beach fun 2011

We headed to North Myrtle Beach for our Van Wingerden family vacation this year...and we had such a great time. We love the sand, the ocean, the pool, and eating lots of snacks all day. Sure was a fun trip with our family.

Brady...ready to play in the sand

Me...ready for some fun in the sun!

And, Brecken...enjoying the shade!

I love "helping" Brady do things...we are getting ready to head out into the water for the first time in a year...so excited!

I LOVE it!!

Brady felt quite the same way...

...loves the ocean just like I do!

Then, it was time for Brecken to have a turn in the ocean...for the first time.

Daddy & son...so precious!

Brecken wasn't sure what to think...his expression was hilarious!

Mommy with her baby boy

Gotta love that tongue!

Daddy & Brecken

After a while, he loved it...splashing in the water and smiling at the waves!

Daddy took us out on the boogie boards almost every day. We LOVED it!! Here I am with Daddy & my cousin, Kaitlyn.

Then, it was Brady's turn...

Waiting for the "right" wave.

Meanwhile, I was just relaxing on the beach...watching the waves...

They got a great wave...

...and they loved it. Don't you just love all the salty drool coming out of Brady's mouth?

Here we are...all dressed up for dinner. We went to go see a dinner show called the Pirates Voyage...and, we loved it. Yummy food, entertaining show...a fun night for our family!

(And, yes, Brady is sporting a mohawk in this picture...courtesy of our cousin, Stephanie, who cut & styled his hair right before dinner!)

And, another one of us...too cute!

We love playing on Daddy & Mommy's phones, but we also love playing with their (or Oma's) iPads...and we were just laughing away at one of the games we were playing.

Brecken...enjoying the beach again.

Brady & me with our Oma...we had lots of fun with her also!

All 3 of us..."playing" in the sand

Guess who is ready to go boogie boarding again...

Sweet Brecken...all smiles!

Mommy with her Brady Boy

Brady with cousins Carter & Stephanie...digging holes!

Our group...enjoying a cool day at the beach. It rained several days, but nothing that stopped us from going to the beach every day.

My cousin, Kaitlyn, & me

We love looking for seashells together...

...& giving big smiles to Mommy!

Brady with his buddy, Carter

My cousin, Stephanie, & me...digging a hole & enjoying the sand!

Mommy with sweet Brecken

3 of our second cousins joined us on the trip, and they turned us into mermaids one afternoon using sand & seashells. We loved it!

Brecken with his super cute alligator towel!

Brady & me

We love to play in the ocean...but we also enjoying watching the waves crash!

Mommy with two of her "babies."

Mommy & Brady

Mommy & me

Kaitlyn & me...boogie boarding in the ocean again!

Brady & Stephanie taking a few walks to the water!

After a good rain at the beach, the waves are always really big. So, Daddy took me out in the ocean again. This time, though, I wore Brady's bubble just in case. We had so much fun!

Daddy & his little girl

Having fun before dinner one night!

Stephanie is one of my best friends. We have a lot of fun together!

Here we are coloring after breakfast one morning...waiting for the rain to stop!

Looks like we are having a very serious chat on the beach. More than likely, it was about snacks and the ocean! :)

Chilling on the beach

Check out my arm...I got it painted after dinner the night before!

This is where Brecken took his short morning naps...he enjoyed sleeping to the sounds of the ocean :)

It's time to boogie board again...I love riding the waves!

I would laugh every time I rode a wave in...

...while Brady would close his eyes every time he rode a wave in!

He would even ride the waves in sideways!

Finally, Mommy caught him riding a wave in with his eyes open!! He loved it!

And, more giggles from me!

Daddy helped Brady get started on riding a wave in...

And, he would help me, too! Here, we were getting ready to ride the wave in at the same time!

Brady enjoyed watching us!

We have an annual shaving cream fight on the beach. Aunt Cindi buys about 30 cans of shaving cream, and in about 5 minutes, all the shaving cream is all over us...and the cans are empty! We have so much fun doing this...even with all the stares & laughter from others on the beach. Last year, I watched...this year, I joined in on the fun! Daddy is ready to "attack"...

And, a quick group shot before the "fight" began!

(My Mommy's Uncle Jim, Aunt Rose, and their children joined us that day on the beach...so they got to join in our shaving cream fight. So, they are also in the pictures. We had so much fun!!)

I was having a great time...

A picture of the "fight"

The group shot after the "fight"

(Daddy is a little right of the middle, Mommy is 3 ladies from the right side, and I am almost in front of Mommy...can you see us? Brecken watched the "fight" and Brady screamed through the entire thing...he didn't care for everyone having shaving cream all over them!!)

Daddy & Mommy

Mommy & me

The "fight" wore Daddy & Brecken out...both were sleeping under the umbrella!

Daddy & me (& sleeping Brecken)

One of the things Brady enjoys doing most...snacking!

Every day, Oma would buy us a lemonade icee on the beach. We loved them! So, one day, Brady really wanted to share his with Brecken, so he gave him a bite. Brecken loved it at first, but the third bite finally got to him...too tart for his little taste buds! Check out his facial expression!

Brady & his boogie board...getting ready for more fun in the ocean!

I even enjoyed playing at the edge of the water...

...and smiling back at my Mommy!

I love the beach!

Brady "digging" in the ocean!

One evening before dinner, we attempted a few family pics by/on the beach!

The Karaffa Family ~ Myrtle Beach 2011

And, our family picture on the beach (Take 1)

And another one...probably Take 29 :)

Us with our Daddy

Us with our Mommy

And, just us!

While we were at the beach, Brecken turned 6 months old.

So, happy 6 months, Brecken Thomas!

And, this is us with Stephanie...Mommy's cousin. She came along to hang out with us and be an extra set of eyes! We had a lot of fun with her! She is getting married next summer, and we can't wait to be there!

Brady playing "peek-a-boo" with Brecken...Brecken would laugh so loudly at Brady. It was too cute!

Brecken being "Superman" with his arms and legs up...maybe he will crawl soon?

Happy 6 Months, Happy Boy!

Brecken enjoying another morning nap on the beach!

My Daddy & me...ready to ride the waves again!

Brady Boy...eating again. This time, it's the yummy lemonade icee that Oma bought him!

Me enjoying my icee with Oma!

Daddy & us

Brady asked Mommy to take a really close picture of him, so she did...it turned out so cute!

The boys with Mommy's cousins...Stephanie, Patricia, & Erica. We had a great time with them!

Mommy with her boys

Daddy & me...snuggling & enjoying a snack together!

Brady convinced Uncle Art to take him boogie boarding...they had fun together!

Brecken enjoying some tummy time on his towel. (Don't you just love his rolls? :))

Of course, he found his way to the sand, which is what he wanted to play with...

...& he loved it!! He played there for at least 20 minutes before putting any in his mouth!

So, it was a quick, adorable smile...

...a quick picture of the 3 of us... (Don't you love Brady & my fake smiles? :))

...and then, the sand was everywhere!!

Brecken didn't seem to mind, but it was off to the pool we went. And, he loved that also...so did we!

Brecken napping with Oma!

Playing in the swimming pool together...

...and enjoying every minute of it!

Brecken loved playing with the fountains...& smiling at anyone who gave him attention!

Our last morning...a few quick pictures...packing up the car...breakfast out...and heading home. We had such a great trip, and we look forward to going to the beach every year.

~ Big Bro and Lil' Bro ~

Brothers

Such a fun trip...we sure love the beach!