Topsail Morning With The Gang

6:16

6:16

6:26

6:26

Up at 6:00, I walked out on the beach and took some photos, then got my coffee and sat outside with Drew, watching the sky lighten. Right now it's 7:15, and most of the adults are up, along with Tommy, our nine-month-old, happy and full, followed a half hour later by Rhys. 

Welcome To Tacky South Carolina Beach Towns

Our drive yesterday was a nightmare, mostly on I-95, where we stopped and started for much of the way because traffic was so heavy. It ended up taking an hour longer than usual, and we stopped three times — twice at rest areas, once at McDonald's, and once for gas. We finally arrived around 4:30, and Drew and Jill beat us there even though we'd left before them. Over the next hour, Tom and his family arrived — his son Nick and his wife, Audraya, with their two kids — along with a friend of Halle's who drove in from Richmond. Finally, around 6:00, Beth arrived from Dallas, her flight delayed by an hour. Beth's son, Tyler, and his girlfriend, Renee, will be arriving sometime today, bringing us to 17.

Tom And Mary And Nick's Family

Rhys First Time Walking In Sand

5:03 PM: First Photo Of Beach

Rhys With Tommy

Beth Arrives From Dallas

It took a while to get unpacked, put things away, and finally open the wine and beer. We sat around, both inside and out on the porch, catching up — whatever that means when everyone's talking at once — and being entertained by two-year-old Rhys and Tommy. I couldn't resist going for a swim and tried, with no success, to bodysurf. 

Tommy And Tommy

Halle And Friend, Natalia

Nick And Drew

Jill With Mary And Tom

Drew, Jill, Mary And Tom

Beach Time

Fortunately, Evie had brought two pans of pastitsio for dinner, so all we had to do was heat them up. We ate in the living room and planned our first excursion to Food Lion this morning, along with the rest of our days here. Jill and Evie were the first to bed, around 8:15, followed by most of the rest of us — except the kids — around 9:30. Three of them were still in the hot tub when I turned in, and I have no idea when the six of them finally surfaced. I don't expect to see them until late this morning.

Mary And Rhys

Dusk

 Marlena And Friend, Grant

8:24 PM

9:30