The Emerald Isle and Hilton's Head

Who, me? Where have I been? It's been a month since my last check-in? Well, let me tell you, we've been around the way and back.

While mom and dad were off in Ireland at their friends' wedding, doing a little bit of this.. (drinking coffee in Dublin and having an actual uninterrupted conversation)

and this... (gettin' all snazzied up and going dancing... does anyone even say that anymore... "going dancing?")

and this... (really, Dad? Archery?)

Let's just pause for one second and take a look at Mom... she literally looks like a professional archerist... archerer... whatever. Maybe it's the pants or the perfect form, not sure.

Anyway, whilst they were doing a little bit of that, we were busy doing a whole lot of this...  (partying hard, whip cream style)

Mae, Pax and I hit the road with Nana, Papa and all our cousins and aunts and uncles and headed to Hilton Head. Then, after three days on the road and 8 days in Hilton Head, Mom and Dad showed up to join us. These pics don't need much narration - except for 1-2 important spots - so let's just get down to it.

Pax channeling his inner Hutch.

Yes, I know, I'm barely in any of those pics. That's because I'm getting all old and stuff and just run around with my cousins or out in the ocean doing my thang. In fact, moms and pops barely saw me when they were there. Face it, I'm all growed up.

Anyway, back to the trip. One day, we all decided to go miniature golfing because after 12 days of beach and pool we were looking for a little change. So off we went.

It was on the fourth hole that Eli hit his ball up a hill, around a curve, back down a hill and... RIGHT IN THE CUP! Hole in one, so naturally, a photo opp.

And then things got really cooky. We were all playing a hole and Pax was messing around right next to us on the hole prior. We looked over to call him and let him know we were going to the next hole when he gave his ball a whack. It went up a hill, into this tunnel thing, rattled around, fell out of the hole on the other side and went... RIGHT IN THE CUP! Hole in one. It was magical, we were hootin' and hollerin' and he just picked up his ball and was like, "yah, I know."

He also loved the water hole where he could work the ball retriever and get everyone's ball out of the water. The last three through the group - Eli, Mom and Dad - purposely hit it in the water just to watch how excited he got with that thing. For a second we thought he might stay there all day and just retrieve balls for $3.50/hour.

And so it was, a magical (but tiring) 18 days on the road for Mabel and me. Pax, Mom and Dad hit the skies a couple days earlier than we got home, flying out of the beautifully quaint Charleston, South Carolina. Pax enjoyed his air adventure...

But not so much waiting at Midway for 75 minutes for our bags.

Either/or, a fantastic few weeks had by one and all.