Beyond Bringing Up Boys

Either the current culture is getting to us or we need some smaller pants! In case, you might be wondering how I feel about this...the culture is NOT getting to us!

St. Simon Island with its quaint streets and great sidewalks make bicycling--as a family--a safe and fun activity. So we chose our last day there to rent bikes. The weather cooperated with perfect skies and temperatures! Even Riley seemed to enjoy the ride (and didn't mind sharing "her" seat with Seth)! We rode for about 4 hours, stopping at Christ Church and Wesley Memorial Gardens for about a half-hour. The church was not only lovely but while walking through the gardens, the church bells began to peal...I cannot describe how wonderful it felt to hear and see at that moment! A sweet moment to take a deep breath and Thank God for His goodness! I would have reflected a little more but the boys always seem to run in gear so we headed on the Fort, which unfortunately I have no pictures of. I have not been on a bike (other than my boys' for VERY short periods of times for years so this pic was taken--maybe at the risk of peril to me--but this is how we rode that day. ...

We got up late (for us) and had breakfast at a neat little place called the Fourth of May, special in name for us because that is David's birthday. Then we hit the beach, boogie boards in hand for the boys and a nice beach chair for me (not that I can relax since I am always on the lookout for our kids). The temperature of the water was too cool for me but the boys didn't seem to mind. When Seth's lips started turning blue, we decided he should sit in the sun a spell. Does he look like a happy camper or what? Seth did find out that he not only loved the water but the sand too! Samuel is probably the biggest beach fan of the family. In fact, I saw a man 60ish with a long gray pony-tail and leathery skin, riding his bike over the sand and I'll admit the thought crossed my mind, what if Samuel really did (never) grow up to be a beach bum? We left in the early afternoon to go clean up for dinner. We ate at a small restaurant named Barbara Jeans recommended by the loca...

After packing like a mad-woman who hadn't planned on an overnight trip for 5, we arrived at St. Simon's just in time to go to the ocean and explore a little of the quaint town. We had intended for just little "toe-touching" at the beach but the boys were quickly in to their necks! So, we took three almost naked, frigid boys to the hotel and brought in a pizza for dinner. Not too exciting but we were greatly anticipating the next day...

We love, love the beach and David really wanted to head to St. Simon's Island about 4hours away for a few days of spring break. He had a million reasons why this would be "just what the doctor ordrered," so to speak. :-) I was reluctant, still feeling like my health is tenuous. So we decided to do day trips. So, on Monday, we headed to Stone Mountain Park. We have season passes there and it is always a "hit" with the 2 youngest because there is a train there and if this mommy got to feeling yucky we could leave and not feel badly that we had spent so much $$$. Arriving. We took the "easy" way up. Several years ago I introduced David to hiking. Unfortunately in his mind it was about 200 degrees and we hiked with a 5 and 2 year old up Little Round Top in Gettysburg, PA. I wanted to really "feel" the experience. He didn't. But since then we have hiked many times, and we all enjoy it. We have never hiked up Stone Mountain and I wasn...

It has been forever since I have updated and I am sorry. I appreciate ALL of the calls! Many were taken by my sis because I was just too groggy to talk but she told me and then would remind me because I would forget! And to those of you that I did talk to personally...please don't hold me personally responsible for my comments! :-) I was admitted last Monday afternoon for IV antibiotics to prevent another episode of sepsis. Tuesday morning I was taken to the OR for a procedure that should have taken 15-20 minutes, at the longest an hour. I was there for over two hours. My doc said that the procedure was tortuous but successful and he was able to retrieve the stone that looks somewhat like the picture I posted. Actually, I remember waking up to someone shaking a bottle with the stone in it and saying, "Look, we got it all!" I was very alert in the recovery room and realized that I had been in for longer than expected and was very concerned that David was contacted. ...