Hornbuckle Mountain

Pop and Gran Tisdale are living their dream on the top of the mountains of North Carolina....

 they say it is just awful to wake to this every morning and go to bed every evening with one of the most beautiful sunsets one will ever lay eyes on!  

Once upon a time, they were two young honeymooners who likely never dreamt that one day this would all be their reality!

 Our time there is always remarkable.  It is peaceful.  Calm.  A step back from our wild and crazy.

 And Gran always has something crafty up her sleeve for these creative minds.

 And games are always to be played....

 Sorry or cards or whatever!

 Maddox our contortionist - I mean, really???

 In her little Maryn way, she wrapped yet another adult around her sweet little fingers.

 Horseback riding in the mountains was on our "to-do" list for this trip....

 What a fun experience for all!  A creek, a tunnel and trails of peacefulness through the woods....

 thankfully, our horses all behaved....even mine, Rambo.  

 And then we made our way to a waterfall....

 My heart in one picture.....

 and my laughter in one frame....

 I am so thankful for our little crew....each and every one of them!  

 Sweet baby girl....she told me tonight she would be big when her little sister arrives home later this year!  I told her she will always, always be my baby.....

 ATV riding is the best, especially with big brothers....

 More waterfall....

 and MK the explorer....

 and Maddox Ren, the one who insisted she be allowed to explore too!

 Cold mountain water stream....

 Colin met one of his best friends in Uncle Sam....

 And a drive down the mountain brought us upon this little wonder of life....a mother and baby elk.  Amazing.

 Air conditioning vents make the best dress enhancers:)

 And a little quiet time on the porch....

We honestly do not take advantage of this little slice of heaven as much as we should! A huge thanks to my parents for having the boys for an entire week and then hosting our whole family for an extended weekend back to back....we had such a good time and we are so thankful for the many memories that were made together!

Garden City Beach 2016

Family

Our family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins....

Tradition

My great-grandmother began this beach vacation tradition many years ago and I have gone to either Surfside Beach or Garden City Beach each summer with my family since the day I was born.

It's all about the food....we begin talking about the meal preparation 11 months prior to the actual trip!

Pop is the main chef while all of us peasants throw in a few dishes or two!

Ocean

Friendly Team Battles

Sand and Play

Little Miss wouldn't even put her feet down in the sand two years ago during her first beach adventure!  Now, she is all about some sand between her toes!

Boogie Boarding

Gran's Treasures

Each morning Gran surprises the children with little "surcies" and all of the children look forward to this time with her.  This year the ongoing theme was Pirate week complete with hooks, eye patches, and the like!

Play, play, play....the beach is always the place that my children are the happiest!  Maybe it is the salt water and the sticky air and just the time together without interruptions of daily life.....

Beach Games

Kenny had a new game this year that involved a frisbee and two pvc pipe poles....lots of fun and the boys enjoyed the challenge!

Reading

Water Park

Water park day goes way back to when we were very little and there was only one water park at the beach....and the one water park consisted of three slides - two with mats and one with a tube....

they have come a long way since then!

These four raced over and over yet the outcome was always the same!  The one of the far left was the one to beat!

The people watching is incredible in these parts and the memories made together are priceless!

This beach beauty.....every morning she would wake, pick out her bathing suit, declare that her hair was getting longer and then beg me to put her ponytails in!

These two lovebirds.....dating since they were 14 years old.....

I am thankful to call them my own!

This bright-eyed beauty!  

She celebrated two years of forever with us while we were at the beach!  

Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for the gifts he has given to our family through adoption!

Gran, Pop, and the Grands

Me and Sista

Her laughter is contagious and her support of my madness is immeasurable! 

I remember as a young girl that everyone would have their blankets at the beach because the beach house was always sooooo cold.  Some things never change!

Looking for sharks at the pier....

Arghh!

I love this nephew of mine.....he cracks me up!

Pop learned lots of games from this little one during our week together....

I can hear her singing, "Tic, tac, toe, give me and x, give me an o.....I WIN!"

Skim Board

(thankful we did not have any breaks to take home with us this year!)

Kenny

Drew and Kenny married a year ago and my children were so thankful he was able to spend the week with us at the beach!  

My sweet family

I always wanted a large family.....and next year we will have SIX children!  Amazing!

Thank you, Garden City, for yet another amazing year of memories!  

Until next time....