More Sun and Fun - Day Seven

 It was yet another beautiful sunny day today so we decided to soak up the rays at the beach and waterpark.

After showers, we ran out for a few errands.  Afterwards we picked up Outback and brought it back to eat at the condo with Gretchen.  Roger joined us just in time to play and snuggle with kids before bed.

Something Different - Day Six

Today's forecast was overcast and a chance of rain so Katie and I decided to sleep in.  I found myself with two snuggling kids in bed at 7:30 am so I got up and started my chores.  It worked out well!

We realized that we had used the last of toilet paper (seriously, three roles for a month?) so I grabbed Sammy and headed out for some TP and donuts.

We made it back to the condo around 11:00 am and got ready for the beach.  We weren't there long when Sammy wanted some lunch so she and I walked to the Embassy to order.  While we waited, Sammy asked if she could go on the lazy river in the waterpark so we waited there.  That was just the tip of the iceberg so Sammy decided she wanted to stay... but we had food for Tyler and Katie.  So we walked all the way back to our spot on the beach to drop off the food and then all the way back to the waterpark.  Both kids had fun... Tyler in the sand, Sammy on the slides.

 

After that, we all met back at the pool and enjoyed the hot tub a bit before heading up for showers.

It was 2:30 pm when we got cleaned up so we decided to take a relaxing afternoon with some board games.  Tyler and I played Uno Dare and Tangled Words.  Sammy joined us for a round of Spot It and then I taught Tyler Old Maid.  He really enjoyed it so we invited Katie to join us for an extra round.  It was fun just relaxing and laughing together.

And finally, it was time to leave for the Pirate Show... we have been waiting ALL week!  Sammy was SUPER excited.  Gretch and Dean joined us and we left at 5:00 pm.  When we arrived, the kids knew just where to go to get their makeup on.  Tyler became a pirate and Sammy a mermaid.

 

Both kids did great!  We all really enjoyed the show and were glad to share it with Dean and Katie who had never been.  We stopped for shakes on the way home, then got ready for bed.  BUT... the kids were super snuggly so we all climbed under an afghan and watched a documentary on bugs.  It was perfect!

Seriously, today wasn't the usual day of sun and surf but definitely a great day to remember!

Another Day in the Sun - Day Five

I woke up again around 8:00 am and surprised Sammy in the living room.  Decided to let Tyler sleep in a bit.  Both kids asked for breakfast in bed... so, of course, we did!

A lady was coming to clean the oven this morning so we decided to run to the store to pick up a few things.  We ran to Kroeger's and then a beach outlet store to look for sand toys.  The kids were very excited to put them to use... so we headed back to get our suits on.

First we headed to the waterpark... it was lots of fun but we didn't stay long.  The water was SO cold!

 

 

We decided to hit the pool / hot tub instead.  While we were there, we ran into Gretchen and Dean who were heading out to go body surfing.  Tyler convinced me to join them and then Sammy decided to tag along too.  Katie stayed up at the pool to work on her tan.

The waves were INCREDIBLE... but terribly strong.  They regularly even knocked me down!  At one point I noticed we had drifted past the lifeguard stand and asked the kids to move back to where we started.  When they couldn't fight the power of the waves, I decided it was likely just too strong for the kids.  So I told them it was time to head in.   Tyler was terribly disappointed but it was the best decision.

We headed back for lunch and some down time.  Tyler played his iPad while Sammy worked on puzzles.

 

Before we went back out to play, we headed over to the Tangor Outlet Mall to pick me up some new sunglasses, since mine previous pair were stolen by the ocean this morning.  While we were there, we brought Sammy to the Disney Store.  To give a bit of explanation... last year, Sammy saw a stuffed animal of the Lots-O-Hugging Bear from Toy Story 3.  Ever since Sammy has been asking if we could come back to Myrtle Beach just to visit the Disney Store for that silly bear (keep in mind, there are plenty of Disney stores closer to home... and even if we went to one, its not a guarantee we'd find that specific toy).  So we walk through the Disney store looking for her toy... didn't find it so she was disappointed but we side-stepped the upset by finding a different toy for her.  So we got in line to check out, waiting our turn, and just as the clerk called us up to the front, Sammy shouted... she had found it!  So she comes running up with this HUGE pink bear that smells like strawberries.  And the clerk, without missing a beat, tells us that Lots-O has been waiting all year for her to return... SO SWEET!

After we changed into our suits again, we headed down to the beach.  But the lifeguard had changed the swim flag so I told the kids we would ONLY be playing in the sand.  We had rented an umbrella and two chairs on the beach this week so we packed light knowing we'd have a place to relax.  When we got down there, we found a woman... asleep... in our chair.  It was so funny!  I felt like the bears who had stumbled on Goldy-Locks.  I asked the lifeguard what to do and he told me to wake her up.  I was NOT ok with that so he agreed to do it... so awkward!  Anyway, Katie and I enjoyed the sun while the kids ran, splashed, built, and slug sand EVERYWHERE!

 

We headed up and ate supper around 6:30 pm.  Sammy worked on puzzles again and did 2 all by herself.  Then the kids disappeared into their individual bedrooms.  Apparently they needed some alone time.

We called Daddy again and did tuck-ins around 9:00 pm.

Another great day!



