Here we are...
The Pitts Family
on Hilton Head Island for our Beck Family Vacation.
Olivia (19 Months)
Brandon (6)
Olivia (19 Months)
Brandon (6)
Abigail (8)
Gavin (almost 11)
So, Sharese is one of those super creative and extremely talented sister-in-laws, (she took the above photos) and had the cute idea to make the kids a special family vacation t-shirt with numbers on the back. Oldest (1) to youngest (13), and with more grand kids on the way - at least their individual numbers would always stay the same. Also, just to note, there are no additions on the way from the Pitts Family. Here they are nicely lined up.
This is not an easy task by the way.
This is not an easy task by the way.
Nana and Papa had all kinds of fun planned for the trip. The highlight was "Nana and Papa BUCKS" that the kids could earn by doing service or nice things for someone. The Nana and Papa STORE opened each morning to redeem BUCKS earned the previous day. Below the grand kids are reading a new book from Nana and Papa Who Stole The Cookie and then they played the "Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar" game. Followed by a chocolate chip cookie.
One night each family was in charge of performing a family skit. They were all hilarious! Oh, and look, even uncle Ryan participated in one of our "goofy" family traditions.
One thing we love about Hilton Head are the great bike trails around the Sea Pines Plantation. Every morning we would ride bikes to a different area to see things. I'm sure we looked something like the Von Trapp family from the Sound of Music as we followed each other down the paths.
Feeding the turtles was one of our stops along the bike trails.
Another favorite place we rode our bikes to was the stable to feed the horses. Even little Olivia put her hand out to share some carrots. There was one horse in particular (a Clydesdale) that was tall and had some beautiful boot-like hooves. 
Brandon's favorite place to ride to was the new petting zoo. He followed this little deer around until the deer decided to rest under a tree. Then, Brandon leaned down to pet him goodbye, and the deer began licking Brandon's head, but Brandon just stayed there and held very still.
He must have been enjoying the salty taste from Brandon's sweat because that deer just licked, and licked and licked until....(kind of gross but Brandon was very pleased)
Yes, we even made it to the beach (all 25 of us). We looked something like this...
The little kids ready to make one of their many sand castles.
Beach Sisters(Sharese, Tiffany, Sarah, Me, Tracy)
Bill, Nicholas, Tyler and Gavin playing beach baseball(because really no one should go too many days without a little baseball).
Halle, Abigail and Izzy giving Nana a special "sand treatment."
Bill and Lil (Pittsy- I had to post this one because you look like you really love me here :)
After the beach it was back to the house for some cool pool time. The (not so hot) hot tub was a hit for the grand kids.
This was a nice surprise that Jordan and Travis found in the garage late one evening. (Trav, thanks again for bringing the slithery thing in the house to share with the rest of us snake lovers).
Gavin and his Horseshoe Crab. So, the horseshoe crab lives mostly in shallow ocean waters on soft sandy or muddy bottoms. The crabs will occasionally come on shore for mating however, this one wasn't so lucky. We found him dead on the shore. Then, "somehow" the crab found a way home with us just a short walk from the beach.
All over Hilton Head Island there are lagoons or little areas with brackish water and often large alligators. Sometimes, you will find tips posted on Alligator Safety such as this one:
"The biggest thing to state is, don't panic! There have only been 8 documented attacks in South Carolina in the last quarter century, and in each of those there was evidence of the 'gators having been fed previously. So, number one, don't feed the alligators!"
Still not sure who gets credit for inviting this green alligator to the edge of the lagoon behind our house? Who ever it was, well they clearly broke RULE #1. But if I had to guess, it is probably the same person that thought it was a good idea to feed the alligator that dead horseshoe crab. YIKES - hold on to your kids!!
So, needless to say we had this alligator hanging out in our back yard, waiting for more scraps until we left Saturday morning. But "don't panic," right?
"The biggest thing to state is, don't panic! There have only been 8 documented attacks in South Carolina in the last quarter century, and in each of those there was evidence of the 'gators having been fed previously. So, number one, don't feed the alligators!"
Still not sure who gets credit for inviting this green alligator to the edge of the lagoon behind our house? Who ever it was, well they clearly broke RULE #1. But if I had to guess, it is probably the same person that thought it was a good idea to feed the alligator that dead horseshoe crab. YIKES - hold on to your kids!!
So, needless to say we had this alligator hanging out in our back yard, waiting for more scraps until we left Saturday morning. But "don't panic," right?
There was lots of crazy crab catching.... these little guys are super fast.
And what would Hilton Head be without an evening with Greg Russell singing "Bubble Gum" or "Is that a Boogar in the Sugar" under the big oak tree in Harbor Town?
Actually, I think we all still loved each other, even after a whole week together under one roof.
But maybe I should just speak for myself?
Thanks Nana and Papa
Now we have lots of great memories from Hilton Head!
And what would Hilton Head be without an evening with Greg Russell singing "Bubble Gum" or "Is that a Boogar in the Sugar" under the big oak tree in Harbor Town?
Actually, I think we all still loved each other, even after a whole week together under one roof.But maybe I should just speak for myself?
Thanks Nana and PapaNow we have lots of great memories from Hilton Head!
