Memorial Day Weekend on SSI

My Memorial Day weekend was spent on St. Simons Island with my daddy and brother.  I have been off with the 2 of them plenty of times but this weekend I was hoping to take a friend just to have another girl in the bunch. All of my friends had plans, of course, so it ended up being just the 3 of us.  After thinking about it, I was kind-of glad it turned out that way b/c this was the first time we were able to leave town since daddy was diagnosed with cancer.  He has had a rough few months between chemo and surgery.  He dealt with it like a champ though and I was so glad he felt up to the trip. 
Saint Simons is very dear to our hearts.  My daddy grew up going on vacation there, his parents lived there for a short period of time,  they would rent a house there during the summers, and he lived in nearby Brunswick in his 20's.  My brother and I have grown up going to SS and even though there isn't much to it, we love the atmosphere and the food!
Friday we arrived just in time to order dinner from our favorite restaurant, The Crab Trap.  It was so busy and crowed and it was nice to scoop it up and take it home.  Their food NEVER disappoints and we had some great conversations.

On our walk to pick up dinner, Cody and I walked across the street to see the ocean.  It was such a pretty time of day!

THE best restaurant ever!

Before and After. HAHA!

Saturday, we slept late and went to eat at one of our favorites for brunch, The Sandcastle.  It's located in the village.  There was an antiques show being held there and I decided to stroll through to see if I could find any cheap treasures.  I did luck out.  I bought a vanity perfume tray, old bottles, and some fish prints for my dad for father's day.  He has been looking for something to go above the television and I thought those would be perfect.  Later that afternoon we headed to Gouels Inlet to sit on the beach.  The tide was way out but it was still nice to actually be at the beach! It was kind of cool with the wind blowing.  The weather was perfect!

Beachin' it!

I hope to paddle board soon!

I LOVE the beach!

 

                                                                           

Saturday night, we went over to the Red Fern Village to eat dinner at Blackwater Grill.  It was packed so we sat at the bar.  This restaurant has been featured on Diners, Drive-in's, and Dives on the Food Network.  I had a salad, crab cakes, and mashed potatoes.  Daddy had a warm steak salad and Cody had a shrimp pasta.  It was all so delicious! We will defiantly be going back there!

That night, Cody and I had planned to hit a few bars in the Village but were were SO full from dinner we just didn't feel up to it.  Instead, we walked around and went out onto the pier.  We rode around the island and went back home early.

Sunday, we planned to spend all day at the beach but it was very overcast.  Instead we slept in (surprise) and had leftovers from the previous nights for lunch.  That afternoon, Cody wanted to climb the lighthouse.  We had not done that in years and it turned out to be a nice activity. A few months ago, daddy couldn't climb the 18 stairs in our house and that day he climbed all 129 of the lighthouse! We were so proud!

 About to head up!

 Family picture!

My favorite picture of the weekend!

After our "workout", lol, Cody and I decided to go to the new pool at the Village.  It is so big and nice.  We didn't stay long because it was cool from being so overcast.  We then got showers and headed back to our favorite restaurant, The Crab Trap to enjoy one last dinner before going home the next morning.  I had fried shrimp this time and they were amazing. 


Sunday we stopped by the 4th of May when we checked out of the house.  They have awesome breakfast! My friend, Lina, had told me about the butter pecan french toast and I decided to give it a try.  OMG...it was heavenly!

After breakfast Cody and Daddy headed home and I shopped around on the island for a few hours.  It was nice not having one of them nagging at me to hurry up! Lol.  Can't wait to head back to my favorite little place on earth at the end of July!

Meet Trae, My Favorite 6 Year-Old...

     As most of you know, my brother and I had a nanny growing up.  Darlene started keeping us when I was just 5 weeks old.  She has spent almost every day at our house for 25 years now.  She is part of our family, my 2nd mother, and my best friend. 
     When I left home to start attending VSU in August of 2006, Darlene started working for a second family to keep their newborn, Trae.  I still remember going by the Hardy's house to say goodbye to Darlene before I left town.  She was standing in the driveway holding Trae, crying as I pulled out.  She did the same thing when I went to Kindergarten.  I'll admit, I was a little jealous when I found out Darlene would only be with us part time so that she could go on to raise new children.  I felt I was going to be replaced.  Little did I know, I would grow to love those children like they were my own siblings.
     I love Trae and Kate Hardy like I have never loved any other children before.  I'm so glad Darlene has raised them to be a part of our lives.
    Yesterday, I had the privilege to attend Trae's kindergarden graduation.  I can't believe how fast he has grown up. Here are a few of my favorite photos of him I have taken over the years (a couple of these are from his mom's FB page). 

