This Memorial Day weekend found our family at the beach. Lora and Joe came down from NC for a visit and invited us to go to the beach on Hilton Head with them. They took Zach and Cassandra and got there a few hours before we did. As we were driving through pouring rain in Bluffton on our way to the beach, we called Lora who informed us that it was still clear and sunny at the beach. Sure enough, as soon as we came to the foot of the Hilton Head bridge, the weather was beautiful. We somehow found Lora and Joe (or rather they spotted us coming off the boardwalk and flagged us down) amongst the masses there and went straight way to the water. Joseph did not like it at all. He cried the first time we put him in the water and then wouldn't let go of Mark or I. The other kids were so excited to be there and we had a great time....for about 30 minutes. Then came the wind and the rain. Poor Joseph was shivering and crying at the sand that was pelting him so I wrapped him up in towels. Kaitlyn was turning purple, and McKenna and Jacob could have cared less. They ran back out to the tide pool and then back to the ocean while some kind people let me and the 2 younger kids huddle under their canopy. But we knew if we held out a few minutes, the storm would blow over. And that's exactly what it did and it took about 95% of the beach-goers with it. Man did that place clear out fast! So after the rain, the beach was pretty much ours and the weather was great despite the wind (which I hate). We finally convinced Joseph to get in the water after Mark dug a little personal spot for him in the tide pool. He started crawling around and splashing and eating sand. He had a blast. Kaitlyn wouldn't leave Lora alone and I know her arms had to have been sore helping Kaitlyn jump over the waves for like 40 minutes or so. McKenna and Jacob found the boogie boards Cassandra brought and were hitting everybody up to pull them on the boards while they rode. It was a great trip and we can't wait to go again!
