Friends in High Places

Well some have friends in low places, but we have friends in high places.  Once we left Myrtle Beach we were headed to Liberty, SC.  A small podunk town near Greenville and Clemson where the Randalls moved to over one year ago.  We still manage to see a decent amount of each other, but we had yet to go to their new home which boasts gorgeous mountainous regions all around.

My girls could not wait to see Abe, Emma and Kylee, and I think the reverse was true for the Randall kids.  Our first night there also happened to be Kylee's first softball game so we headed in to watch and learn what life is like in a small southern town at the ball fields.  The next day, Jer took off work so Andy and he could go golfing.  Tina's girls headed to school while Abe and Mia played and included Olivia.  I enjoyed catching up with Tina just sitting on their back porch soaking up some sun.  That evening when everyone was home we headed to graffiti rock.  I can not begin to explain how enormous this rock is as well as how much graffiti it is covered with.  Thankfully the graffiti all seems appropriate and is actually welcomed.  As fearful as the picture may look that you could plummet to your death by going off the edge.  Once you near and edge you realize it's not too far of a drop until there is more of the same rock.  Parts of the rock you can meander down until the bottom as well.  A fall would only result in some minor injuries, no death.

It was a gorgeous sight to behold, showing the truth in God's beauty.

I think Olivia looks like she's trying to be Nixon here, although I don't think she even knows who Nixon was.

Friends for life together again.

Some of the adventurous ones who walked down the slope to the bottom of the rock.

Abe and Mia were in seventh Heaven being together again.  These two never seem to get tired of each other and pick up right where they left off.  I hope their bond remains always.

Tina snapped a photo of Andy and I atop Graffiti Rock too.

I can't recall the second stop we made, but it was another gorgeous look out that you could go to the top of with various paths to take and see the scenic wonders.  There was even a bride there having wedding photos taken. 

Tina and I taking a selfie on top of the lookout.

One of the paths led us down between to rock faces.

At the bottom of this path you could see the top of the other lookout.  If you look closely you can see Olivia and Emma up there in the distance.  

Silhouettes of Abe and Mia

When we left this majestic place, I mentioned having seen a photo of a beautiful place that I didn't think was far from here at a YMCA camp.  Jer said he knew where it was and we'd head there next.  Off we went, Andy and Jer in one car with Abe and Mia, while Tina, myself and the older girls followed.  We turned on a road with a sign to where the camp was on these twisty, winding, hilly roads.  Soon the men were out of sight.  After about five miles, no sign of the men, no sign of the camp, nausea setting in, and no cell signal, we decided to turn around and head home to fire up the grill.  By the time a signal returned and we were able to communicate with the men, they told us to keep driving and we'd soon find the camp.  Well, we were well on our way home at this point and I had my head hanging out the window because of all the twists and turns, so the ladies missed the last stopped actually known as "Pretty Place."  The guys came home raving about its beauty with a few dark photos from their phones.  I guess we can go on our next visit.

The next day we headed back to Sturgis, with Tina and her kids coming for their spring break as well.  We swapped Abe for Olivia and headed on our way.  After Mia puked twice, then Abe puked twice, we managed to make it home without much more excitement.

Kylee being baptized.

The next day was Palm Sunday, where Kylee and Emma had made the decision to be baptized into Christ's loving family.  I was honored we were asked to attend such a special service and even be the "official photographer."

Emma being baptized.

What a special day.  Thank you to the Randall Family for a wonderful visit in SC and letting us be part of such a special ceremony for their loving daughters.  

Myrtle Beach

Andy and I are nearing our ten year anniversary and decided we should go somewhere or do something to celebrate.  He wanted it to be the two of us, but I'm not ready to leave my girls for too long yet, so we were perusing options as a family for this summer.  My mind was envisioning something that required passports, but wasn't quite sure.  As we were looking, we found a steal on a trip to Myrtle Beach, but it was only for the period of our spring break.  Now truth be told, Myrtle Beach would never be on my list of places to visit, but it was drivable, in our budget, a warmer climate, and the best perk, not too far from our friends the Randall's so we could visit them on our trip too.  We decided we couldn't pass it up.

So the Friday after school we loaded up and drove to the Ohio/West Virginia line and found a room for the night.  By Saturday early evening we were dipping our toes in the ocean of Myrtle Beach.

One morning Andy and Olivia headed out golfing together at a nearby course so Mia and I headed to the beach.  This was our attempt at building a volcano.  We decorated it with shells we found around us.

The trip was much needed.  The weather could have been better, but also could have been worse.  I just enjoyed being able to relax, hear the ocean waves, walk the beach and the pier, and spend some quality time with my family.  

The ocean was definitely chilly, but that didn't prevent us from going in.  Even Andy was crazy enough to go in with the girls once.  

Mia braving the kiddie pool one warm day.  The outside temperature may have been warm, but the water temperature sure wasn't.  The resort we were at boasts six pools, two lazy rivers, two restaurants, a miniature golf course, and a 1000 foot fishing pier.  All of these were wonderful, but the only heated pools were the two indoor pools and they still weren't terribly warm.  We desperately wished for a hot tub, as well as many other visitors.  Our family made great use out of the miniature golf course playing almost daily and loved walking the fishing pier daily.  

Olivia being lazy in the lazy river.

Mia making a splash!

Jumping in together.  The girls were each other's best friends the entire trip.  For the most part, they got along amazingly well.  I even had people comment on how they couldn't believe they were sisters because of how sweet they were with each other.  Now that we are home, they're back to being typical sisters.  

Andy kept in shape by throwing the girls in the pool on a regular basis.

Olivia's turn to get tossed in.

Olivia being a good sport posing for a picture.  Mia wouldn't go in with her because it was too cold.

