Visit to NC and Beach

We decided a month ago that since everything had been cancelled for the summer (both church camps, swim team, etc.)  and since we had already been home for two months, that we needed to get away for a little bit.  We had already planned on going to NC for Samuel's graduation so we added a trip to Myrtle Beach at the same time.  So last Friday morning, we packed up and went to NC until Monday.  We got to visit with most of the family, at least for a little bit!

Jackson and Uncle Jeremy with their heads shaved. 

Samuel graduated this weekend.  This was his graduation party. They all look so old!

Enjoying our time with Nana.

Went by to see Grandma Perkins for a little while and got to visit with her and Nancy.  

Had an outside visit with Cheryl & Bruce, Tori & Danny and Grandpa.  

Hung out with dad on Father's Day and went to see Grandpa Davidson again for a little bit.  

And this was them together on Father's Day. Jackson is always making some kind of face... 

We left Monday and headed to Myrtle Beach - I hadn't been there in almost 15 years.  But it was closer to where we were starting from so it worked out.  

Someone had to keep stopping to use the bathroom - this was one of the times in the middle of nowhere... ha!

Finally there!  Jackson couldn't wait to get in the water.

We went to Painter's for ice cream the first night.  It was crowded and their prices have definitely gone up. (As I'm sure most places have...)

Sunrise on our first morning.  I was awake 2+ hours before the rest of my family. (I don't sleep well away from home...)

The waves here were good 2 out of 3 days.  We all enjoyed playing in the ocean. 

Ice cream another night after we tried to go ride go-karts...but it had rained and the tracks were closed for the evening...so they did the arcade instead.  We told Jackson we'd take him to one of the go-karting places around here instead. 

The first half of Thursday was very dreary - rainy & stormy.  Jackson was dying to go out and play in the rain though.  Michael took him out and he was the only one out there playing in the rain and sand - for maybe 45 minutes or so until it started thundering.  

We managed to get a little bit of sunshine that afternoon.

Brief rain shower had us huddling under our umbrella.  Not Jackson of course.  

Jackson played with another boy that was out there each day.  He was a few years younger but it gave him someone to boogy board with.  This day they caught a few little fish with a net!

Margaritaville was full for the whole evening when we went to Broadway at the Beach, so we ended up at a Mexican restaurant.  Looked neat but was very over-rated.  

Beautiful sunset and cool looking ferris wheel.  

And we came home on Friday.  The drive seemed to take forever.  We got Lucy back from Michael's parents that evening and we were all so happy to see her!

The Rest Of May

The rest of the month of May continued similarly to how it started...however we did start venturing out more and more.  The state of Georgia reopened before many other states and while we were still trying to be careful (and still are!), we did get out of the house a little more than we were before. 

Mother's Day

One day, the Kona Ice truck drove through our neighborhood, stopping at each house that was out waiting on it.  

Big thunderstorm that brought a good bit of hail.  This was the day that it knocked our power out for the rest of the day and night.  

Rachel made dinner all on her own one evening - it was baked chicken, broccoli and noddles with a sauce.  Very tasty!  

And Rachel turned 13 in May!  She had been counting down the days.  

She made her own cupcakes for the occasion.  

And that night, we went out to dinner again for the first time.  It was nice to eat out!

Grandpa came down the next weekend and took her out for dinner for her big day.

Showing Grandpa the new slack line...we actually got that for Jackson as an early birthday present but Rachel seems to like it better than he does. 

And just a couple of weeks ago, she had a couple of friends over to spend the night to celebrate.  We didn't do it back in May b/c that was too early.  Sleepovers are way easier when the kids are older - we hardly had to do anything!  But they had fun.

And the latest "issue" with Rachel is that she has developed scoliosis.  They discovered it back in November when she was having a lot of back pain.  She went back for her 6 month check a few weeks ago and they found that it had really progressed, unfortunately.  The doctor recommended her wearing a brace for 6 months to a year and that will give it a 50/50 chance of improving.  She'll have to wear it 18 hours a day. She's been fitted for it already but we're waiting on insurance to approve before they will make it and before we can get it.  So it's hurry up and wait for the time being.  Below is her most recent x-ray.