Vacation Highlights

We were on vacation last week at Myrtle Beach, SC. This is the first of our two trips to the beach this summer. We had already decided to go to the beach in August for a continuing medical education conference when my husband won a sales contest which meant a free condo at the beach for 1 week...so we will have two separate weeks at the beach this summer. Anyway here are some highlights:

-before we even left town it was so fun just talking about going on vacation, Sydney was so excited and we were all looking forward to a vacation

-our condo was on a golf course and the intercostal waterway so we had lots of fun just sitting on the patio watching boats and jet skis go by

-Brookgreen gardens, an absolutely amazing place. The first part of our trip our friends Missy, Wade and Nate joined us. Sunday the guys played golf so Missy and I took the kids to Brookgreen gardens. We went to the zoo area and then the Lowcountry Center where they had a kids discovery room. The kids we able to play with clay, color, uses brushes to uncover things in an archaeological dig and look at fun things under magnifying glasses. We had a great time. Then we saw a little bit of the sculpture and flower gardens but by that time we were all hot and tired so we headed back to the condo. Bill and I went back to the gardens with Sydney the following day and we saw more of the actual gardens and went on a pontoon ride out around what used to be the rice plantations in the 1800's. While we were at the gardens three people kept coming to mind, my mom, sister Amanda and Bill's sister Rita- because they love flowers and they would have known the names of many of the flowers we saw. The garden has over 1200 sculptures and over 50 acres of actual garden. One great deal is that your ticket is good for 7 consecutive days. Several evenings a week they have special activities such as story time for the kids and concerts in the park. They also have a wonderful restaurant next to the gift shop. If you are ever in the area of Myrtle Beach Brookgreen gardens is a must see!

-beach fun, we are not what I would call beach people, we typically do not hang out for hours and hours on the beach day after day but we did enjoy a few hours playing in the water and sand and looking for shells. Our next beach trip we are staying directly on the ocean so I am sure we will have more beach time

-treats, treats and more treats. Sydney had her share of treats on vacation- rice crispies, capri sun drinks, ice cream (a few times). We generally try to keep things fairly healthy at our house but vacation is a time for splurging so that is just what we did.

-quiet family time and having no where in particular to be at a certain time was so enjoyable. Sydney is an alarm clock that usually goes off at 630, so there was no sleeping in on vacation but we did have lazy mornings, breakfast at the condo and hanging out playing without having to rush out the door.

-my massage...my husband booked a massage for me which was a surprise but he told me early. It was amazing!!!! Even though I am 1 week shy of being 7 months pregnant I still go at my usual fast pace and so I thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing massage. I will say it took the first 15 minutes for me to just relax and I kept telling myself not to think just enjoy the moment. I was laying there and a though would creep into my mind "what should I make for lunch today" or "I hope Bill is okay with Syd" or what will I need to do when we get home to get organized for the week" I just kept thinking no thoughts just relax, breathe!

-Great food that I did not have to cook. Eating out is fun but I must say too expensive and now that we are home I am craving good wholesome food. I made a huge lasagna for tomorrow night and a big salad, salads for our lunches this week, a refreshing tomato, cucumber and green pepper salad for tonight, banana bread and brownies. Okay so the brownies are not all that wholesome but I am craving some major chocolate!!

Well it is good to be home and to get ready for a short week before Syd and I go to visit my parents and 2 of my three sisters!