St. Simons!

Ahh. Vacation! This year was the 3rd Annual Moore Family Beach Trip. The last 2 years were at Edisto and we exhausted all the touristy attractions.. aka.. all 2 or 3 of them. So we needed a little diversity. Enter St. Simons Island.

We were the first to arrive and quickly toured around the beach house, oohing and aahing at the original beadboard, pine floors, and architectural details of a 1930s beach house. We were quickly in heaven and imagining the possibilities if we lived there. Shortly after arriving, Hartley found my dramamine. She came downstairs with light yellow smears on her face. She said she ate some of Daddy's medicine. I asked how many. "TWO! It was 'picy." I freaked out briefly while Marshall got in touch with poison control! We kept a close eye on her the remainder of the day. She turned out fine. :)

After everyone arrived, we took a short walk to the beach. Unfortunately it was high tide, but the kids were able to see and feel the waves crashing against the rocks/steps.

Hartley got to spend a lot of time with her cousins- especially Baby Luke! The way she played with him reminded me so much of her cousin Anna playing with Hartley 2 years. Luke is the same age as Hartley was for the first beach trip.

On Sunday we went down to the Pier. There's a playground and Marshall played with Hartley, watching her fearlessly climb the "rock" wall and go down huge spiral slides.

Kent's crew stayed in a separate condo.. with a POOL! So when we couldn't go to the beach, we went swimming with them. Hartley improved her jumping into the pool skillz.

She was doing so well she decided to jump in one of the days WITHOUT her puddle jumpers! I was busy applying sunscreen to Caleb when Diana yelled "HARTLEY JUMPED IN THE POOL!" I looked up to see her going under the water at the other end of the pool. I ran as fast as I could, slipping my flip-flops off, before I jumped in to save her.. with my clothes still on. She was completely fine, just a little startled because she didn't come back up as quickly as she had before.

One evening the 3 of us took a brief trip to the beach. Mainly to walk and have us time, but also to check out the evening dusk lighting and see what kind of pictures we could get.

It was definitely the best lighting and we got some of our favorite pictures!

Hartley was a hoot posing for us. I just love her cheesy grins!

Marshall and I went back and forth taking pictures. Mine usually focus on Hartley. Marshall likes taking artsy ones with unique angles.

We were able to go to the beach so much this year, compared to the past 2. It was so nice! We didn't worry too much about the one nap a day. We didn't have to bring tons of baby gear. We actually brought Hartley's potty seat and stool and quickly realized we didn't need it. We kept finding her sitting on the potty without the seat. She could climb up there and situate herself. "NO! I do it by myself. You help yourself!"

She LOVED playing in the sand and going really far into the ocean. She's so brave! She and Anna enjoyed playing together. And obviously their daddies did, too. Hartley said she building sand "casseroles." Castle, casserole. I could see how that could be confusing.

 

Another funny thing- Mema was asking whose feet did Hartley have. She said "grocery store feet."

Marshall was really nice and let me sleep in past 9am most mornings! I love going on vacation because I don't have to do much with Hartley. :)

We were very sad Monday morning when he went back to work. :(

We went to Summer Waves one morning. I think we've been spoiled going to Splash in the Boro so much because Summer Waves was horrible! It was more geared toward older kids and adults. Hartley was in an ill mood that morning because she was awake before 7! We weren't thinking and finally realized she was starving because she ate such an early breakfast!

Marshall was so sweet that one day he let me drive to Brunswick BY MYSELF! I spent a few hours, while Hartley was napping, and browsed at Target, Old Navy and Ross. I got a tunic for Hartley and 2 tops for myself. All for less than $6 total!

We had our annual family picture taken. It wasn't at the beach this year because it was raining on/off so we set up camp in front of Marshall's aunt and uncle's house.

Hartley (2.5), Marshall, Amanda, Jason, Anna (almost 5), Caleb (3), Rebecca, Jean, Luke (5.5 months), Autrey, Bess (9), Janna, Diana (16), Kent and Isaiah (3.5)

Marshall and the boys went fishing one morning. They briefly fished off Cumberland Island and saw a wild horse on the beach.

He also saw some dolphins. We really need a zoom lens.. hint hint!

Friday morning we went to Fort Frederica. Hartley learned how to pose like Anna this week. She wasn't quite sure what to do with her arms. :)

Hartley was also in an ornery mood that morning.

We tried to get a family picture in front of the cannons, but I was getting slapped by a 2 year old.. nothing new around here!

Can you see that evil stare from behind my shoulder??? Such a moody one!

She cheers up occasionally. Mainly if you mention the words popsicle, snack, or ice cream.

