HHI Family Reunion TR 7/31-8/7/09 10/16 Final Updates Pg 5!

[SLM]

I work in a HS-Back to School Night is just a quick way to put names to faces and not intended for anything but a quick overview of the year. Conferences are for more in depth conversations with the teachers and they'd much rather see and talk to you then. No reason to feel guilty at all!

 

[50 years Too!]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the wonderful pictures.
(Enjoying the verbage, too)!
I'm planning an extended family reunion next Christmas time, and this is the perfect look and see for the ones who haven't visited before.

Deb

 

[dis-happy]

So how was the concert??? Someone just offered me tickets for Oct. 6th in Atlanta and I'm dying to go....

 

[tallgalaz1]

Thank you for sharing your trip. It looks like you and your gang had a lot of fun.

 

[podsnel]

I work in a HS-Back to School Night is just a quick way to put names to faces and not intended for anything but a quick overview of the year. Conferences are for more in depth conversations with the teachers and they'd much rather see and talk to you then. No reason to feel guilty at all!

Thank-you for soothing my guilt!! I did kind of know that about BTSN, but it was very good to hear from a teacher!! The concert was great, by the way- but they played nearly 50% new music, which was kind of weird- they went through 3 new songs before they even played anything recognizable. Which was a little odd- I've never seen any other band open that way, but I guess when you're U2 you can do whatever you want!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the wonderful pictures.
(Enjoying the verbage, too)!
I'm planning an extended family reunion next Christmas time, and this is the perfect look and see for the ones who haven't visited before.

Deb

Ooh...that would be so relaxing to be there for a holiday! I think they have some great activities planned then. Have a great time! And more pics coming up soon!

So how was the concert??? Someone just offered me tickets for Oct. 6th in Atlanta and I'm dying to go....

Did you go? What did you think of the crazy huge stage?

Thank you for sharing your trip. It looks like you and your gang had a lot of fun.

Well, thank-you for reading! We did have fun- and I'll be posting what many of us considered the hilight of the trip in just a little bit!

Ok, I have finished the DISmom report, so i can focus on this one more...although I am starting a new one about the trip I just took with DH- Vero & OKW....

 

[podsnel]

After dinner, we went over to the pool to sign up for any games that needed signing up for (of which there were I think 3) and get the party started!!! I just love this party- there is plenty to do, it is organized by someone other than me, and it is free! Everyone is laughung and smiling, doing as much or as little as they want to do. The first things our kids were doing was musical chairs (with water balloons on every seat) and a "dunk tank" which didn't seem to be working all that well-

DN8 was the runner up!

DH took a turn under the "dunk tank"

And DS12 did his best to dunk him- but that thing wouldn't budge, even when it was hit!!

Everyone wins-

Facepainting-

Set-up for the Star Spangled BBQ-

The Ice cream drop, played by DN10, DN13 and DGF15-

What a trooper!! This game is a riot- they played it twice for all the kids-

Time to eat some mud and suck out some worms, boys!!

DN12-

DS12-

DN7-

DBIL & DSIL said they had no idea this was what they missed last year when we were here! They loved this party!!

Today's activities-

B'Lou Crabbe makes balloon animals for the kids- ours got the last 3-

I didn't know a machine gun was an animal?

Cont'd next post-

 

[podsnel]

More balloon animals-

What a great pic- this ladybug wristlet B'lou Crabbe made for her was soooo cute!!

Then the night progressed with everyone hopping in the pool, or hopping onto the dance floor!

Kemosabi, jump on it! Jump on it! Jump on it!

My one SIL loves to dance, she had such a blast learning all the line dances and doing the ones she already knew. What I thought was really great was that my DNeice was dancing with new friends she had made the night before at KNO- that was excellent! And she even learned a dance she didn't already know- which was a miracle!!

Dniece was also in the front of the Conga line-

How low can you go?

Time for the dads to dance to YMCA-

DH was giving me the high sign- he was sending his Big Brother right behind him in for a splash ending!

Ahhhhh...that was just hilarious!!!

Everybody clap your hands!

Then the girls take a turn on the Macarena-

Fireworks!

Cont'd....

 

[podsnel]

A few more fireworks, and I apologize for, yet again, forgetting my tripod!!!

By the end of the party, and all the games, and all the dancing, and all the swimming and sliding in the night, we were pretty tired-

But my MIL was thrilled- she thought this party was so much fun, she enjoyed watching all of the activity, and all of the smiles and laughter- she raved about it, as did, well, 17 others out of 20.

The CMs do a fantastic job of throwing a fabulous evening of happy times had by (almost) all!! What a blast Tuesday night is in HHI because of them.

Next- we're going kayaking on Member Day!!!!

