Hilton Head

In late May, we took an amazing vacation to Hilton Head.  It was a special trip for so many reasons.  It was our first (and likely only!) big vacation as a family of three, it was our first joint trip with the Mosiers since we've all become parents, and it was the little girls' first time at the beach.  With Kelly and I both out of residency and in medical practice now, we have been talking for ages about how we should do a group vacation structured around our CME.  So thrilled that we made it happen!  It was well worth the wait and well worth all the stresses that come when traveling with toddlers.  We took tons of pictures, so I will try to let them tell the story...

As soon as we arrived, we changed into our swimsuits and headed to the beach.  Here is Annalise saying hello to the ocean for the first time.

The dads volunteered to pick up a "few" essential items at the store, while we ladies showered and settled into the condo.  We should have known better!

Todd and Adam were in charge of keeping our little girls entertained while Kelly and I spent the mornings at the medical conference, so the guys decided to rent bicycles, complete with a trailer!  Leila and Annalise look a little unsure here, but I must say that they were generally very good sports about the trailer situation!

We also discovered that the trailer had the magic touch when it came to inducing nap time!

Annalise loved the pool (sometimes pronounced as "cool") at our condo complex.  What's not to like when you get to wear all this fun gear?!

Annalise and Leila were two peas in a pod on this trip - definitely partners in crime and future BFFs!  Here they are plotting their next move.

Our second night in Hilton Head, we managed to go out to dinner as a group.  It may sound like a small task, but it felt like a major accomplishment!  This night was definitely one of my favorite parts of the trip.  There are few things better than sitting outside on a restaurant patio in the summer, surrounded by some of your favorite people, listening to festive live music (including some Jimmy Buffett with serious sentimental value!). 

The next day, we introduced the girls to mini golfing at Pirate's Island.

To me, the next picture just screams "caught in the act!"  I see joint mischief in their future.

In the afternoons, we tried to maximize our beach time.  I have absolutely loved the beach since I was a child (perhaps the product of many vacations to Florida?), so it was special to watch Annalise explore and experience it for the first time.

Adam was the self-appointed bartender of our trip and, back at the condo, whipped up some strawberry delights, in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties.  Cheers!

Our six year wedding anniversary happened to fall during our trip, and the Mosiers kindly offered to give us a night out to celebrate.  After the ladies were tucked in bed and things seemed semi-calm at the condo, we headed to Skull Creek Boathouse.  The place was packed for Memorial Day weekend (the wait was 2-3 hours!), but we lucked out...  Adam got beverages while I snagged us two waterfront chairs, and we watched the sun set over the water.  We then managed to capture a spot at the "first come, first serve" bar and ordered a gigantic platter of the most delicious seafood that I have tasted in a long time!  

On the last full day of our trip, we took advantage of the fact that the medical conference had ended and took a morning excursion to Harbour Town in Sea Pines.

There were red rocking chairs everywhere!  We plopped down to have a photo op and eat our ice cream.  You are allowed to eat ice cream before noon when you're on vacation, right?

We couldn't leave without taking a few family beach photos using the "good" camera.  :)

Like all good vacations, this one definitely went by too fast!  Before we knew it, we were back at the airport (having stroller races, naturally) and then on the plane.  Thankfully, we left with many happy memories and are already plotting our next escape!