In the background is the pier we enjoyed walking.  My favorite memory from Myrtle Beach happened on that pier.  Mia and I walked it together daily, and one day we headed to the pier while Andy and Olivia remained on the beach.  Mia and I stopped and sat on a bench looking over the beach trying to spot Olivia and Andy.  Walking towards us was a man dressed in yellow and woman in red.  Mia said, "Look Mom, it's catsup and mustard!"  We got into a lengthy discussion about how she thought they were mismatched because in our house the lady likes mustard and the man catsup.  I informed Mia that when I grew up it was my mom who loved catsup and grandpa loved mustard.  She then started with her questions about this infamous "Grandma Janie" that she only hears about, but doesn't quite understand.  She always has questions that I attempt to answer about Grandma Janie, Heaven, God, etc.  Usually she makes comments that she doesn't ever want to go to Heaven or other references in that matter, but I try and reassure what a wonderful place it is, and keep in mind that she's still young and doesn't understand yet.  She took me by surprise this time.  I was expecting her usual questions and responses, but this time she asked, "Is Grandma Janie in Heaven?"  to which I of course answered, "yes."  She then said, "Yeah, some day I'm going to go to Heaven and meet Grandma Janie, and you're going to be there too mommy!"  I hugged her close savoring that moment, while tears formed in my eyes.  I could feel God's and my mother's presence there with us at that moment as we looked out at the beautiful vast ocean in front of us.  

I couldn't have asked for a nicer time away with my family.  The location wasn't what made the trip, but just the simple time with family.  We played in the sand, swam, walked, shopped, sampled wine, ate at Waffle House twice, enjoyed good food, caught up with a dear friend Angela and her son Zack, played lots of miniature golf, but most of all made memories.  Then we said our good byes to Myrtle Beach and headed to Liberty, SC to see our dear friends the Randalls.

Below are some photos I decided to add from Andy's phone of our trip so they are all out of order.

Waffle House girls!

Posing on our Pier

The best you'll ever see Andy and I looking

A wonderful visit from Angela and Zack

Shopping at some cheesy Shark themed store

Celebrity Square fountain at Boardwalk on the Beach

I was thrilled to see an actual Ben and Jerry's ice cream parlor.  Would you believe the day we went was "Free Ice Cream Cone Day?!"  I never get so lucky!

Olivia posing to be cool in her new shades.  Mia said she looked silly like Stevie.

Mia being silly.

A video of all three of my kids.

Artsy Fartsy

My attempt at getting crafty.  Mia and I created a wreath for Easter to help decorate before her birthday party.

Olivia was selected for the third year in a row to be in the district K-2 Art Show. She is quite proud because only 2-3 students per classroom are chosen. She sure has a passion for art.  

Alice and Mia buddies together at the art show

Olivia with her art teacher, Mrs. Henricks. She sure will miss her next year.

After the show we went next door for dinner at Mike's Pizza. Olivia's friend Citori, who was also in the art show, and her family had the same idea.  Olivia was thrilled to have one of her best friends at dinner with us that evening. 

Celebrating All Things Mia!

Celebrating five years with Mia took place a couple of days early.  Her birthday is actually Monday, the 31st, but she wanted to have a big party and invite her friends over.  We've never allowed her to do the "friends" party.  It's always been just family and maybe one friend.  It's not every day my youngest turns five so we obliged and let her invite all her friends.  She had quite a varied list.  We had from 1 year olds to 11 year old friends that made the cut, and then up to 13 years of age if you count the cousins.  All the attendees were courtesy of her strong friendships she's made while at Jackie's, with the exception of two neighbor girls that my girls have bonded with.  And of course, no party would be complete with out both sets of grandparents and the aunts and uncles.

Mia had be sick for a couple of days leading up to her big event.  Since she had to stay home with daddy, I let her open a gift early which happened to be the movie Frozen, so they could watch and enjoy it on her lazy days home.  The day of her party I also let her open a gift early.  She saw this Matilda Jane dress in their little catalog and has been begging for it ever since.  I of course bought it right away, but saved it for this special occasion.  I had another MJ dress put away for her that I got out for her to wear to the Date with Dad.  She got mad when she saw the other dress and said, "That's not the one I wanted!"  She can be a little bratty at times, but we still love her.

Here she is with her dress she so desperately wanted!

Wearing her new dress for her party.  She was all smiles all day!

The great spread with a Mia themed menu consisting of clementines, strawberries, raspberries, cheese and crackers, deviled eggs, guacamole and chips, salami and pickle roll ups, granola bars, and of course cupcakes.  There was virtually no food left at the end of the party, so she must have chosen a menu that appealed to most appetites.  

Macy and Mia

The party began with an Easter Egg hunt, but of course it was mad chaos of everyone running around looking for their eggs, that I never managed to snap any pictures of the kids in action.  I think they all had  a good time looking for eggs, although one egg is still at large.  Olivia hid most of them for me and of course hid the older kids' eggs in harder to find places.  So hard that she can't even remember.  One day it will turn up.

Time for presents!

Mrs. Starkey and Alice hanging out.  Poor Alice was bombarded with all the kids wanting to love on "Baby Alice."

Macy, Olivia, Jane, and Myah looking on to see what Mia got.

Her first reaction to her big gift from daddy.  I had nothing to do with this purchase, but was aware it was coming.  She's thrilled with it and I'm sure it will get a lot of use up north this summer.

I can already envision the races between Mia and Olivia.  Although, I'm nervous Mia will have a "bumper cars" type mentality and try to crash into her sister, or cut her off on the paths.

Getting ready to blow out her candle to celebrate these five wonderful years!  It truly doesn't seem like five years can be here already.  We've loved every moment of it.  Happy birthday Mia Margaret.  Thank you to all who came to show your love for our meatball.