 

[podsnel]

It was Wednesday morning and we woke up to another beautiful day on HHI. This morning, there would be 8 of us going out kayaking. Last year, just DS12 and i went, and I really think this might be my favorite thing to do here on HHI- there is so much wildlife out in the marsh, AND it is a fantastic work-out besides. Makes you feel alot less guilty drinking those frozen drinks at the pool later in the day. The kayaking is guided, and begins with some basics on dry land before you get out on the water-

Then we were off! DH & DN11-

Me with DS12-

Us and BIL & DN7-

BIL & DN8-

It really is beautiful, and so peaceful out there. Unfortunately, we did not see even one dolphin (which is the opposite of what usually happens! Last year we saw many, and a shrimp even jumped in the boat and freaked me out much to DS12's delight!). Our guide said this was soooo unusual, they always see them. And, FWIW, my BIL who didn't get in on this trip on time and took one the following day saw about 30 dolphins, even a mom with a baby that swam right next to their kayak- how amazing is that!!! Oh well- we still saw tons of birds, and it was good to be out there. I just felt so bad because I wanted everyone else to have that amazing dolphin encounter, too.

My one SIL was out this morning on another tour with Carol- she went on the Old Town Bluffton tour, because friends of hers had come to HHI and said they loved the artist community there, so she wanted to see it for herself. Here is a little of what she experienced-

Up next- we hit the beach and see the MOST AMAZING thing EVAAAARRRRR!!!

 

[5forDiz]

..........Up next- we hit the beach and see the MOST AMAZING thing EVAAAARRRRR!!!

Can't wait to hear, don't keep us in suspense too long !!!!

Glad to see you're back....was beginning to wonder if you had run off with BONO !!

 

[Morgan4]

Love your TR!! I am a big fan from your cruise TR!!

We are going to be trying to get into DHHIR at the 7 month mark for mid June. We want to try it on our way home from WDW. Looking at 3-4 nights, but with all the fun you are having, I'm not sure that will be enough nights.

Just pray that we can at least get the 3-4 days!!

Look forward to more.

 

[podsnel]

We headed over to the beach after our morning of kayaking, because, of course, all the "stuff" was there. But where was everyone? Don't they know beach time is mandatory?????? There's a big cooler and everything! Well, on this day, only a few of us were at the beach- the BIL who was cooking that night felt the need to get ready to grill, so he spent the day doing that- and his kids were having fun (oh, the horror!!) at the Big Dipper Pool....along with another family's kids. For shame!!!!! The cooler was at the beach!!!! What were they thinking?? Clearly, if they had done their shopping of ALL FOOD (including the perishables like meat) at home and driven it to HHI (where, as everyone knows, there ARE no grocery stores), this would NEVER have happened. There is only one right way to do things, you know. Even if there are only 2 people who think it is the right way. Moving on.....

When we got to the beach, there was a guy with his wife, his hoe and his shovel doing who knows what in the sand. But it sure did look purty!! And then he finished (it was obvious he had been working for quite sometime) and stood back...and the beach goers all had a blast enjoying his creativity and couldn't wait to join in and be a part of it!! (He had his GARDEN hoe, with him- what did you think I meant?? Oh- be-HAVE!!) This man was aMAZE-ing!!!

Aren't DVC members just the best?? This very nice and creative gentleman was there with his wife (and his hoe!), he was not even doing this for his own kids! When i spoke to him later, he told me he used to make sandcastles. And what he noticed with those was that people would walk up to them once, check them out, and then just walk by them the rest of the day. So one day he had an idea to make a little maze with his hoe, and then as he kept doing it, they kept getting bigger and bigger and more complex. The mazes were all done freehand, he didn't have a chart or a graph of any kind. Really amazing, isn't it?

Later in the day, we were enjoying the beach, and the kids had their own creative streak. SIL had brought along different odds & ends to make a mini-golf course- how cool is that? Each kid made their own hole, and they had a blast playing. My SIL has some great ideas!

I was really in the mood to go out for dinner that night, so DH & I went out in search of a restaurant. I think we were looking for the Black Marlin, but for the life of us we couldn't figure out how to get to it!! So we ended up at Redfish, which ended up being perfectly wonderful. The scallops were OMG delicious!

DH was having a shrimp & pasta off of the early bird menu-his was good, but mine was better!

Then it was back to Disney to see what everyone was up to this night!

 

[podsnel]

Can't wait to hear, don't keep us in suspense too long !!!!

Glad to see you're back....was beginning to wonder if you had run off with BONO !!

No- not Bono! I ran off to Vero Beach & OKW with my DH instead!!

Love your TR!! I am a big fan from your cruise TR!!

We are going to be trying to get into DHHIR at the 7 month mark for mid June. We want to try it on our way home from WDW. Looking at 3-4 nights, but with all the fun you are having, I'm not sure that will be enough nights.

Just pray that we can at least get the 3-4 days!!

Look forward to more.

I think that's an excellent plan!! When we have more time for long vacations, I hope to do just that- drive to WDW with stops at HHI to break it up (and hopefully Wash DC DVC, too!!). When we went last year for the first time, we did 4 nights, and this year bumped it up to 5...but next time, we're doing the full week. Although, right now, I'm not sure when next time is.

