Saturday 23 Oct

Packed up the car in the pouring rain.
Left Cincinnati around 6:00 pm.
Got to Knoxville around 11:30. Checked into hotel.
Lots of Tennessee Volunteer fans around.

Sunday 24 Oct

Woke up around 9:00, just in time to get complimentary breakfast in the hotel before 10:00.
Then swimming in the hotel's indoor pool.  The girls had a blast wearing their parents out.  They really loved the bubbles in the hot tub!
Lunch at Burger King across the street. Kate took an hour to eat, so Carina went back and checked us out of the hotel.

Went to the Knoxville zoo, which was free, because we are a zoo member.
Knoxville zoo was very nice. There was a crazy brachiating monkey swinging around.
And Carina really liked the lions, because you could get pretty close, but you had to peer through bushes to see them, just like you were on the savanah.

Left around 4:45. Stopped to get gas and there just happened to be a Russel Stover outlet nearby, so we bought some candy. (Jake's favorite part so far.)
Drove through a steep mountain pass through North Carolina and into South Carolina. The girls were wiped out from the day's activities so they slept. (Yeah!)
Couldn't find a restaurant anywhere. (When driving through mountains, don't be picky about which restaurant you go to.)
Finally found a Wendy's and stopped for dinner around 8:30.

Watched lots of DVDs in the car and arrived at Hilton Head around 12:30 AM.
Went down to the beach. The kids were both terrified. When asked if she wanted to go stand in the ocean, Kate cried "No, I'm too little!"
Unpacked half the bags, and went to bed about 2:00 am.
 

Monday 25 Oct

Kids slept in until almost 10:00! Breakfast of cereal and juice. And then a trip to the grocery store!
Drove around town a little bit to get our bearings. Back to the condo for lunch of cold cut sandwiches.

Then Carina and Isabel took a nap, while Jake and Kate played on the playground and went down to the beach.
The resort here is very nice, with a pool, and tennis courts. But it is off season, so we pretty much have the place to ourselves.

Carina cooked tacos for dinner, then a walk down to the beach. (The idea is to acclimate the kids to the ocean little by little, so they are not so afraid.)

Tuesday 26 Oct

Breakfast was frozen waffles and fresh fruit.
Then a trip to Walmart to buy a potty seat for Kate and a beach blanket.
Lunch was macaroni and cheese and hotdogs. Then a nap for Isabel, and Kate want to the playground again.

After naps, we all went to putt putt. Kate did pretty well, but wasn't too happy when her ball disappeared on the 18th hole.
Isabel was interesed in putt putt for about two holes and then her only interest was climbing.
Then went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner.  (Carina's favorite.)

Went down to the beach after dinner for more shell collecting and acclimation.  Kate is an excellent shell collector.
At this point both girls love the beach, but will have nothing to to with the waves.  Which, if you ask Carina, is not a bad idea.

Wednesday 27 Oct

Breakfast of French Toast and bacon.
Then Carina and Jake thought it would be fun to 'pretend' to fall asleep in the kids beds. We were so good at it, we didn't wake up until an hour later.
Thankfully the crayons the girls got out weren't used on any furniture or walls. We have such great girls!!!

Then a trip to the beach! It was sunny and in the low 80s, so the weather was perfect.
It being the end of October, Carina had dressed everyone in pants.  That lasted about 5 minutes.  So back to the condo for shorts.
The kids loved playing in the tide pools and digging in the sand.
We saw lots of tiny hermit crabs in their shells, which neither girl had a problem walking right over.

We had a late lunch of frozen pizza. Then we all went to the playground, and Jake put in a load of laundry.
After the playground, we took a walk around the resort, and then Carina made dinner of checken teriyaki.
After the kids went to bed, Carina and Jake ate wine and cheese while they watched Monty Python's Holy Grail DVD.

Thursday 28 Oct

Today is gray and rainy. Breakfast is scrambled eggs with cheese and donut holes.
After a little relaxing in front of the T.V. we were off to shop. Went to the outlet shops on the mainland.
Then dinner at the crazy crab restaurant. The kids were fascinated with the big aquarium.
Back to the condo to play on the playground.

Friday 29 Oct

After breakfast, went to harbortown. We climbed to the top of the lighthouse, and saw the big charter boats.
We saw some dolphins out in the harbor, and fed the sea gulls.

Got back to the condo. Isabel took a nap. Then off to the beach.
Dug a big hole in the sand. Saw some dolphins. The kids actually put their feet in the ocean!

Back to the condo. Dinner of leftovers. And started packing. One last load of laundry and some ironing.

Saturday 30 Oct

Hurried breakfast and fevered attempt to get the car packed up within an hour. Checked out of the resort around 10:30. (About 1/2 hour later than scheduled).
Stopped at the outlet stores on the way out of Hilton Head. Bought Jake some shoes and jeans.

Drove to Savannah and drove around the historic part of the city for a while.
Then early check-in at the Hilton Hotel, and ran into all the Haraburdas.
Had lunch with the Haraburdas at the Six Pence English pub across the street.

Then got dressed and went to the wedding in a square about 3 blocks from the hotel.
It was very hot, but a very nice and short wedding ceremony. Then back to the hotel for the reception on the 15th floor.
The reception was great. Jim and Mary Ann were there, and of course all the Nortons.
Eric goes into the army on Tuesday. So this was his last weekend in Savannah.

After a few hours, at 7:00, took Kate and Isabel back to the room to stay with the babysitter.
Reception went until about 10:00. Lots of dancing. Then Eric took us on a historic tour of the city, ending at a frozen drink bar.
Got back to the hotel around midnight.
 

Sunday 31 Oct

Breakfast in the hotel ballroom with everyone from the wedding. Said goodbyes to the Nortons and the Haraburdas.
Went swimming in the outdoor swimming pool at the hotel. The water was too hot to stay in very long.

Left Savannah around 1:00 PM. Drove straight thru to Cincinnati. Stopped a few times along the way to stretch our legs and eat.
Got to Cincinnati at 12:30 AM. Unpacked a few bags and went to bed.