Amelia Island Part 2

The second part of the week of our vacation at Amelia Island was just as fun as the first part!  Lots of beach time, a little exploring of Talbot Island, and Kelly and I even squeezed in a date night to celebrate our 15 year anniversary!  Boy those years have flown by!  We were actually at Amelia for our 11th anniversary 4 years ago.  I  could get used to celebrating down there!  This year it fell on  Thursday.  That day we decided to take the kids and go a few miles down the road to Big Talbot Island.  It is right as you are leaving Amelia Island headed towards Jacksonville.  I had never really paid it any attention but Kelly had and was telling me all about things to see and do on it.  We decided to take our bikes over and ride.  The island also has a beach very similar to Driftwood Beach at Jekyll.  It is called Boneyard Beach.  They also have an area called Black Rock Beach and it is just like it sounds...covered with black rocks.  Kate enjoyed finding crabs in the rocks since the tide was low while we were there.  It was a fun couple of hours and then we were back at the beach relaxing and playing!

This island is known for bird watching...I have to say we saw some neat birds both this day and then one evening.  Some of the birds almost look like flamingos!  I didn't get a picture of those though.  Definitely worth a trip over to it though.

Ran into another turtle on our ride too

 Since it was our anniversary we had to get a picture together and with all the driftwood and trees on the beach what other way than "sitting in a tree".

my little tomboy girl!

Such a pretty place!

Only took her 5 seconds to catch a crab

After our bike ride we headed back to the condo & then went straight to the beach!   Kate was out catching fish and anything else she could find.

 

That night we got a night out to ourselves!   We had a fun night!  Dinner and then a game of putt-putt.  There is a new putt-putt place downtown that is so much fun.  It appeals to kids and adults so that was a big plus.  What I really think is Kelly wanted to play with me so the next day when he had to take the kids the pressure would be off for him to play.  Plus he would rather beat me than his own children...but for the record he barely won!

Friday was full of more fun in the sun.  This was Sug and Pop's last day.  They had to head back a day early because Pop was preaching on Sunday.  It was such a fun week being with both of our parents and family!  

Everyone was working to build Ellington a pool that had its very own tunnel for the ocean water to flow into when a wave came in.  Queen E for sure!

You know just living her best life!

I had the best time just watching our kids have a blast in the ocean.  Is there anything better than watching a child have fun?  Just hearing them laugh is the best.  Its the picture of no worries, no stress, and pure innocence.  Especially from a 12 year old!  I loved watching her have fun and not care what anyone thought, just in her own world, having the best time.  I love this girl! 

Don't get me started on how I love this kid!

and this one too!

 Our last night we had to go to our favorite, The Salty Pelican!

That night we had another bike ride.  Bryce talks to me the whole time, which it is so fun to hear what he's going to come up with.  I wonder what goes through that mind of his.  This night he wanted to talk about my daddy, which I love telling him stories about him.  The last road we ride through is known for the peacocks on the street.  There are signs even showing you to watch for them.  Well Bryce remembered this and while we had heard the peacocks on another day we had not seen one.  All of the sudden Bryce (who is chatting 90 to nothing) screams "peacock", "there's a peacock, there's 2 of them ".   Well sure enough he had spotted them, how I have no clue but he did.  So I took his picture beside the fence and the 2 peacocks who are on top of that shed.   They blend in so well to the tree that it still blows my mind that he spotted them.  One is under the limb so good you may not be able to see it.  Only Bryce!  And do notice his "Darth Gator" shirt that he spotted downtown and was not about to leave without. 

It was just the best week at the beach.  This year of course it was even more fun to be able to be away even for just a week.  We didn't know if it would be able to happen but so thankful it did.  I love Amelia Island and love being away from everything with family!  Now instead of going right back to school like we're used to, we have a fun summer ahead. 

Amelia Island Part 1

After all the wedding excitement we all left Jekyll Island and headed to Amelia Island for a week of VACATION!  Yes, as in we left the state of Georgia, left our house, left our town and tried to forget there was such a thing as coronavirus!  It felt so good to be away for the week at our favorite little beach.  It was a lot earlier in the summer than what we usually go but we were so glad to be back there.  This year especially.  A few months ago we didn't know if we would even be able to get away and we sure needed a change of scenery.  This year we had both of our families down there and we had such a fun time.  We kicked back and relaxed every day!  This was Ellington's first beach trip so of course we soaked up all of her firsts.  What a difference (almost a year) makes.  Last summer I was a big 36 weeks pregnant girl soaking up the sun.  She seemed to really love the ocean, sand, pool, everything.  She was like her mama...living her best life.  All of the kids really enjoyed her too.  Its tough being so loved!   Here's a little glimpse into our week...part 1!

welcome to Amelia baby girl!

Ellington's thoughts on all the rain the day we drove down

Pop and Sug were in the condo directly above ours, and that couldn't have worked out any better.  It wasn't even planned but how wonderful that it worked out that way.  All of the kids were up and down the stairs back and forth (especially Bryce...early in the morning...and eating double breakfasts).    The stairs are right beside our rooms too so that was even more convenient for their travel back and forth. 

Pop "flying" Ellington.  This has been a favorite for every grandchild!

We can see right down to the pool and that of course is very nice!  Got to keep an eye on sissy

2 minutes in...she's caught something!  Sand bug!

I think she may have him wrapped, what do you think?

Of course we did a little frog hunting, per Kate's request.  I think we do this every year.  Last year we found the biggest frog I've ever seen!  This year we had some big tree frog jumpers.

Doing what she loves the most...catching fish

Morning snuggles

She loves her Kate!

 On Wednesday morning we had this little visitor on the beach.  He walked right up from the ocean's edge and came right past us. 

This year our good friends Michael and Caron happened to be down at the same time we were, and right next door!  Of course we had to visit, and Kate and Autumn played together.  This morning the boys were playing golf while the girls stayed back at the beach so I went down to visit and have a little girl time.  

Cheetah girls...matching calls for a picture always!

Her little granny face!

 

 Always a favorite stop of ours! 

Wearing yellow without even planning it

On this night we also got a text from Davis and Kayla who were having fun on their honeymoon, we got a kick out of everyone looking at it and then sent these to them.  Kelly and I would be celebrating our 15th anniversary the next day so we wanted to show them how much fun 15 years looks like!
Vacation was off to a fun fun start!  Can we stay all summer??