Perhaps the best part of summer was our much anticipated Langstaff family vacation to a beach house at Isle of Palms, SC. All of George's family gets together every 10 years to help celebrate the grandparent's wedding anniversary. This year we celebrated the 60 year love of Grandma and Grandaddy Langstaff, which happened to also be the same day as Grant's birthday! So, we had a lot to be excited about and to share together with all of the aunts, uncles, and many many cousins.
Our getaway villa: 11 bedrooms, 9 baths, pool & jacuzzi, pool table & game room, rooftop sun deck, putting green, enormous kitchen, and only a 2 minute walk from the beach. We even had our own bedroom and bath!!
This was the perfect vacation in that it was an excellent balance of family time and relaxation. Everyone pitched in to rent an enormous beach house just one block from the ocean. Each day was filled with chilling by the house pool, splashing in the waves of the ocean, restful naps in bed and in rafts in the pool, bike rides, bean bag toss, world cup soccer viewing, and of course family and food, food, food!!
Since the grandparents had 5 kids, each kid and their families were in charge of planning one of the evening meals. Not only were they planned, but they were themed and decked out with decorations, appropriate attire for the night, as well as evening entertainment. Here was the amazing line-up:
Western BBQ, Beer, & Bingo Night
Jamaican Night with bracelet making and a dice game called Farkle
Italian Night with... I can't remember what
Hawaiian Luau Night with Limbo under the light of tiki torches
American BBQ with Brats, Beans, and Beer
On Thursday we celebrated Grant's 1st birthday with a special lunch and cupcakes and then devoted the evening to loving on the anniversary couple, complete with a fancy dinner in the house. All of their children chose a different part of the meal to prepare and the grand kids were in charge of appetizers. We then enjoyed a delicious meal served in courses before the rooftop champagne toast.
It's so great to have the opportunity to spend extended time with family. I love that although we don't live near each other, when we get together it never seems like we've skipped a beat. God is so good:)
Here are just a few of my favorite pics from a week I can't wait to share again. Here's to planning for their 70th!!! I will be sure to post a link to our complete Picasa album soon. It seems we didn't create one quite yet!!!
First family trip to the beach. Grant LOVED it!!! Almost to the point that it made my heart skip a beat as he was fearless and literally crawled right into the breaking waves! He also ate a lot of sand, saw a lot of birds, and enjoyed feeling the sand move beneath his feet as the tide went back out.
Fun in the sun each day definitely tuckered him out. He took two 2 1/2 hour naps each day. This picture was taken after the nap that followed his first beach experience. Awesome!!
Grant and his Nana and Grandaddy all decked out in their island best! They brought a few outfits to help him look his best for the themed dinners:) Thank you guys!!
Me after winning the family limbo contest!! Who knew an out of shape mama could go so low?! Both of the new mamas did well, Kristen took 2nd place and has a 7 month old baby girl. This was my prize. An authentic coconut dude straight from Hawaii from when Grandma and Grandaddy vacationed there many years ago. He now sits in the garage and overlooks all of my sewing projects!!
The daily information board showing the two celebrations for the day.
Grant wasn't too sure about the cupcake at first, but once I held it up for him to taste it was all over!
Nancy sure knows how to throw a party! Here is the dining table all decked out for the love birds. Nancy brought all of these beautiful decorations from home. Party planner?! She also spear-headed the decorations and food planning for Grant's birthday luncheon. Couldn't have enjoyed either without you Nana!! Thank you!!
