Kiawah Trip 2018

I was looking back at this old blog, and I discovered that I never posted an entry for 2018, so I will make up for that now. We descended on Kiawah over Labor Day weekend. 2018 was special because Chase Raper joined us for the first time. He was a very important person in Faith's life. More on that in a future post. After Faith and Chase left, Thomas, Julie, and the kiddos joined us, arriving in their new Honda Pilot. We all had a wonderful time. As I recall the Adults had fun playing Jeopardy around the dinner table with"Alexa." Here is a link to a photo album from that trip.

Merry Christmas!

We have never done this before. Just three and a half months since our last visit, Walter and I returned to Kiawah, just the two of us. It has been wonderful. There are very few people here, but the weather was perfect today. We got to witness both a breath-taking sunrise and a spectacular sunset from the beach right outside our condo. That's right. We are staying in a unit that is ocean front. We rode our bikes for miles and found alligators and climbed a marsh tower. We rode into Fresh Fields Village for lunch. Tonight Walter helped me to put the finishing touches on peppermint bark which we will give for Christmas gifts. That certainly counts as mandatory craft time. Next up, Netflix. I could get used to this.

Kiawah Limerick 2017

We are now back at home, and most things are put away, But before we launch ourselves fully back into the "real world," we must close the door on vacation 2017 with a vacation Limerick. (Really wish we had had Julie to help us with this!)

With Bucky's and brownies to eat,
Friendly deer and alligators we did greet.
A gun shot rang out, 
Police cars - no doubt!
A mama deer was now obsolete.

Is It the Place or the People?

Is it the place or the people that make for a great vacation, even if it is a rather short vacation? At Kiawah Island, it is a rare combination of both, but I would have to say that the people are the most essential ingredient, and here are the people I enjoyed spending this long weekend with.

We also met up with some long time friends from Wisconsin. Thanks, social media! We had a great time catching up with the Cooks at Gilligan's on John's Island.

On this, our last day, Walter and I got up early to see the sun rise (a repeat performance, but just as amazing) and take a long bike ride. We rode to another Marsh Tower and crossed paths with a few deer. Strapped to the Marsh Tower was a box with a journal and pens for visitors to record their special Kiawah moments. I think I could have filled up that journal. 

I think we all feel refreshed and relaxed. I also feel so grateful for time to connect with friends and the two children who live in our basement. I will leave you with a few photos. Until next time!

Riding Bikes

Whenever I ride my bike on Kiawah Island, this is how I feel.


This is what I actually look like.

Here We Are Again!

We are at Kiawah once again. There was not as much hooplah and build up to our long weekend away this year. I am not sure why. Maybe it is because it is a smaller group. Just the four of us who currently reside at 113 E Kenilworth Drive. But I am still determined that this time should be relaxing and rejuvenating for my true love.

After surviving torrential rains on the way down Thursday night, we discovered that the agent had forgotten to leave a key under the mat as promised. Oh, well. We waited for nearly an hour, and someone finally came.

We have enjoyed a leisurely pace, some pretty tasty BBQ, strolls on the beach, and long bike rides in the early morning coolness.

I have been thinking of and praying for our other children and those they hold dear. Seth is starting his doctoral program at the University of Texas. Thomas and Julie and the kiddos are on their own adventure/vacation in the North East. Megan and Matthew are in the midst of a move from Kansas City to Clarksville, TN. Seth's friend, Chelsea, is enduring US Air Force basic training in San Antonio, Texas.

By the way, there has still been a bit of "mandatory craft time." If we get the sea turtle poster finished, we are going to give it to Wilson so that he can hang it  up in his room.

Kiawah Limericks 2016

They weathered a storm named Hermine;

Don't worry! The kids are all fine.

The wind blew and it rained;

Only Faith's drive in was strained,

Not a tree fell, not even a pine.

Three walks the family did take,

Sand sculptures they later did make.

