Hilton Head 2009

The family on the beach
Scott and Nile golfing

B on the beach

Claire boogie boarding

The hissing alligator

The alligator on the lower left, we call this the gator bait pose

Grandma at Harbor Town playground

Nile

We made our annual trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina last week. We had lots fun. The weather was perfect this year, no rain and not too hot. We spent lots of time at the beach, the pool, and bike riding. The kids love going bike riding and looking for alligators, turtles, lizards, and frogs. We got the closest we have ever been to an alligator in the Nature Preserve, we could almost reach out and touch him. The kids were nervous he was going to jump up, he even hissed at us. We went back later in the week and they had added another wooden post to the bridge. Scott's mom went with us this year. We hope we did not wear her out too much. The kids loved building sand castles and jumping waves in the ocean, and picking up sea shells. We went to see fireworks one night. We climbed up the light house and looked out to Harbor Town. Scott and Nile went golfing and kayaking this year. They saw a bald eagle on their kayake tour and a big alligator on the golf course. Scott blamed the gator for his poor score.

Branson Family Vacation

Nile and Scott in the cave

Claire and me in the cave

Claire and B waving good bye to Silver Dollar City

The gang on their favorite ride getting soaking wet

B, Claire, and Nile at mini golf

papa, nana, and Claire

Claire on stage waiting for awards

Papa and Nile with the golf ball

B and Claire at Dick's 5 and 10

The gang at the Dixie Stampede

Claire had a dance competition in Branson this past week, so parents decided to come down and meet us down there to see Claire do her dance since they couldn't make the dance recital. The first night we went to the Dixie Stampede show which was fun. The kids loved it!! Nile thought it was the best dinner he had ever had. On Thursday, Scott, Nile, and my dad went golfing, which was fun even though we had an injury. My dad accidently hit Nile in the leg with a golf ball on the 18th hole. He has a pretty good size bruise. My mom, B, Claire, and I hung out at the pool in the morning and then I got Claire ready for her dance competition. She danced great and received a gold award. Then we went mini-golfing and out for some frozen custard. On Friday, we went to Silver Dollar City, which brought back some great family memories. (My grandpa and grandma Farmer took all of us, aunts, uncles, and cousins to Branson 14 years ago on a big bus, it was quite the family vacation. We all loved it!!!) Claire could go on almost every ride but one. Nile loved all the roller coasters. Brent even got to go on Fire in the Hole. The kids had fun riding rides with papa and nana. We did get my mother on one ride.

On the way home we decided to stop at the Fantastic Caverns cave. It was an interesting experience. It is the only cave in the U.S. that you can drive through.