A special place...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfwP04HrBJY

Wanted to share this link to a YouTube video...it's just about 2 minutes long. It's a special place to me...and to our family - Wrightsville Beach, NC. Take a minute or two to understand why this beautiful place created by God is a place I call "home" (or my "home away from home").

As a child, this is where I grew up "vacationing" - learning to swim, changing my bathing suit every time sand got in the lining, listening to the seagulls float above me trying to dive in on my 1/2 eaten sandwich, building sand castles and crab holes, getting knocked down by "big" waves, not understanding the adult idea of "getting hot before jumping right into the cold (actually warm) water", dotting the shore with dozens of beach chairs (each accounting for one member of my family), not being afraid of sharks, skinny dipping (I was very young!) by the moonlight, smelling the sweet/salty air, riding on a boat above the waves, enjoying quiet beach nights when the waves were all you could hear, and so much more (including the hurricane(s) that washed away our house)...making memories that will last my lifetime!

MY family (Jack, Sarah Grace, Daisy, and me) has also enjoyed many wonderful times on this very beach...before we were married, Jack and I took walks on this soft sand and shared stories and secrets...felt the warm sun tan our skin and make the water glisten and sparkle...this is where we got married (best day of our lives other than SG's birth)...numerous pictures have been taken here with friends and family...we've played in the warm waters of it's calm waves with our infant first born daughter, it was the first beach Sarah Grace wiggled her toes in....we've experienced wreck dives from down under (Jack and I have been SCUBA diving off shore)...we hope to create many more memories and luckily it's just a little over 2 hours away from our "home"!

Although I am a creature of habit and do not like things/people to "change" - this beach (and it's memories) is one thing that is ever changing and it's magnificent - and it gets better as it changes!

Enjoy!
CRC

Sarah Grace's Blog Press

Sarah Grace says, "Check out my cousin Karyn's blog featuring me!" Cousin Karyn recently visited us (SG thinks she is silly because she wore SG's bow in her hair!) and has posted an entry about little Sarah Grace...too cute!
Please click on the link below...ENJOY!
http://donthavekids.wordpress.com/

Happy New Decade...2010!

We can't believe it is here...2010! A new decade...a new year! We hope this finds you well and that you've had a wonderful start to a new year! Although Jack had to work Christmas, he was on vacation for almost 2 weeks afterwards...it was awesome! We traveled to Waynesboro celebrate a belated Christmas and to ring in 2010 and Jack's 27th birthday...whew! Our family time was filled with a new year, family, friends, birthdays (we both turned 27 - Jack on the 1st and Christi on the 7th of January - guess it's late 20's for us!!!), snow (lots of snow), skiing, and more memories.

Here's what has happened so far in 2010 for the Coiner family...

Happy 27th Birthday Jack! January 1, 2010!

New Year's Day party at Carolynn and John's ~ January 1, 2010!

Scott and Sarah Pruett holding Sarah Grace

SG's 1st time in the snow. While we were in Waynesboro, we had a chance to explore the snow with SG. They still had snow on the ground from before Christmas. We all had a great time in the snow!

"Baby it's cold outside!"

"Walking in a Winter Wonderland!"

A huge shovel from the garage turned into Sarah Grace's personal sled...complete with a driver (Daddy Jack), logistical assistant (Oma Carolynn), and a little white reindeer (Puppy Daisy)!

Of course parents have to have a little fun, too. Note the snowball in Jack's right hand that later ended up down Christi's shirt (victory for Jack!) and notice the silly string all over Jack's face (victory for Christi!) - so we called a truce!

Visiting Great Aunt Holly in Richmond 1/3/2010

Sarah Grace has transitioned from her "baby" carseat to her "little girl" carseat! She really likes it (as seen here!)...it is more upright and she just seems to enjoy it more.




Sarah Grace and Wilmond have a playdate...working on a puzzle 1/4/2010

Happy Birthday Trip for Mommy & Daddy!

(baby and puppy stayed at home with loving family!)

January 7-10, 2010 Boone/Sugar Mountain, NC

Thursday 1/7/2010

Original Mast General Store - Historic Valle Crucis

*Christi's 27th birthday*

Dinner - First night in Boone, NC

Friday 1/8/2010

Sunrise view from our condo at Echota (on the ridge!) outside of Boone, NC - so beautiful!

Sipping coffee by the warm gas logs while we were "snowed" in at our condo 1/8/10. We drove Jack's car and we got up the mountain just fine Thursday night...but when we tried to drive back down the next morning (Friday), we discovered we couldn't pull it off. It had snowed overnight and the road to our condo was a bit icy. We waited for the sun to "warm" the road although it was about 8-10 degrees outside. We eventually drove down the mountain and met Lee and Scott (who joined us for skiing) at Red Onion Cafe for dinner. Luckily, Lee and Scott drove their 4wheel drive SUV. We parked Jack's car at the bottom and rode with them to our condo at the top!

Saturday 1/9/2010

Geared up and ready to ski...Sugar Mountain!

Riding the ski lift...up the mountain...so pretty and white!

Top of Sugar Mountain...at the start of the black diamonds...Jack took these...Christi was down skiing on the safe, green slopes :)

Everything was snow covered...and it was snowy, cold, and windy...but it was an amazing sight!

Jack heading downhill!

Dr. Coiner...arriving safely at the bottom of the mountain!

The Coiners - sans baby SG and Daisy

We had a very wonderful vacation although we definitely missed SG and Daisy! We came back refreshed and ready for all that 2010 has in store for us!

Helping Mommy & Kempton with Meals on Wheels. We deliver warm meals to elderly folks in the community who are shut in. SG rides with us and generally has a smile on her face! We enjoy the fellowship of each other and hopefully bring a smile to someone's face!