Our Myrtle Beach Vacation

***I have decided to edit this after John read it last night and told me it was really long. Sorry!!!***

I finally have found time to document our trip, so here goes!!!!!! Sorry this is soooooo long!

Saturday, July 19 - John and I get the call from Dan that the "family truckster" was approaching Columbus so John and I headed over to meet them...at 2:15 A.M. We met just east of Columbus and begin our journey to Myrtle Beach. While I had gone to AA to get directions, the boys decided to follow directions from MapQuest & GoogleMaps...B.I.G. M.I.S.T.A.K.E!!! Route 33 beyond Athens, OH is two-laned roads and a TON of deer. FINALLY at 5:30 P.M. we pulled into "A Place at the Beach" IV.

Unit #131, our Home Sweet Home for the week.

We go to Kroger, come home, unpacked our groceries, then Dan, John, Kevin and I headed to Finn McCool's (a.k.a. Quinn's) for a light dinner.
Sunday, July 20 - We woke up to GORGEOUS weather. The sun was shinning, the pool was relatively crowded on and off all day, and the beach was packed. It was a beautiful day.
Here is a picture of Allison and Daddy (Dan):We laid by the pool all day. It was WONDERFUL. The pool was rather cold, but it felt good after sitting in the warm sun. That night Robyn made her tuna casserole and afterward the boys went to Finn McCool's for a few hours. Robyn and I stayed home and relaxed.

Monday, July 21- Another beautiful day in North Myrtle Beach. More pool time. More sun! The boys were constantly trying to out-do each other with their cannonballs, can openers, and hammocks. Here are a few pictures of their efforts:

John's Can-Opener

Dan's Hammock

That night we went to "Broadway at the Beach", a large area full of shopping and resturants. We ate at Key West Grill then returned home to put Allison to bed, then Dan, Robyn, John, and I went to Finn McCool's...see a pattern here?? :-) We LOVE Finn McCool's (or as John calls it, QUINNS!) !!!

Tuesday, July 22- Another beautiful day. Today I went down to the beach...where I went into the Ocean just up to my knees. I decided then that I really hate salt water. I really do. It is so beautiful to listen to, so beautiful to watch, but I really hate salt water. I finished my first of four books while sitting at the ocean. I read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult. It was FABULOUS. That night we did Quesadillas. Afterward, the boys went to play Putt Putt while Robyn and I stayed in and watched a movie. When the boys got back, we headed out to Finn McCool's. Where else??? When we came home we took a nice walk on the beach...
Wednesday, July 23 - Happy 3rd Anniversary Dan and Robyn!!! Today was another pool day. The weather was hot and steamy. We did burgers and turkey brats on our portable grill today, as we knew we were going out to eat tonight for Dan and Robyn's Anniversary. After Allison was put to bed, the four of us headed to Umberto's Italian Resturant at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach. After dinner we went to play Putt Putt where I came in first, Robyn second, Dan third, and John fourth. Ha ha ha. We missed a rain storm at the putt putt place by about five minutes. We headed to Finn McCool's for a few hours and watched the rain come down.

Thursday, July 24 - I finished another book today while sitting by the pool. I finished Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. It was a great read about life in a traveling circus. The weather today was cooler than the past few days, but the sun was still shinning.
John treated everyone to a Prime Rib with Twice Baked Potatoes and a salad for dinner. It was a great dinner. Afterward, we went to...Finn McCool's!!!!


Friday, July 25 - Where did the time go? We simply could not believe that it was our last day here. We spent almost all day outside, enjoying our last day on the beach and by the pool. I finished my third book while at the beach...The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain. I couldn't put it down it was such a great read!! We had a great time too with Allison, who, for being 1 1/2, was so wonderful the whole trip. We enjoyed her songs, her giggles, her little voice, and she warmed to us so well. She especially loved my water shoes and we became fast friends because of my silly shoes.
That night the boy's went to the Nascar Speedway to race cars while Robyn and I began to pack up. When they returned we went to The Giant Crab for dinner, then to some of the beach shops, then to Finn McCool's for our last time.

Saturday, July 26 - It was so hard to believe that our week long vacation was OVER. Ugh! We packed all morning with the goal of leaving by 10 A.M. After making sure we had everything, we went outside for some last minute pictures and then headed on the road.

John is sad about leaving...

It was such a wonderful week!!! We got on the road at 10:30 A.M., made a few stops, and eventually pulled in to Cleveland at around 12:15A.M. (We went straight up there so as to avoid having to drive there later in the week to pick up Cider.) We can't wait until our next vacation!!!