Beach Week 2010

On July 3rd we made our way to Charleston, South Carolina. Lizzie's family has been meeting for a week at Folly Beach for years. This was the first beach trip for the babies and the longest distance they have ever traveled. We weren't sure how they would do on an eight hour drive. We made a game plan and got Lizzie and Papa to meet us at the 4 1/2 hour mark for a lunch break. The trip could not have gone any better. The babies were so well behaved! (The ride back was a completely different story, but we won't dwell on that. :))

When we got there the babies were anxious to get out and start exploring. As they became comfortable with their new environment and all of the fresh faces, they were giddy with excitement. The babies had a fantastic week with their family and enjoyed learning about the beach. We already can't wait until next year! Thank everyone so much for lending a helping hand with the babies. We couldn't have done it without y'all!

This was also the first trip for the quads' new first cousin Liles. Liles is Gray and Kirk's 2 month old. The babies are crazy about him. Every time he was around they pointed, rushed over and gave him hugs and kisses. They also like to point out his nose, eyes, and mouth. Liles is such a sweet boy that he isn't even bothered by all the touching. They are going to be great friends!

Rainer and me on picture night.

L to R: Marion and Lucy - The babies' great-aunts

The whole crew minus Pierce and Peter

Talking to the guests next door

We love the beach!

Jane

Broox

Rainer

Virginia

The new additions to beach week.

Our little family of 6

Virginia dancing to some tunes

Virginia with her sweet cousin Katie

Lovin on baby Liles

Group shot in the living area

Broox sporting his new sun hat

Watching the people on the beach

Jane really loved prissing around in her new hat.

Rainer amazed with all of the sand

Our beach set up

Daddy and Rainer

Rainer is the only one who enjoyed his shades at the beach. He knew he looked cool like his Papa.

Broox was thrilled with all of the freedom on the beach. We couldn't keep him away from the other beach goers. He made lots of friends!

First time in the ocean.

Checking out the waves for the first time.

Splashing!

The gorgeous house

Sleeping on the road

We're at the Beach!

We're at the beach and having a blast! We will post soon, but just had to put up one picture of the quads at the beach. More to come...

What a Funny Game

I caught the girls playing a game while I was getting the boys up from their nap. They were having a ball!

Good Times

The babies really enjoy playing in their baby pool in the backyard. This is our set up.
Rainer
Broox getting in and out and in and out.

Come back Virginia!

Jane about to dive in.

Virginia will not let her knees touch the grass.

Virginia

Picnic at the park

What a little mess!

Unloading the diaper bag

Virginia showing off her walking skills

Thirsty Girls

Thinking about her next move

Sisters

Rainer

Getting a better look at the stroller

Picking flowers

Rainer in his new outfit.

Virginia

Jane

Virginia playing with her daddy.

Broox

Thanks to our handy dandy new stroller carrier, the babies have been making appearances all over the city. We can now load up and go with just one vehicle, rather than toting the stroller in one and the babies in the other. This is a huge change for us! We've been taking advantage of these beautiful spring days and making regular visits to the Birmingham Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, and Homewood Park. I shoot for an outing with the babies three days a week. On the other two days, we do strolls around the neighborhood. We have met lots of people, answered lots of questions, gotten lots of compliments and had our picture taken often. I think their favorite activity is going to the park and having a "picnic" on a quilt. We've dropped the morning nap so we go out for the morning and make it back home for lunch. As long as the babies are preoccupied, they like the new schedule. They now go down for a nap after lunch, and they usually sleep for around 2 1/2 hours.

Broox and Virginia are officially walkers! I see them choosing walking over crawling more and more. Jane and Rainer are doing a great job of standing up on their own and cruising. I think that by the end of the month, they will all be mobile on two feet. Scary thought! They are quicker and more curious every day. I can tell that they are beginning to understand more of what we say and they like to imitate sounds and gestures that Gray, the other babies and I make.

We've had a tough week because of teething and a virus. The babies are such great sleepers that Gray and I have a hard time dealing with getting up in the middle of the night now. I don't know how we made it through those sleepless months. Everyone slept last night and Jane is feeling much better.