"Blast at the Beach".....

Memorial weekend will forever be a difficult weekend for my family, since it marks the moment my sister left this earth and stepped into eternity. She went Home May 28, 2012, which 2 years ago, landed on Memorial Day. We want make it a point to spend each Memorial weekend with my family since we feel it is very important to be together as we celebrate her life and honor her memory. This year, we decided to go to the beach....., knowing full well, the beach would be crawling with people since it was a holiday weekend. But, we took our chances and were beyond pleasantly surprised. We had a beautiful, beachfront condo, multiple swimming pools to choose from, family-friendly atmosphere, perfect weather, and surprisingly, plenty of room to spread out on the beach and in the pools.  The children were over the moon excited to be there, and Elijah Brooks did not stop jumping up and down the entire first few hours we were there. I believe this was one of the best trips we have been on as a family in awhile. It was about as perfect as it could have been - despite the reason we were there. But the beach is Elliot's favorite place, and she would be so pleased to know that we were smiling and enjoying our time there. The air is "pregnant" with her absence, and she truly is everywhere, so I made it a point to keep my eyes wide open the whole time we were there so I wouldn't miss her, or anything else.

Here are a few pictures from Day 1.

One of the many ways our little girl entertained herself on the drive down! 

And another! She was very quiet in the backseat for quite some time, when she suddenly exclaimed, "Look Mommy, I made helicopter with shoe"!  I turned around to find that she had stuck colored pencils in the holes at the top of her little "crocs" and to her, they looked like propellers!  I personally think she's a genius  :) 

You've never seen a happier little boy and his Daddy - in the ocean where Jay feels most comfortable. He loves the beach, and looks like EB loves it as much. 

It took everything in me and my parents to keep this one from wading too deep. She is fearless, about pretty much everything....., except the church nursery! Why can't she show alittle trepidation about dogs and deep water instead?? 

I love this picture

He insisted on packing his "beach shirt", and wore it everyday.