More on OIB

We loved OIB, I wish I'd researched the island more before we went, there is really alot to do there. The OIB Community Center had day camps (FREE) for children in the summer ages 3-10, Monday-Friday from 10am-12 pm, 2 hours of crafts, dancing, bubbles as well as an educational activity about sea life, the island, shells, etc... We were only able to go one day and the girls loved it! They had all kinds of activities for the kids, they made a mini coral reef out of sponges, blueing, amonia and salt...very cool! Then they had storytime, made shell hair barrets/necklaces, danced the limbo, storytime and then a visit from Gigi, the mermaid. Also, on Sunday mornings they have a church service ON THE BEACH, how awesome. Unfortunately, I didn't know about that until Wednesday, so maybe next year. The Museum on the island also has classes and daycamps. We went to a seminar about sea turtles, very informative. There are volunteers on the island that monitor the turtles, they help protect the eggs until they hatch, and then help them saftely return to the ocean once they hatch...very cool. If you are there at the right time you can even witness the release. http://www.oibturtlepatrol.com/whatwedo.html

Anyway, just wanted to give OIB props! Here are a few pictures of the kids camp!

Beach June 2009

Finally, I've had time to get on here and add some pictures. We just returned this afternoon from our beach trip to Ocean Isle Beach! We had a blast! Every year we go with my parents, grandmother, niece and in-laws. We've vacationed together like this for the last 10 years or so. Robby and I are so very fortunate that our parents get along and that we can vacation together and even celebrate the holidays together! Everyone just does their own thing, no pressure to be here or there and please everyone! Every summer we get a condo and all pile in and spend the week together. What great times we've had and wonderful memories we've made! This was our first year at Ocean Isle and we loved it, it was nice and clean, no busy, crazy streets and not so commercialized. We drove into Myrtle to shop at the outlets and Broadway at the Beach, but other than that we stayed on the island. Just the ocean, pool and the nice ocean breeze! Abby was amazed by all the shells, OIB by far had the most shells of any beach we've ever been to. The first couple of days that's all she did was collect, and collect and collect more shells! After the love of shells wore off she realized that she could catch little fish and crabs with the fishnet and that was her next adventure, you should have seen the amazement in her eyes the first time she caught one of those tiny little fish! Katie finally came to love the ocean, all these years she has only wanted to be in the pool, but this year she really enjoyed riding the waves on the boogie board. Don't get me wrong, she still LOVES the pool, but would at least tolerate being on the beach awhile. All the girls (Katie, Abby & Savannah) put on a fashion show for us on Thursday night, it was really cute, Katie and Abby modeled Savannah's clothes. I remember doing that with my cousins in the summer at my grandmother's house when I was in middle/high school; it is hilarious to look back now at the videos! Now I can use the pictures and video of my girls to blackmail them when they are teenagers like my parents did me! Like showing my boyfriends, etc... No I wouldn't do that to them, would I? haha!

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Then and Now...

Last night as I was setting up this blog I was pulling up old photos as I so often do, just reminiscing about when the girls were babies. I can't believe how fast they have grown, it seems like yesterday I brought Abby home from the hospital and not too long ago that Katie was playing musical chairs to "Barney" music. Oh, how I miss those days!! But, now there are different memories, like Katie getting a Certificate of Achievement for Accelerated Reading and Abby offering to help me with laundry or the dishes, she has such a servants heart. The days of cooing, crawling and slobbery kisses have passed, but the joys of mothering are still here. SO many days I forget to enjoy the moments, I look back too much rather than looking ahead and even enjoying the current everyday things. Today I will take it all in and savor every precious moment!

Welcome to Messick Avenue

Welcome to Messick Avenue!

Okay, so I'm not so sure about this blog thing, but I am going to try it! I love reading other people's blogs, but not sure if I have the time to maintain my own, so hear it goes, let me know what you think!

Fun at the Pool

We decided to join a swim club this summer so that the girls and I would have a nice place to spend the summer and swim with friends. It's a really nice, quiet swimming pool, very family oriented and we are already enjoying it and it's only been open for about 2 weeks! Both Katie and Abby are joining their swim team and are so excited about it! Abby has began swimming like a little fish, once she realized that she could go under, hold her breath and also wear goggles to see under water it was over, she loves it!