Melders Meet HHI, Part VI

Monday
Monday, our seventh and final day.  It's always hard to end vacation and it's always hard for me to leave the ocean.  We had such a wonderful week of taking every opportunity to enjoy this time away on the coast though, so I feel quite satisfied as we finish up this lovely time.  On Monday morning, Doug got to take the big boys for some final fun in the waves, while I stayed at the house and finished packing, prepping lunch and cleaning up the house with Penn (not that Penn was helpful, but it was just easier that he wasn't on the beach so that Doug could get the big boys in the waves).  While I was crazy productive and Penn played with cars and trains, the boys had a good final run of boogie-boarding before another storm rolled in (there had been several in the early morning before they headed out).  They got some fantastic pictures.  Look at my beach boys!

When the boys got back it was a mad dash to get them clean, finish up at the house and hit the road.  We did manage to grab a few photos for our friends on their front porch.  Notice how I put the boys all in matchy, matchy green!

We had a pretty uneventful drive from Hilton Head to Elkin, NC, our halfway point where we stayed the night.  It was going so well in the afternoon that Doug and I briefly discussed just driving all the way home that day, but then we came to our senses and decided to stick with the plan.  It's definitely the easier way to get home, although does postpone it.  Penn Rye was a trooper on the car ride even though he knew all too well when we pulled out with a full van that it meant a long ride again.  He took a catnap about halfway through the trip.  This adorable-tired-baby-in-van look never gets old to me.  How sweet!

We stopped for an early dinner at Chick-fil-A and then it was a quick 30 mins. to our hotel.  When we got there (around 5:30pm), we quickly switched the boys into their swim suits (yet again!) and headed down to the pool (on the bell boy cart of course).

Unfortunately, the pool was closed due to need for repairs.  What are the chances!?!  The boys were bummed, but bounced back OK (especially since there were chocolate chip cookies for the taking in the lobby).  We let them run out some steam playing in the hotel room together and then got them to bed.  This hotel didn't have connecting rooms, so Penn and I are roommates and Doug got the big boys.  Penn had a long bath before bedtime and he loved it.  It was quiet with no big bros, lots of bubbles and plenty of one-on-one attention from Mommy.  

Right before I ended the bathtime, Penn decided to do some swimming tricks.  This is his new bathtime favorite.  Just an adorable face surrounded by bubbles.  Oh my goodness, he's a funny one!

This exhausted little one went right to bed.  Phew!  I had a relaxing night getting stuff done on my computer and watching a movie, while Doug was in the hotel room next door working away on his laptop in the bathroom while the big boys fell asleep in the room.  We all rested very well.  

Tuesday
Official last day and the home stretch drive to Pittsburgh!  It was a pretty efficient trip home and the boys were troopers as usual.  We made one special stop at a spot we saw on our drive down, The New River Gorge Bridge National Park.  Apparently this is the longest arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere and the third tallest bridge in the US (the Washington Monument and two Statues of Liberties could be stack underneath it!).  There was a great overlook area where I took this pic.

Then there was a big, windy, wooden stairway down to another, even better view.  It took forever to get down there with Mr. Cutey-Pants Melder (that's what Koen calls him).  He wanted to do it all on his own and say hi to everyone that passed us.  I think he made about 25 weary-travelers' day.

Here are the shots from the closer overlook.  Beautiful!

The Melder men trekking back up all those stairs!

So it was a nice stop to stretch the legs and get fresh air while enjoying a really beautiful site!  Then back in the car for the last 3 hours and 45 mins. home.  We got home at 4pm.  Phew!  We all worked hard to unpack, put things away and let the boys run out some energy and then they fell into bed and never made a peep.  I plan on doing the same shortly!  

Praise the Lord for a great, family vacation.  Lots of memories made and special moments.  And now we are so thankful to be home safe and refreshed to start back to the normal routine.