Do we have to go back to real life?

Despite the obvious upset that we had at the start of our vacation, all in all, it was a good one. I don't know if I told you that this is the very first one that we have taken as a family...JUST the four of us. It's been long over-due.

Usually, we would "piggy back" on beach houses or lake houses that family would rent for a week or so. Our last vacation like that was a trip to the Outer Banks with my Dad, Stepmom, and the rest of my respective family. It was a beautiful, HUGE, house, on the beach. The only problem was the weather sucked (end of April beginning of May and COLD!), and having to deal with so many personalities was AWFUL. Don't get me wrong. I love my family, but distance is something that definitely is a good thing for us.

When we got home from that "vacation", we decided to have one of our own, and I'm so glad that we did. We stayed in Myrtle Beach, at a 3 bedroom condo. It wasn't what I would call a really nice place, but it was functional. It was on the beach, had a pool, close to restaurants and attractions, and *relatively* clean.

Here is a picture of me and Landon. It's one of those RARE photos that actually prove that I was there! Pretty much 90% of the pictures were taken by me, so I'm surprised to even come home with one that I'm in!


Colin LOVE, love, LOOOOOOVED, the beach. He and Kelly were out there pretty much every day digging in the sand and playing in the waves. Landon wasn't a fan at first, but changed his mind the second day out there. He loved destroying the sand castles that Kelly and Colin would build, and sitting in the huge holes that would result from their digging. Once he discovered the surf and the waves, he would crawl RIGHT out in to the water! We had to watch him closely to make sure that he wasn't knocked over...but he loved it when he was.

One of our last nights there, we went to The Melting Pot. It was Kelly's idea. I had my reservations as to how the kids would do, but it was probably the most fun evening of them all! Colin loved dipping our food for us. Of course, he opted for one of the "delicacies" from the McDonald's Menu that we bought on our WAY to the Melting Pot, but he loved helping us eat our fondue. Landon munched on the fruit and veggies served with our dinner. Here's my bunch of crazy guys that night playing around at the table. Napkin for a hat anyone??

I have a feeling that the restaurant was probably happy to see us go once our dinner was over. I don't care though, to be truly honest. I just loved being with my family.

Our purpose for this vacation was to create some wonderful memories, and THAT, my friends, is exactly what we did!