First Beach Trip of 2009...

...just for the day, to Isle of Palms.

You know, there are some very well kept secrets in SC. First is the peaches. I am sorry for all of you who have been led to believe that GA peaches are the standard. Probably, SC folks didn't want anyone getting their amazing peaches, so they let everyone think the best ones came from GA. But it's just not true.

Second is the real SC beaches. Myrtle Beach is just not the best SC beach, folks. It's nice enough (hit the north end, if you must), but the prettiest ones are south of Charleston - Seabrook Island, Hilton Head, Edisto, etc. We went to Isle of Palms today because it has a public access. It's nice - a little crowded for my taste, but it's close. If you can afford to rent a big house further down the island, it's much nicer. We were going for cheap today. Worth the drive and $7 to park.
The Babyhawk carrier worked great on the beach! Zzzzzzzz.....




Funny - looks like Micah is about to pounce on this kid!




I've never enjoyed taking a crawling baby to the beach. But this kid was amazing! Not a word of complaint unless I tried to set him in the water! He tolerated mouthfuls of sand, diaper full of sand and crawling on the sand! And did it with a smile!




Every child must try eating sand. I don't know why but that's just the way it is.


Love the ride home! There is not a better way to wear out kids than the beach!

Hopeless Geek

I have never assumed I was cool. Never really even pretended. I know I'm a geek. And it's getting worse. Now I'm a coupon geek and it's really fun! Most of (the 4 of) you who would be reading this blog have already heard my coupon diatribe. So I'll spare you that. But I just had to share that today I bought $98 worth of stuff at CVS pharmacy and paid only $28! And it was good stuff - Pampers, Dove soap, fancy razor for Rick (that was free), my favorite kind of paper towels and dish soap. I was so excited.

And to further prove my geek-ness, I let Rick take a picture of the stuff but I'm not going to post it. I have a very small amount of dignity (and it was the pharmacy - slightly more personal than groceries!)

Then, instead of taking a Sunday afternoon nap, I went to Rite Aid and spent $11 on $40-some dollars of stuff. No picture, though.

I think one of the reason's that I think this couponing stuff is fun is because it's a bit of a challenge. Also, I get a some free stuff that I don't really need and can donate it to our local foodbank, like the 25 cent toothpaste I got today that is a kind we don't use. But the best reason I like it is because I am taking half of the amount I save (which today is $50 - yeah) and depositing into the "Teresa Discretionary account." I haven't decided what the money will be for yet. Possibly braces for Katie (I love my girl but her teeth are looking a little goofy - don't tell her I said that, by the way). Or maybe first a cruise for our 15th anniversary next year, then braces. Or maybe something else. But watching that little savings account stack up is very exciting so it provides incentive for me to keep clipping like a fool. And telling you about it!

One other thing to share - the 2 big kids had their gymnastics meet (non-competitive, more like a showcase). It was very funny. Here are a couple fun pics. The quality isn't great - I was using the zoom and it was a little dim in the gym.