When his wheels were a spinning,

Young Wilson was grinning;

A nap in the closet he'd take.

They feasted on great BBQ,

Each other in Nerf Wars they slew.

The bullets did fly,

To make you cry,

"I surrender! Boohoo! Boohoo!"

Last Day

The most important ingredient for a fantastic vacation is including the people you love the most. I have spent the last four days with some of those people, and we have laughed hard and made some memories.

Last night at Gilligan's, after writing a vacation limerick or two with the help of Julie via text message, we shared favorite all time memories from Kiawah. We reminisced about our honeymoon, Thomas and Julie's engagement, the antics of the Ethan's, cereal wars, and long discussions about the pronunciation of the word "foot" while floating in the ocean holding boogie boards.

It has been only a few days, not a full week, but we all feel richly blessed. We witnessed an extravagant sunrise and tried to capture the beauty on our cameras. Ethan went to the beach after dark and laid down on a towel so that he could take in the breath-taking beauty of the stars and count the shooting stars. I took bike rides in the cool mornings with my true love. Clear skies and 80-degree temperatures have been perfect for sunbathing, splashing in the waves, playing games, and building sand structures. We have seen baby alligators, deer (aka "kangaroos"), and so many exotic looking butterflies.

We way goodbye reluctantly, but with the hope of returning next year.

A Perfect Day at the Beach

Today's weather was glorious! The morning was spent building sandcastles and playing in the surf. Wilson rode his bike to the beach, and the girls rode in the bike trailer pulled by their dad. We all returned to the villa for lunch (leftover BBQ or PBJ's). Then Thomas and Julie packed up for the trip home, but not before another epic nerf gun battle at Wilson's request.

This afternoon Seth, Walter, and I took a bike ride to one of the marsh towers while Ethan and Faith headed back to the beach. We joined them there later in the afternoon. It was so pleasant that we had a hard time pulling ourselves away, but hunger won out. We enjoyed a dinner of lasagna, garlic bread, and salad. Now the gang is getting ready to watch the Clemson game while enjoying our traditional beach dessert - Drum Sticks!

We are looking forward to more adventures tomorrow as well as dinner at Gilligan's.

I have some pictures that I would like to share, but the internet service is so slow that I cannot upload pictures. I will try again tomorrow.

Batten Down the Hatches!

We are riding out this tropical storm and marveling at all the branches falling and blowing around. It is raining this afternoon, but we actually walked to the beach this morning so we could see the big waves. Later we had to take another walk so that we could see the baby alligators that Papa and Wilson had reported finding on one of their excursions. Perhaps we will post a picture later. This very nice villa does not have very fast internet service.

Right now the kiddos are sleeping and the adults are reading/sketching/posting. And we are waiting for Faith to arrive.

Here are a few of the highlights from this day so far.

• Coloring time
• Yummy party mix
• Epic nerf gun battle
• BREEZY walk on the beach!
• Baby alligator sightiW and M

Speaking of things that are epic. Thomas and Julie's recital last night certainly was. Here you see Seth and the girls enjoying the post-recital reception.

TODAY!

Thanks, W, for the awesome sign.

BTW, there is no way we will let Hermine keep us from having a great time!

Beautiful Kick-off

Last year we began our tradition of kicking off our vacation with some beautiful music. We are looking forward to continuing the tradition this year with a recital by Thomas and Julie at FPC, Columbia, That will be our first stop on our way to Kiawah Island. I can't wait!

So Close...

There is no such thing as "too much sunscreen" when the Russell's head to the beach.

Counting Down

The Countdown continues. We are hoping that the little munchkins on Gardendale are getting just as excited as we are. After all, half the fun is the anticipation.