After visiting Fort Frederica, we headed down the road to Christ Church and let the kids play on the playground a little bit before lunch. And yes, by kids I mean Marshall and the little ones.

We got some more family pictures at the beach. The lighting wasn't as good as the other evening, but at least we looked nice.. I finally fixed my hair and put on makeup. :) And Marshall shaved.

I think we had to bribe Hartley into smiling for the next few pictures. "We'll give you a popsicle if you smile!!"

Or just pretend to sleep ??

Then she really hammed it up for us!

Anna is turning 5 in a few weeks (and I'm turning 27!!) so we had a little photoshoot with her. Hartley wanted to help. It was too cute watching them take each other's pictures.

And Hartley would actually pose for Anna- not for us!

For the first time, we were actually sad to have to come back home. This vacation was stress-free! Compared to the other siblings with 3 kids each, we had it easy! I did have my moments where I was a little upset that it's still just Hartley, especially during the big family picture. Seeing our new additions, Luke and Diana, and we haven't contributed. It was bittersweet. Sad that we don't have a new baby or even pregnancy, but thankful/relieved that vacation was actually a vacation. Who knows what next year will bring- I might be punching myself for commenting on how relaxing this vacation was!

Ashwood and Bunny Braids

The past few days we've been busy painting and introducing Hartley to french braids. The girl loves to have a different hairstyle everyday. Her options include the new braids, a pony (ponytail), pigtails and doodoo balls (messy bun). I'm just surprised she sits still long enough for me to brush and style her hair!

She's also been working on her "scared "expression. It's actually pretty hilarious. We need to get a video of it!

We've been going to Splash a lot and she has become incredibly fearless! Hopefully we can get some videos of her jumping in a pool and going down slides, too.

Our sweet 2.5 year old. She's just growing up so quickly and driving me crazy, most days. :)

Okay- so painting. Our living room has gone through so many changes in just 3 years. Can you remember when we first moved in??

We had a flat beige palate. I had always dreamed of having a green living room. Green's one of my favorite colors- so naturally that's the first we did. Well, my mother-in-law and I did.

As much as I love the color, we quickly learned that it really weighed the room down. It was dark and there were only two windows (at the time.. haha).

See. Evening pictures help you understand how dark it became. Oh, and Marshall started his woodworking and built me a desk shortly before Hartley arrived. We can't tell you how useful that desk has been! It houses all my clutter- which leads to my next step of simplifying what we have.

A few weeks before Hartley's 1st birthday we took the plunge and decided to lighten up the room. Well, first with paint. Silver Mist by Benjamin Moore. It quickly brightened the room.. but I knew immediately it had more blue than gray. I wanted more gray. Anyway.. the second way we added more light was with a window. Marshall really scared me with this project. But he pulled through and did a fantastic job. That window has the best seal in the entire house. The builders did a crappy job and we can tell the difference.

So, new paint. New window. I learned to sew and made new curtains! Marshall didn't think curtains would add that much to a room, but they definitely do! I love the muted tones. Which made me regret the paint choice (although we loved that it brightened the room.. it was too bright). So a year and a half later.. we painted. Again.

Ah. Muted gray walls. You are so pretty to me. Here's as you walk in through the foyer, pronounced foy-yay.

    

An aerial view because my mother is concerned that there's not enough room to walk around the couch. :) Oh and a little bunny. Because it's a rainy, dress up as a bunny day. Not to be confused with Cow Appreciation Day at CFA.. which is today, too.

Then as you turn to the left you see, gasp, another couch. It's a sibling handmedown and will soon don a new drop cloth slipcover. Until then, ignore the stains and I won't judge you if you don't want to sit on it.

If you were to stand on top of the desk and take a picture, well, this is what you would see. We really can't believe how much larger the room feels by rearranging couches.

If you were a brave soul and sat on the stain couch, you can now have a friendly conversation in the new seating area. And that bunny.

Or hop across the rug and sit on the nice sleeper sofa and watch dogs poop in our yard!

Or have a photo shoot with a bunny. 

Or a toddler.

Another shot for Momma who is probably still concerned about walkability behind couches. Oh and that chest. A handmedown that houses a bunch of awkward toys. Aside from that, there are NO toys visible! Hartley's kitchen is now in her room.

I moved some frames around. Those above the piano were in the dining room. I think this wall color makes the wood grain pop a little better.

And finally a view from the piano. This room finally works now. I think one reason I move furniture around and change paint colors as much as I do is because I'll never know what looks right until I try it.

Who knows, next month or year you might see something completely different! Actually, I'm on probation in the living room for another 2 years.. :)

For a side by side comparison because I feel like some people won't understand the difference in blue-gray and gray-beige-slight blue.