5 Days, 5 Posts. Myrtle Beach 2014. 1 of 5: Car and Room

Jon, the boys, and I just spent 5 wonderful days on the Grand Strand from June 15-19.  We love this completely touristy beach.  I am not afraid to say it. Our kids are young. There is a lot to do. We will eventually get there with the more hoity toity beaches, but for now, this is our zone.

We stayed at Dunes Village again this year and enjoyed it even more than last year.  The weather was completely perfect the entire week and the Atlantic was a very comfortable temperature, too.

sleepyheads on the 2.5-hour journey there

as soon as we arrived, they had to check out the awesome view and we parents had to, once again, STRICTLY enforce the rule of no toys on the balcony. for once, it was actually followed.

Since it was just our little nuclear family in attendance, Jon and I sat on the balcony in the evenings as the boys slept inside.  One night, Jon pointed out that this tree seemed to have arms and crazy hair and you could also spot a couple of little eyes and even a mouth.  Mr. Crazy Tree stared straight at us every night and creeped us out a little.

view of the skywheel from our balcony

packed up and ready to go home.... tired and sad it was over

Tune in tomorrow for the second post: Sea Screamer Dolphin Cruise!

Tomato Thief!

Caught this box turtle in my garden yesterday afternoon.  Then, we thought we'd offer him a tomato just to be nice.  He walked away from it in his futile attempt to flee.  So, after a while, we put him on the other side of the fence so he could go down to the swamp for a drink.  We hope this tiny guy is happily munching on a whole lot of mosquitoes right about now!

Swim Camp 2014, Days 4 and 5

The photos from the final two days (June 12 and 13) did not disappoint!  The boys had a blast and got to practice their mad skills at the beach the following week.  We are so impressed with Miss Libby and all the instructors at this camp.

Swim Camp 2014, Day 3

These are from Wednesday, June 11.  The boys worked hard and had fun.  The camp counselors also sang some fun songs with them at the end.

Summer Life

Thinking about summer life right now and figured I'd post this photo I just took.

We have been to the beach and back.  Hundreds of photos to go through there.

Also, there are a few more fun swim camp photos to post.

And, we just celebrated 11 years of marriage. There is that.

All not posted yet, but it is summer! Yay!  And the postings will come.

Summer life has taken over.

So, this photo from our backyard.... on the bottom left is a super heavy iron kettle from my grandparents' house in Pennsboro, WV; I remember seeing geraniums in it from the time I was super small.  You'll see Dora there, digging in her pit beneath the playset.  She loves that. My million bells are hanging there.  And I know you didn't miss the sunflowers Mom planted when she was here time before last.  Both boys are napping, so they didn't make the shot!

This is summer life.  Right now.  Loving it.

Andrew's 7th Birthday Party!

Two weeks ago, we celebrated Andrew's 7th with a swimming party at our YMCA.  Both grandmas, some school friends, and some old friends came, and fun was had by all!