Highlights
Tyler:
Sammy:
Katie:  Listening to Sammy laugh hysterically while watching clips from the Incredibles
Jen:  Lying on the sand, sunning on the beach


Weather - sunny early, cloudy afternoon.  Air temp 81* Ocean Temp 82* - just perfect!

Sun and Water - Day Two

I heard Sammy check on me at 8:00 am but she let me sleep til 9:00.  It felt marvelous after the last few crazy weeks!

We did Bible and had cereal for breakfast.  This is the final week that the water park will be open so we decided to head down there for the morning.  Suits on and we headed out.

Katie grabbed some Starbucks for us while I got the kids checked in.  They were in the water in no time!

We stayed and played for over an hour.  Katie and I marveled over how much the kids have grown since the early days when we visited this same waterpark.  The kids can now play independently (no frigid water for mom), I didn't have to personally talk to each lifeguard to help them understand how best to communicate with Sammy, and my favorite was watching as they both repeatedly took on the bucket drop.

 

Uncle Roger and Aunt Gretchen invited us up for lunch so we joined them at noon for a great meal (as always).  As soon as we were finished, we headed out to the beach and spent the entire afternoon enjoying the sun!  Tyler wasn't out of the water more than 5 minutes.  The whole Adema family came out to body surf with us.  Katie took Sammy up to the pool and then back to the condo.  The rest of us wrapped up around 4:30 pm.

Since Sammy was a bit out of sorts we decided to stay in so we just ordered pizza for delivery.  Afterwards, we played a board game and Uncle Roger and Aunt Gretchen demonstrated a new game on their phones called Space Team.  We will definitely play that for a while!

As soon as it was dark enough, we took the little hunters out in search of crabs.  We found at least 15 and loved every minute!

Once we got back to the condo, I let the kids finish a movie in bed and then called Daddy.  Tucked in by 10:00 pm.


* Starting at lunch, Sammy had a hard day and never really got over it.  It wasn't ruined at all... but it was more difficult than usual.  I'm sure it was the transition to vacation or leaving Daddy behind, but just the same it was a rough day.  When I tucked her in, she told me that she though Sweet Sammy had run away.  Let's hope she's back for tomorrow!



Highlights:

• Sammy:  Waterpark
• Tyler:  Games with Uncle Roger and Aunt Gretchen
• Katie:  The moment the passcode worked to get into the condo (she didn't have a key) with an upset Sammy
• Jen:  Crab hunting... walking the beach in the dark, listening to the waves and hearing the kids shouting with excitement

Weather - low 80s, not a cloud in the sky

Saying Good-Bye - Day 10

We started off with breakfast on the 27th floor with Uncle Rog and Aunt Gretchen.  Uncle Rog made us a puffy pancake and it was worthy of Scott's last meal with us!  FABULOUS!

Then Scott headed back to the condo to get packed up.

No matter how excited we were for Miss Katie to join us, there was a heaviness in the air as we knew we'd soon be saying goodbye to Dad.  The kids were extra snuggly.  Sammy's first words this morning were "Tonight, I'm gonna miss you Dad" and Tyler selected a vacation photo to send home with Scott to help him remember.  Boy, they sure do adore that man!

We arrived at the airport at 11:45 am.  Scott would be flying out on the same plane Katie arrived on, so they passed in the airport and soon enough... Katie was there.  Before we even left the airport, Scott had boarded his plane for the ride home.

We grabbed a quick lunch from Wendy's where Tyler tried a CHEESEburger, ketchup only... jazzing up the usual with a slice of cheese!

Today is the last day of the season for the water park so we decided to head over.  It was crazy busy but we still had lots of fun!

We headed back to the condo around supper time and waited for Dean to bring us pizza!  We watched  a movie and then headed out to get some ice cream for a treat.

When we got home at 8:00, Tyler opened a gift from Miss Katie, Rog and Gretch came for a visit, and we FaceTimed with Dad.  Needless to say, it was a late bedtime but so worth it!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Day 9

What to do with a feisty 7 year old when you are at the resort without a vehicle?  The answer was simple... THE WATER PARK!

So Sammy and I were up early to send the boys off and then headed out for a walk to get Mom a coffee (shameless, I know).  Then we came back to the condo to get today's homework out of the way.  As soon as Aunt Gretchen was ready, we headed down to the water park.  This will be the final weekend of the season, so we need to make it fun!

The water in the park is freezing!  Although I did play with Sammy, went down the slides and stood in the bucket fall, I just couldn't withstand the water temps.  After a little while though, Sammy asked "Mom, will you help me find a girl to be my friend?"  (Say What?)   Did my girl just ask for a friend... of course I will!  So we headed back out into the frigid temps to make a friend.  And God had already picked one out... a special girl named EMILY who was the perfect friend for Sammy!

They played together, laughed, chased one another.  It was so very sweet to see.  The entire time, I gushed to see my girl interacting with her peers in such a natural way.  I spent the remainder of the time, reminiscing of past trips (this is our 8th) and realizing just how far Sammy has come.  God is so good!

The play date was cut a little short, when the dark clouds rolled in and it started to rain.  I told Sammy we should leave soon to which she replied "But I like playing in the rain".  I guess she was already drenched and the rain water HAD to be warmer than the water park.  With some luck, I had even sat under an umbrella.  So I flicked it open and told her to have fun!

The crowds thinned out and Sammy had the the place almost all to herself.  When she was finished (and cold to the touch), the rain had just ended so it was a pleasant walk back to the condo.

What a great way to spend today together!