little bits of me: Time marches on...and before you know it, it is marching across your face.

So yes time marches on and somehow (truly by the grace of God - especially there in college for a while -eek) I have made it to the ripe old age of 30. While I know to some of you lucky folks this isn't a big deal, but to me it is/was a huge deal. The last decade of my life has FLOWN by and that scares me. It's not the number so much as it is how fast it got here. In the last decade I have graduated college, met, dated, and married my husband, acquired a few dogs, moved around the country, had several great jobs and had 2 beautiful babies. So I guess it is no wonder it flew by. Although, I'm exactly where I want to be in life (minus actually living in Texas near our family - sniff) so I don't have much to complain about....except that now my skin is quantified as "aging" which is just lovely. So, to make this jagged little pill of a birthday go down a bit easier, my wonderful husband planned and surprised me with a trip to Hilton Head, SC. He knew a beach and a nice hotel would make it all better for me, and he was right. Ahhh, I just love that man.

On Tuesday we packed up the trusty SUV and forked over $88 per tank of gas (ugh) and embarked upon a 12 hour drive across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and then finally into South Carolina. Hilton Head is the most charming island I have ever seen. I visited last summer for Mairin's Bachelorette party and knew I wanted to being the kids...obviously Nathan remembered this. The weather was cool and rainy at the beginning of the week, but I could have cared less. The fact that Nathan planned this trip for me and took the whole week off to be with me was all that mattered. There could have been a hurricane and I wouldn't have cared (but I'm glad there wasn't). We had the best time on our first official family vacation (meaning one that didn't involve going back to Texas) and it was really the only way to turn 30 in my book.

Jack seeing the beach for the first time.

Katelynn's pedicure. That girl loves her pretty toes and would fuss every time sand covered it. She would run to the water to wash it off. Ridiculous I tell you.

An after beach bath and banana. It is good to be Katelynn.

One afternoon it was raining too hard to do anything outside so we went bowling.

On my birthday, we went to Paula Deen's first restaurant, The Lady and Son's, in Savannah. It was hands down the best southern food I have ever had. Go there, your life will feel complete after.

The outside of the restaurant (Photo by Jack).

Me and my cheddar biscuit and hoe cake. I will request these on my death bed. They are AMAZING! For all true carb lovers out there, this might be the holy grail of carbs.(again, picture by Jack)

My little carb lover agrees with me.

How cute is the tea.

Me and "Paula"

All I really wanted for my birthday is a cute picture with my kids. Check.

Picture compliments of Jack.

My love <3

Our hotel

We took this picture just for Grandad.

My favorite thing to do in Hilton Head is to rent bikes and ride through the plantations. Every single road has a large bike lane or trail so it makes riding so easy and enjoyable. Unlike when I ride at home and feel like I am in a real life game of Frogger and I am the frog.