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!

Joy to the world...the Lord has come!

Our celebration of "the most wonderful time of the year" - Christmas 2009 - continues...

We are so blessed to be able to watch Sarah Grace grow and learn...she is:
*crawling all over the place...like a champ...she's getting so fast!
*pulling to stand (she loves pulling up to look out the window and pulling up on furniture, our legs, etc.)...she'll be walking before we know it (really, already?!?!)
*teething - she's been enjoying her bottom front and centers...now she's getting her two top front teeth (a little sense of humor from Santa!)
*eating just about everything now (except the foods babies aren't allowed to eat) 3 square meals a day! She is definitely not a stranger to food...she seems to like them all! When she eats, she "sings" - a cute, but loud sound that makes us think she's enjoying what she's eating!
*clapping - it's her new "thing" - she claps when she drinks from her sippy cup and places it in the cupholder, when Daisy plays fetch and brings the ball back, and when we say "yay" or "good girl"; when we make a big deal about something she's done

~I am sure there are things we are forgetting to mention...but nonetheless, Sarah Grace amazes us each day and we are truly blessed with a happy, healthy, sweet little girl!~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

As we celebrate this Christmas season, we have so much to be thankful for. Above all, the birth of God's Son, Jesus, and the true meaning of Christmas! What a gift it is to know that we are loved and cherished by God!

We are especially thankful for each other and our marriage, our precious little girl and our obedient dog, our loving family and friends, the opportunity to enjoy homeownership, good health, a faithful church, the ability to take trips to explore God's world, and so many more blessings! We hope you've had a memorable year...decade...and look forward to 2010!

"We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

Our 1st Christmas in our new home - we've been so blessed with a beautiful new-to-us home...we're already filling it with wonderful memories

Sarah Grace and Daisy - best buds playing together

Isn't this this cutest face ever?!?

Something really made her laugh...maybe Santa? SG helped us decorate our Christmas tree! "Deck the Halls with boughs of holly - fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!"

The girls in front of the tree "O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree..."

Aunt Carrie's Tacky Christmas Sweater Party..."Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" - Josh was Buddy the Elf!

The Coiner Family at the Christmas Party - "Have yourself a merry little Christmas"

My little elf...she was in charge of the ribbons and bows!

She was sharing the ribbon with Daddy

Christmas in Wilmington with Mimi and family and friends...12/18/2009-12/23/2009

Can you spot Sarah Grace? We stooped for a photo op at someone's house...she really liked the life-size decorations...

Mimi gave SG her first doll...she loves to cuddle with her!

Unwrapping gifts/chewing on ribbons - "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas..."

Uncle Shelton and Aunt Carrie helping SG open gifts..."Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells"

Great Aunt Peggy came for a visit, too!

Christmas in Greenville - family and friends...12/24/2009-12/29/2009

Christmas Eve 12/24...

The Roberson family girls...love them! We went out to lunch at McAlister's for a Christmas Eve celebration...just girls! (Jack was sleeping at home since he had worked all night before and had to go back into work Christmas morning...we missed him!)

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" - well sister Gracie, your wish is coming true!

Christmas Eve before going to church...opening a few family gifts

The Coiner Family "Silent Night, Holy Night" - "Joy to the world, the Lord has come"!

Christmas Morning 12/25...

Santa came to visit Sarah Grace on her 1st Christmas! Guess she's been a good little girl :) She seemed to know right what to do...she crawled right up to "her Santa chair" and pulled up and began exploring her loot!

Mommy and SG playing with her new toys!

Maybe the box the toys came in are cooler!?!

After seeing what Santa brought us, we made lunch for Daddy and his "team" at the hospital then delivered it to them and enjoyed a nontraditional Christmas meal for lunch.

Christmas in Greenville with JoePa, KK, Gramps, and family 12/27...

JoePa and KK gave Sarah Grace a red wagon!

All smiles for Uncle Shelton and Aunt Cameron!

Pretty Christmas Daisy basking in the sun with her bows and ribbons!

Siblings...the best ever!

Go Pirates...or Hokies...hmmm?

SG loves her monogram!

My Christmas girls...missing their daddy! They don't look so thrilled...oh, but they had a blast!

More gifts for the baby.

Merry Christmas Gramps!

Group shot - minus Jack (missed you!)

"Santa Baby...been an aweful good girl..."

Virginia Christmas with friends, family, and Oma & Opa 12/29/2009-1/3/2010

A stop through Chester, VA to visit our dear friend Tracy

A shopping cart from Oma and Opa! There is not doubt about it, SG is into shopping!

An AC/DC shirt - sums up this relationship perfectly :)

A purse, too...complete with lipstick, mirror, bracelet, keys, and money!

Reading "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" - notice SG's story prop...too cute!

Sarah Grace's "Santa Baby/Mrs. Claus" photo shoot...funniest thing...it's like she knew she was on stage!

*Posing with Mom-mom and Pop-pop's dogs - Sparkles and Crissi!

A little silliness to end 2009...

Battle Axe?

Knight in Shining Armor?

Sarah Grace ringing in the New Year - guess she just couldn't keep her precious little eyes open to see the ball drop...goodnight!
Happy 2010 everyone!