sun, sand, seafood, and sleep

What more could a girl want?

On Sunday we got back from our Fripp Island trip. Fripp is a great family beach off the coast of South Carolina, down near Hilton Head. (Or, as Dooce described it, "a private beach where rich white people roam around on golf carts.") It is completely non-commercial and we always have a wonderful time. We went with Mark's family, who are just great and all possess great tolerance for three loud children.

Because Mark's sisters seem to enjoy cooking (a concept totally foreign to me), I had a WHOLE WEEK of delicious dinners that I didn't have to cook! Woo-hoo - it was like a vacation in a vacation! The shrimp was to die for, and the company was even better.

We spent our days at the beach and just hanging out doing absolutely nothing. It was so incredibly refreshing... the concept of not being a slave to my computer and leaving my business at home. I actually got to spend time with the kids, although for at least the first 3 or 4 days I was firmly convinced that they were going to drown any time they got more than ankle deep in the water. At one point Miller told me to "stop being so nervous." Not long after that I had to crack up when he told me "I wish I had parents who cared less. HMPH!" It took me a long time to actually wind down into vacation mode, and by that time it was almost time to leave. I had a year's worth of stress to un-do, and that takes time. I could have easily used one more week of vacation. Or ten.

The kids had a fantastic time and loved seeing the deer - aka: donkeys, according to Gray - that are all over the island. At one point, two male deer and four little spotted fawns wandered up, and Miller and Gray got to feed one of them some carrots. It is so odd to see deer who have absolutely no fear of humans... the male deer came right up to the golf cart, hoping for a snack. Miller had lots of fun collecting shells and other interesting treasures on the beach, although the rotting sea urchin currently stinking up my front porch I could have lived without. (I'm surprised the vultures haven't swooped down and plucked it from the plastic bag. It is THAT stinky.) Gray was very timid in the water the first few days, but by the end of the week had come such a long way and was much more comfortable. And Everett, my little sand eater. He loved the beach, too, and it was so cute to see him crawl right towards the water as soon as I plopped him on the beach.

And have I mentioned the sleep? One morning Gray slept until 10:00. TEN O'CLOCK. The same child who screeches for Cinnamon Toast Crunch at 6:30 when we're at home slept until 10:00. Most mornings I didn't roll out of bed until after 8. Nothing - and I mean NOTHING (I'm including chocolate and Diet Coke in this) - compares to a good night's sleep. I'd forgotten how delicious it was to actually sleep for a whole eight hours.

We're all tan(ner) and rested and so glad we went. It was a fantastic vacation.