And I'm so happy you liked my DCL TR!! THAT vacation is incredible- we are booked in 2010 for the Halloween cruise. We were thinking about going to DL instead next year, but the kids would have none of it! They want back on the Magic!! But, i guess I can't blame them, I want back on the Magic, too. Did you do DCL???

 

[podsnel]

While we were gone, the rest of the family had bbq'd right outside of the villa, and a bunch of them had gone over to Magic in the Den with B'Lou Crabbe (which one of my nephews really liked because he learned a new magic trick).

By the time we got back, they were all hanging out-

At 8pm we went over to hear Ghosts and Legends of the Low Country which was being told by B'Lou Crabbe. It wasn't really very scary, although the activity sheet says it may not be suitable for kids under 10.

Soon after it was time to call it a night...DH & I and boys were golfing at Golden Bear in the morning, and to be honest, I was looking forward to the break from hearing my SIL whisper behind my back when I walked out of the room. It was exhausting.

Next- the four of us have a GREAT time on the golf course!!! Our first time as a foursome!!!

 

[Tinks "SS"]

still loving the TR! So glad that you put up more pics!! I just love thinking about future vacations with my family with DVC!!!

HH looks so fabulous! Can't wait to try it out!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

This TR is FABULOUS! Thank you!!!

Bobbi

 

[podsnel]

still loving the TR! So glad that you put up more pics!! I just love thinking about future vacations with my family with DVC!!!

HH looks so fabulous! Can't wait to try it out!!

Haha- you sound like me! That's all i think about- future DVC vacations! This HHI one is a good one- but not like the parks, to be sure- more like summer camp with the family.

This TR is FABULOUS! Thank you!!!

Bobbi

Thank- YOU for the lovely compliment.

 

[podsnel]

On Thursday morning, we were out the door, just the four of us, for 9 holes of golf at Golden Bear. The concierge at the resort had booked this for us, and during our stay this was one of the only courses that would allow 9 holes of play (last year we had played 9 holes across the street at Palmetto Dunes, but that wasn't available this time). What was REALLY exciting (and a little nerve-racking, to be sure!) was that this would be Timmy's (DS10) first time on a real golf course. So it was also the first of what I hope will be many times we golfed together as a family. Now, I had planned to put myself and the DSs into the $30 golf lessons offered this year at the resort. But I did NOT because of the b******* that was going on about the activities taking away from family time (FWIW, I have learned my lesson- I will do whatever I want on the next year, they can stick it!) So what that meant was that I was stinkin' it up BIG TIME out there!! Because I hadn't golfed since the year before, and I couldn't remember how to even hold a club! Still, we had a great time, the course was in a lovely area and the boys did very, very well. Poor Pods was a little exhausted though by the end of 9 holes- it's hard to caddy for 3 golf-idiots...I mean people! And not to worry- the course was very empty, we did not hold up any other golfers ( we would have let them play through if we had). Some pics-

Timmy-

Tyler-

Pods-

Tyler acting 12-

OMG, Pods let Timmy drive the cart!! I thought they were goin' over for sure! He went right up on the railroad ties!!!

Me-

Ever see Happy Gilmore? Our kids love that movie. They begged to do their last hole this way-

It was a LOT of fun, and the best part was that DS10 did so well his first time (he gets a little cranky when he doesn't golf well), it was just a wonerful morning.

Next up- back to the beach!!

 

[dallastxcpa]

That looks like so much fun. Did you all bring your own clubs or did some of you rent clubs.

I would love to play with my DH next year. He golfs on a regular basis as opposed to me who dabbles every now and then.

 

[podsnel]

Back at the villa, we got ready for our last full day of fun in the sun of HHI. We stopped over at the Big Dipper Pool for some lunch at Tide me Over (I love that tuna sandwich!!) before heading over on our bikes to the beach. Today's activities-

Then a bunch of us rode over to the beach house one last time. The bike ride over to the beach is actually very pleasant, primarily because of several factors- well marked bike paths, flat ground (except for going under the road or that big hill on the way back!) and most important of all- ABUNDANT GORGEOUS COOL SHADE!!!!! (I really missed that shae on the bike ride I just took in Vero Beach, but that's another TR for another day. )

The DVC's best maze creator had been at it again, and the beach was very grateful! Captain Amazing is the guy in the orange swim suit witht the hoe-

The kids were feeling their creativity, too, and once again made a minigolf course. Today they were running up to other kids on the beach and asking them if they wanted to try it out- very cool!

A fisherman was hauling in a large stingray that was putting up quite a fight, and everyone ran down to be a part of it-

And a para-surfer went by- that impressed everyone, too!

My SILs had decided to finish up the refrig food for dinner, but we needed just a few more things to have another BBQ. So they told me what they needed, and I left the beach to hit the Piggly Wiggly for some odds & ends. Sadly, the one thing not on the list was MORE CHARCOAL, so I didn't know they needed it. (Actually, neither did they until we tried grilling later!) Oh well. While I was gone, the kids made another game in the sand, something like skee ball-

See you soon for our last night!