Big brother with little sister, Kate (2008)

My buddy (2009).

At my house in summer 2009.
  

3rd birthday party (2009)

So sweet and still has that "baby" look.

Trae eating with his papa.

This was taken while I was babysitting them one evening (2009).

Sitting with us at an HHS football game (fall 2010).

Playing on the gator (winter 2010).

Christmas 2010

Trae's first year playing t-ball (2011).

My favorite t-ball player. One of my favorite pictures of us.

Duke's of Hazzard 5th birthday party (2011)

Trae with his parents at his pre-k graduation from FBC day school (2011).

Trae and me at his pre-k graduation reception (2011).

Trae's first day of kindergarten.  This photo almost had me in tears the first time I saw it.
He looks so grown up.  Priceless photo (August 2011).

Swapping Christmas presents (2011).

Trae and his sister, Kate, love to go to the "Waffle Place" (Huddle House).  I took them there a couple of weeks ago when I was babysitting (May 2012).

"Look! I've lost 2 teeth!"

Yesterday at his kindergarten graduation from Westfield.  So proud to be a part of this precious little boy's life.

Chatty!

This past weekend I made a quick trip to Chattanooga, TN to visit my good friend Ashlee.  She took a job at the newspaper there as an intern last summer and is a photojournalist.  She is so fabulous at what she does!
Saturday, I left Perry around 10:00 and arrived at Ashlee's around 2:00.  The drive only takes Ashlee about 3 hours and 10 minutes but of course I don't have that kind of luck.  I stopped twice, got stuck in THREE traffic jams, almost had a wreck in Atlanta, didn't realize I missed my exit until 20 minutes after the fact, AND got lost.  Whew!  I was so happy to see Ashlee standing outside of her apartment once I finally arrived!

I see mountains!

FINALLY in Tennessee!

We didn't waste any time. We jumped in her car and drove to town. We scoured a junk store looking for photo props (no luck) and then had a late lunch at a really neat restaurant called "The Terminal". It's located next door to the famous Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

After lunch, we went to the mall and several other stores to shop.  The shopping there is great and we got lots of neat things!

Ashlee fell in love with this beautiful tulip painting but we had no way to get it back to her apartment. :(

I'm obsessed with turtles so when I saw this serving tray at World Market, it had to come back to Ga with me!

 Sunday, started off with picking up a sandwich at Jimmy John's and then heading over to Cooliage Park to have a picnic.  It was such a beautiful day and the park was so nice.  We watched the kids there play on the splash pads and fed little birds with our left over bread. 

Ashlee Culverhouse Photography

Ashlee Culverhouse Photography

After playing with the birdies, we took some pictures together and then walked across Walnut Bridge.  The bridge was about a half mile long and had awesome views of the city.  Once we made our way across the bridge, we had some ice cream at a cute little ice cream shop.  It was sooo good! I had coffee cheesecake!

Ashlee is moving back to Perry in July. I can't wait! We always have so much fun together! Even though it was a quick trip, I fell in love with Chattanooga and hope to go back soon! 

 

Priceless Photos

My good friend, Ashlee Culverhouse is an amazing photographer.  Like, seriously amazing.  When I saw on facebook that she was hosting a day of Easter portraits, I quickly contacted her to take some photos of my family and I.  We haven't had pictures made since we added Molly to our family.  We also haven't had pictures recently with all three of us.  Usually Cody and I are only in the pictures so I thought this was the perfect opportunity for us to get some great family photos.  I love pictures that are taken in the spring.  The colors are so pretty and lively. 
Here are a few of my favorites....

The wonderful photographer and I.

If you would like Ashlee's information for your next photo session, please let me know.  I hope you enjoyed these as much as I do!