More from Bald Head Island

Don’t try this at home

They do their own stunts

Good thing this was the ultra slow golf cart

Goofballs

There was a point on this trip where Andy and I found ourselves with just the younger two and he pointed out to them that before we knew it that is how our trips would be. 4 instead of 6.

To say this makes me a bit sad would be an understatement. Even if we had a bunch more kids there is never getting past the ones that fly the coop and no longer are around on a regular basis.

I have been thinking about this A LOT lately. I mean A. Lot.

It has already somewhat happened. We don’t see much of Austin. And when he is here he is always studying. Yes, even in the summer. Dude is driven. He just got a letter from Ohio State inviting him to take classes there next year (his senior year in High School) it’s a special program for overachievers. Don’t hate. Blake will probably live in my basement until he finds a girl that will take care of him for the rest of his life so he can just hang and play guitar. And I’m not being mean- ask him. That’s his goal. They are all different

I love them all so much it is sometimes hard to take.

But that’s what makes life so sweet isn’t it? That raw feeling of living it to the fullest? Because you move forward and yet still feel SO MUCH for what is already in the books- your story.

I can’t imagine not capturing all my life’s moments with my camera. But it is for sure bittersweet.

There are no doubt times when I wonder if it would be easier to not have all these thoughts and memories and pictures to reflect on. Just to live in the present.

And I am pretty sure that is perfect for a lot of people.

But for me I am ok with the heartbreak that come with a look back on old pictures, or a blog post from last year when their faces were just a bit chubbier.

I’m not gonna lie. It makes me cry. Pretty much every time. And those that have followed my blog for a while- well you know. My kids got big fast. I’m sure yours did too. It’s not fair. But yet it is. It’s life. That’s the way it goes.

So I try to remind myself to stop dwelling on how things once were. Those days were great, and I most certainly miss them. But these days are fun too. And if I spend too much time thinking about how much I missed the way things were I would be missing how great things are now

Like when we chase down the over-achiever and harass him

As we are off to play at a “howl at the moon” party, while he runs…

My kids are all so different. And each has had their issues and challenges. Some easy, some not so easy.

But I am learning to embrace the good in each kid- like Cole’s ability to make friends wherever we go. This guy happened to be from Chapel Hill so they had stuff in common.

We had a rainy day and went to climb the lighthouse- Old Baldy

There were so many great pirate stories at the light house

the boys were so into it

I’m not going to lie. It wasn’t a very hot day but that light house felt like a sauna. And for someone that doesn’t like small spaces or heights it was a bit of torture for me.

But I did it because that is what you do for your people. But I was the first one back down! That’s Cole up there. If you can’t tell.

You know how it takes a few days to get into vacyay mode- and then before you know it it is time to go home, right as you were getting your grove. Next year it’s going to be two weeks. Which is what we found most people on the island do.

Since the weather was a bit weird we had the pool to ourselves

I was in love with all the flowers there

lame boys

pool boy

Crazy clouds. I miss it.

And these two- cherishing every moment….