Oak Island Family Vacation

The tradition of the Hand-family beach trip started the summer that Scott and I met (I didn't go that trip, we had just met)...but... the summer after that, I went with the family as his fiancee!  The next two summers after that I went as his wife, then we went on a little 3 year trip to China, so this year was a kind of reunion.

One of my favorite things was probably having every one's permission to shoot pictures for a whole evening.

Here's all my favorites:

Brooks (front) and Baker (in the back)

Love the way the sun hits him from behind!

Grace is such a great model.  When I suggested running in the water she didn't even hesitate!

Can't believe she'll be 7 years old!  She and Joelle shared a room (almost) the whole time last week- she is such a great big cousin and big sister.

Two goof-balls

Baker-man! Who knew those handsome little eyes had so many colors in them?

Mommy kisses!

Grandpa and the boys

Mm, who's that good-looking family? They should have more kids.

1, 2...

3!

Mmm I still love sand...

Handsome!

bubbles!  My genius method to get all the kids playing and distracted so they don't realize I'm still in their face taking pictures. bwaah ha haha.  (that's my "conniving" laugh)

*giggle!*

"Neen Neen! see?" (Christine) bird! "Neen-Neen!"

Coming back from chasing the birds... empty handed.  thank goodness.

The family photo!  Self- timer, thank you very much and even though not all the kids are smiling, we can see their faces!

If you click to enlarge this photo, you can see me with the camera in the reflection of his eye.

Dude.

Uncle Cott and Baker.

Sweeeeet.

The ever-present look on Brook's face when I want to take his picture.

COUSINS!

]

Brothers holding hands, looking at the seagulls.

Baker: Hey, man. You wanna run and chase these bubbles?

Brooks: Yeah, ok.

LET'S GO!

If I swing my arms back real far, it looks like I'm running... but I'm actually just walking really fast!

Brooks! Watch out for that giant bubble!

uh-oh... where do you think that's going to pop?

Baker is just so kissable!!

The proud Grandparents

Grace is such a good big sister- she is so patient (usually) and accommodating to her little brothers.

Baker finds a treasure in the sand...

and wants to show it to Brooks.

Grace is almost 7 years old, I can't believe it. She talks and reasons almost like an adult...but has a long way to go with her knock-knock jokes.

Knock knock

Who's there?

Shelby.

Shelby who?

She'll be comin' 'round the mountain when she comes! She'll be comin' 'round the mountain when she comes!

We taught her the "interrupting starfish" joke and she tried it out on her mom and dad. Huh-larious.

My highlight of the week with her was the treasure hunt Scott and I created for her.  Complete with a map and "X" marks the spot, she found an "ancient Tupperware" full of arts and crafts and giant bubble wands.

The next day she told me how she figured out it was us and not "real pirates" who buried the treasure:

1. We were the last ones to go to the store and no one saw what we bought

2. Scott just happened to have a shovel when we started to unearth the treasure

3. The map was drawn on her coloring paper and with my pen and in my hand writing.

hmm.

I've been bested by an almost-7 year old.

She asked me, "Why did you crumple the map?"  to which I answered, "I was trying to make it look really old." to which she said, "well, you should have just used old paper!" HAHAHA

 

What a great week, can't wait till the next trip when we're all together again!