chance to visit with the Koesters and their six kids.  We really enjoyed our visit with them!  I am so thankful for Jodi and how the Lord continues to use her to spur me on to be like Christ and to have a sister whose husband is in ministry as well.

The Shack

 We brought our meals for the whole week, but the last night we were there- we went out to a cute Southern home cooking restaurant- The Shack!  It was so good!  These are more view from the balcony- we tried to keep kids a careful watch on this balcony!

Mini golf and cook out

  We tried a very Southern fast food chain called "Cookout."  We also took a turn at mini-golf!

Crabbing...

 Another of our highlights- crabbing!!    Jeremiah could have crabbed all day and night!  We brought ocean picture books to read on our trip and started reading the Burgess Seashore book which has all kinds of information about crabs and all kinds of Altantic seashore creatures.  

Our Beach Condo...

 Our beach condo on the 7th floor with a balcony overlooking the ocean as well as some fun pictures of palm trees!  There were some neat parks along the waterway that had some neat fiddler crabs.  The ground was covered with these fiddler crabs and wholes!

Our trip to Cherry Grove Beach!

 This year, we did something we have not normally done as a family- we went to the beach!  We wanted to celebrate Michael's graduation and the faithfulness of God these last 8 years in PhD work.  We decided to do something crazy and fun for us just as a family- go to the beach.  We decided to go in May- when its cheaper and found a two bedroom condo on the beach.  Literally, all we did all week was play on the beach.  The kids dug and dug on the beach and built pits and pools of water and caught hermit crabs and waded in the water- it was a lot of fun.  Joel, on the other hand, hated the sand.  He cried on the beach and got sand on his fingers then ate sand- he was a mess.  Michael every afternoon took Joel up for a nap and I and the three kids lounged at the beach and the pool!  It was glorious!  The kids played so well and I was able to read a book- actually two books and start a third!  I read Stepping Heavenward for the second time which encouraged my soul by Elizabeth Prentiss- author of the hymn- "More Love to Thee."  And I read Teaching from Rest- by Sarah MacKenzie!