Vacation 2016 - A Few Days at the Beach

Is there anything more stressful than planning/preparing for a beach trip? I should be an expert by now. Having to deal with 40 or so students a week while doing this planning doesn't make it any easier. I am relying on old lists from successful vacations of years past. I am also reminding myself that there is a grocery store not far from the villa, and we will certainly not starve. As long as I have a bike WITH A BASKET, I think I will be able to enjoy the paradise of Kiawah. A bike with a basket AND my true love of 34 years. We only get a few days this year, not a full week, but that is okay. We will make the most of having time together as a family. Children and grandchildren, what are you looking forward to the most?

All Good Things Must Come to an End...

...and this vacation has certainly been a good thing. We have enjoyed bike rides, spotting deer and alligators, dinner out, family meals together, sunny days on the beach, craft (coloring and play dough) time, and so much more. Mostly we have enjoyed each other's company without interruption from outside responsibilities. Thomas and Julie, thanks for making the long drive and staying the whole week.  We loved spending time with you and getting to know our grandchildren better.  Faith and Ethan, thanks for having fun with us and helping out with the little ones. Seth, thanks for going a little out of your way on your way back to Boston from Taiwan.  I know you are tired, but you were a trooper, and you really added to our vacation fun.

I will leave you with one last photo.  Here is Mercy going all out and enjoying her first Drumstick with gusto!

Thursday

It has been another fun day here at Kiawah Island.  Here are some high lights:

1. Seth has been able to manage his jet lag pretty well. Wilson made sure that he didn't sleep too long this morning.
2. The rain stopped around 11:00 A.M., and we enjoyed a bright sunny day after that.
3. Ethan's sunburn could be worse. We are thankful for aloe.
4. Mercy finally did say, "Please," and was able to have her cookie after our Taco Thursday lunch.
5. The boat was great fun.
6. Wilson made a couple of awesome drip castles.
7. We survived the family photo shoot, but just barely.  Photo evidence below.
8. Walter, Marcia, Ethan, Faith, and Seth enjoyed a yummy dinner at Chez Fish which is just 10 minutes up the road. We will definitely be planning a return visit on our next Kiawah vacation.

Bravo!

The recital was so impressive and beautiful! Well done, Thomas! And now vacation begins in earnest for Thomas and Julie.

We had a lot of rain this morning, so Ethan and Faith had to stay in the villa with Mercy and Wilson all morning.  But they had a great time coloring and playing with play dough.  By late afternoon the skies had cleared and some of us headed for the beach while others took a nap.  Mercy still doesn't like for her feet to touch the sand, but she is certainly not opposed to riding in the wagon, especially with a red solo cup of party mix.

Wilson and Papa built some really creative sand castles and tunnel systems today.  They also flew the kite and played in the waves.

Now we are all very tired, but we are waiting for Seth's flight to get in. I am so glad that Seth will be here to help us make memories.

The rain this morning made it a good morning to play with Grammy's Kindle.

Vacation Limericks

We are all having a blast, and we have so much to be thankful for.  Here are some of Today's highlights:

• Sand castles
• Boogie boarding
• Sea gull feeding
• Kite flying
• Rickshaw rides (although Mercy was not a fan)
• Deer and a snake
• Ice cream

They all bare their skin oh so fair,

Except for the one with dark hair;

They slather on lotion

With so much commotion,

And sit on a rented beach chair.

On manicured lawns filled with deer,

They are pretty tame; have no fear;

Young Wilson does walk,

And Mercy does squawk,

When those silly seagulls are near.

They're Here!

Faith and Ethan arrived around 1:30. We ate lunch and then headed for the beach.  It was a nearly perfect afternoon. Sunshine, but not too hot. A nice breeze, too. Those two even agreed to go on a bike ride to the marsh tower,

Thomas and Julie and the kids arrived around 8:00. So much excitement! We filled their  hungry tummies with BBQ and then watched some deer on the gulf course and went for a moonlight walk on the beach.  We didn't need to worry about strolling in the darkness.  W and M had flashlights! Everyone except M is not ready for bed.  Papa is working on that.

Tomorrow promises to be a fun day of beech activities and mandatory craft time.  I can't wait!