A Hilton Head Christmas

Yep, this is where we've been all week. We spent a wonderful Saturday before Christmas with my in-laws celebrating Christmas and MeMe's birthday. Christmas Eve we celebrated with my family, attended Christmas Eve Service at church and then hosted our annual Christmas Eve get together. We think this was year nine, but none of us can remember.

On Christmas morning the kids opened their presents and we loaded up for the six and half hour drive to Hilton Head, South Carolina. We arrived a few hours before dark so we headed down to the beach to check it out.

Wednesday, MeMe and I went shopping, while the kids and Mikie enjoyed a nice warm dip in the heated outdoor pool. Air temp was around 55 degrees and the water was a steamy 72 degrees. They said it was warm as long as they stayed in the pool and I was more than willing to not find out. By late afternoon it was 65 degrees and they braved the ocean in swimsuits and hoodies.

Thursday, we went to the Coligny Beach area and shopped, got in the car and left, never once thought about the beach. But outside TJ Maxx and the Outdoor Shop were three hammocks and it was 65 degrees again and the kids enjoyed trying to "stay in" the hammock.

Friday, we headed down to the Sea Pines area on the south end of the Island. We enjoyed the day at Lawton Stables, riding through the Forest Preserves, South Beach and visiting Harbour Town Lighthouse and our daily beach trip landed us at Coligny Beach. Finally, a picture with me. Proof that I was there and they didn't take another photographer. All you mommas know exactly how I feel.

This board was our only way over the tidal pool to the ocean without getting wet. 

Mattie thought this goat had hair like someone she really loves. I won't say who!

Someone created this Coca Cola bottle pouring out on the beach. 

 Saturday, we went to Pickney Island. It has a wildlife refuge. We met a lady who was counting birds on the trail and she told us all about the bird habitats on the Island. She also recommended we visit the Coastal Discovery Museum which we did. At the museum the kids and Mikie got into the bogs of the Intercoastal Waterway and looked to see what they could find. We also saw a section of the Atlas 5 orbital launcher that washed up on Hilton Head's shore. NASA left it there and so they brought it to the museum for others to see. A trip to Target, our first Five Guys Burger and Fries visit and our final trip down to the beach rounded out our few days at Hilton Head.

Looking for mussels, oysters, and crabs.

Love these shingles for the 1912 farm house we are about to renovate and move into. But that's a whole nother story. 

Michael and I took a self portrait. It was getting cold at sunset.

Yes, I wore my Danskos to the beach. 

We always wave goodbye to the ocean on our last visit. 

We ended up in Hilton Head thanks to Paw's timeshares. He had one that needed to be used and as we usually do we took our chances on somewhere that slept six. Paw called back and said Island Links at Hilton Head slept eight and he and MeMe would go on down on Sunday and we booked it. We had never been to Hilton Head but loved it. I'm not sure we would want to go back during peak season because it was pretty busy this week. But I would recommend it especially if you like the wildlife and history stuff like we do. We were pretty busy but still managed to get lots of rest, play some mean hands of Yahtzee, find some new outfits, run a few miles (me included) and have a really great time with Paw and MeMe. Unfortunately like everything else it must come to an end. So as Michael said "Good by beach."

Michael had the last word!