Beach and Beach

To make a long story short, Ryan requested and got 8 weeks off from work.

Part one of our extended vacation included most of the last two weeks at Myrtle Beach, SC.  

We spent the first week with my family.  Here is some math for you: 8 people in a 3 bedroom condo for 5 days equals infinite emotions.  Mostly good, some bitchy but they are all memories we can talk about for a long time.  Spending the whole day with my niece on her 14th birthday was great (as great as a teenager can be), seeing the joy of my 10 year old niece go down a slide at the pool and play in the ocean, and my Dad stabbing himself in the leg with a fork that went through the plate while eating a slice of pie are the priceless pictures I will carry with me forever.  Let's all forget the time I said taking family pictures turned into a shit show and remember the great meals, nice weather and laughs!

Thanks family of mine for a memorable and fun trip!  Here is the view from our condo:

Week two at the beach was Ryan and I with friends - Julie and Moseley and their 21month old and 5 month old baby girls.  Although Moseley had to get back to work we had a great time.  Not having kids ourselves (by choice) we found out how exhausting but rewarding spending every day with them can be.  I still don't want any kids of my own but could not imagine loving these two fantastic kids more than I do!

Every morning waking up and hearing "Hi Jess" or "It's Jess" from little Stella was so sweet, I want a recording of it.  The endless smiles from Isabel (Izzy) made everyday better.

 We watched a lot of Disney movies and spent time at the pools but we also went to Ripley's Aquarium and took the girls to hold a baby tiger and baby monkey at Barefoot Landing.  It is so much fun seeing new experiences through those little eyes

I got to hold a baby tiger again too!

I have held a baby tiger 4 times now and I am that happy EVERY time!

All in all I had a couple of weeks at the beach full of fun and memories.  After about 7 years at this same resort and the same view I still don't get sick of it. Who knows, maybe one day we will own a condo there.  This summer we even walked all the way down the Apache Pier. We have seen it from our balcony almost every summer but we got (or needed) some alone time and decided to walk to it.  A big THANK YOU to everyone who came with us and shared some of your precious time off with us this summer!

This about sums it up!