Family Vacation

This year for our family summer vacation we again went back to Myrtle Beach, SC. The kids love this vacation spot and asked to return this year. 

This year Sybella and Cooper were both able to really enjoy the waves and sand...

We always boogie board while we are at the beach but this year, the boys also used the skin (skimmer) boards to glide across the top of the water in the shallow areas. And yes, our most adventurous child, Cooper, spent lots of time trying to figure it out. He discovered it's harder than skateboarding.  :)

We had 7 days just swimming, running in the sand, building castles, and enjoying the sun. It was amazing! David took a special day with each of the kids to do something one-on-one that they wanted to do. He took Colin golfing. Connor chose a 3D movie, Sybella took him shopping. And Cooper took him outside for a walk and to throw the ball (every day---apparently, the youngest gets more dates!)

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Checkmate!!!

Cooper was playing chess this morning with chess pieces that were as big as he is. The boys tried to teach him but he had more fun knocking them over then trying to beat his opponent.

Teaching Connor to Sail...

No words needed!

Vacation, Relaxation, & Expectation

Enjoying our time in Jamaica (kinda).

Like I've always said, I am more about transparency than some touchy feely posting. The first 24 hours was rough. DC left me so hyped and tense that it took all of the first day and most of day two to unwind. So now we are starting to relax...some lazy river, canoeing, and body surfing.

I know some of you think all those activities can't possibly produce relaxation but when your a Simon it's more about distraction and changing the focus of our attention. To prove that point...I read 74 emails during the first day of my vacation (hardly a vacation)...so I unplugged and stopped reading today.

So vacation is going great, the relaxation has begun, but the expectation was skewed (according to Sharon). We left the kids to play and disappeared to the floating river to grab drinks and drift along. Topic: My EXPECTATION of vacation.

See, my expectation of vacation is relaxation...which I accomplish with a whole lot of peace and quiet, several books, and adult beverages. When you have four kids...this isn't going to happen. So I have had to reframe my thinking and expectation of what this vacation would be like.

More to follow this week on being TIRED vs. being RESTED which is what really came out of today.

Bottom line- day two in Jamaica has been wonderful and it was time to get away. Cheers to all my friends.

David

Myrtle Beach Photos

I wanted to get some more shots up from our vacation in June. We were in Myrtle Beach, SC and it was such a time of relaxation and fun. Colin and Connor love the water, Sybella got a chance to have fun in the water & sand, and little Cooper won't remember this trip but will have pictures of his first trip to the beach.
Enjoy!!
**Remember if you click on any photo in our blog, it will enlarge for better viewing.

Virginia Beach

Wanted to get some pictures posted from our impromptu mini-vacation to Virginia Beach this Memorial Day Weekend.

David was down here this week for a work "off-site;" last night, the kids and I drove down to join him and his boss, Greg. Greg's son, Max came along with us and we are all hanging out relaxing.

Connor took this picture of us this morning, our first morning in Virginia Beach:

The View during my run this morning:

Here are: Colin, Connor, Max (our friend), Sybella, and David in the Hot Tub.

FSM

Well it isn't quite Father's Day but since I am traveling again on Sunday and I have plans with my Father on Saturday...I thought it was a good idea to take the boys out for a Father Son Moment. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, just some good old fun at the driving range. There is a driving range about 4 miles from the house (Oak Marr Rec Center & Golf Course).

We had fun just swinging the clubs and the boys wanted to go on the 'upper level'...I think it makes them feel like thier golf ball goes further. We had a good time and enjoyed the weather. Just having a quality time with the boys...who are growing up way to fast (10 and 8 now). Colin will be in 5th grade next year...YIKES (I have a 5th grader) and Connor will be in 2nd grade.

For the record...we did not dig tunnels in the sand trap at the golf course. These are photos from of the tunnel I helped the boys build while we were in Myrtle beach several weeks ago during another FSM.

Beach Pictures

Many have asked to see beach pictures from last weekend in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Here they are:

House of Blues

A question I was recently asked was:

What is the Church?

Matthew 18:19-20

Ephesians 4:1-6

I bring it up because while in Myrtle Beach we don’t have a ‘traditional’ place to plug in, so I decided to take the family to the House of Blues. That’s right…food, family, and worship at the Gospel Sunday brunch. A change in place and change in pace. We had a wonderful time and even Sybella got into the worship songs. Some folks may be there for entertainment value and a Sunday meal but I thought it was more than just a fun experience for the family. If you ever make it to Myrtle Beach and stay through the weekend, I highly recommend the House of Blue’s Gospel Brunch!

Church is not the bricks and mortar but rather the people, fellowship, and focus. It was a great way to start Sunday and spend quality time as a family engaged in something that is not normally the focus of the family vacation.

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For those of you who are thinking... these guys are fanatical or even a little over zealous…don’t worry. This was not an attempt to be overly spiritual just a way of taking an hour out of the ‘family vacation’ and making it more about family and a little less about the beach. I think the boys were more into “Jake & Elwood’s Car” parked out front.