Christmas in Edisto

As usual we headed down to Edisto Beach for Christmas with the Goodman side of the family the week after the 25th. The house we were staying in would be ready on Thursday and to say we were ready was an understatement! We headed down to Cola town on Wednesday so that we could celebrate with Pa Pa and B before heading to the beach (and also to break the 6 hour trip up). Drew came down with a violent but quick stomach virus on Tuesday. He woke up with it and by the evening it was gone. Seeing as he was better, we packed up and went on out Wednesday morning.

Once arriving in Cola town, Drew took a nap while Dad, the children, and I took a walk to burn off some energy and just enjoy being outside during the winter. After we got back we opened presents. Evie got a book, "Mrs. Mack" by Patricia Polacco, about the author's childhood experience with horses. We have checked this one out from the library numerous times and thought it would be a good one for our home library. Mary Fran received an "I Spy" book which, as I've mentioned before, she is incredible at. The girls together received all the TV episodes of "Little House on the Prairie" which was a wonderful present!
Here is Wardy boy holding the camo socks Cade received along with some money towards his Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License. The Wardster got 2 puzzles and the book "The Boy Who Changed the World" by Andy Andrews. Look it up...it's a good one!

As you can see, Cade was enjoying the box. :)

The big surprise of the afternoon was a flat screen TV Dad and Brenda gave to Drew and me. It was completely unexpected but quite wonderful!

After all of this, however, I came down with the stomach bug. It started about 4 and by 9 the stomach symptoms were gone but I felt like I had been hit by a Mack truck. Good sleep cured that, thank goodness!

Cool man Cade.

As I said above, we headed to Edisto on Thursday morning and were able to get into the house around 3. The house Dad graciously rented was right on the front of the sound. We had such a great time walking on the beach picking up seashells and chasing seagulls, visiting with immediate and extended family, eating too much, and watching some unbelievable sunsets!

Friday afternoon we got together for our "Christmas gathering" with the Goodman clan at the house we stayed in. Everyone was able to be there except two of my cousins and their families due to sickness. They were sorely missed! After eating BBQ and fixin's we visited and visited. The kids loved playing together as always. Here are MF, Daniel, and Evie on the stairway looking down on all the adults. They had a ball together and it's pretty neat to see MF and Daniel together as Mary Fran is a mere 2 days older than Daniel. We also found out that in 2011 the Goodman family would be adding 1 more new member...Jessica by marrying my brother was already known but my cousin, Matthew, and his wife, Aimee, are expecting their first child in August. We are so excited!!! It really hit me how Granddaddy and especially Grandmama would be so pleased to see their family being added to and that everyone makes it a priority to continue to get together. They left quite a legacy.

As per the norm every year, the time in Edisto passed far too quickly. It was nice to get away and experience some upper 60 degree weather to break up the cold and snow here at home. Oh, Edisto, I will think of you often until we meet again!