Summer Vacation!

On August 14th, 2008 - Olivia, Maddie and I started out on our trip to Raleigh, NC. We were on our way to meet up with Gramma & Pap Stiffler, Aunt Lisa, cousins Stephen, Kirstie and Logan and Cousins Theresa, Kelly and her boyfriend Jeff. We were staying at the Courtyard there as a resting spot/half way to our destination: Oak Island, NC. The beach house that we rented for the week would be ready on Saturday at noon. The girls were so excited to leave, well... Olivia was... Maddie just went with the flow of things. Both were very cooperative at 6am in the morning and Olivia was anxious to get in the car and GOOOO. Brad was going to join us on vacation on Tuesday, the 19th. He was having staffing issues at his one store, so he needed to be at work. But, when he saw us all packed and ready to leave for the beach, he got really sad and wanted to go with us. Instead he kept his priorities straight and went to work, and we left to go to the beach.

Half way to Raleigh, I received a phone call from Brad stating that he moved his flight up to today and would be in Raleigh at 8:08pm! He was able to get his stores and staff straightened out so that he could join his family on vacation... I was thrilled. I would just need to keep this lil' secret, so that he could surprise the rest of the family that evening in Raleigh!

The girls and I arrived in Raleigh a little after 4pm, and met up with everyone, as they just arrived about 1/2 hr prior. We all sat around the gazebo, catching up, watching the kids swim and ordered pizza for dinner till I had to leave to pick up Brad at the airport.

When we arrived back to the hotel, we surprised Olivia, his mom and sister first and then Theresa and Kelly.... they were all pleasantly surprised and happy to see Brad join up with us!

The following day, we got up early again and headed east to the BEACH... We had a beautiful sunny day to welcome us and we couldn't wait to get there.

Our beach house was nice and we made it our "home away from home" for the week.

When Maddie saw the ocean, she was just thrilled! When Maddie was IN the ocean, she was even more thrilled! She kept trying to push-off of me as if she wanted to go swim by herself... she just loved the waves and being in the water. She was very good with the sand, and played nicely in it... didn't try to eat it or throw it! Now, let's talk about Olivia... Miss O did EXCELLENT this year in the ocean... she was not scared at all and went right in and jumped the waves like a pro! It was hard getting her out of the water too at times!

We went deep-sea fishing, sea-shell hunting and shopping... overall, it was a great vacation and we cannot wait till our next one!