Fun in the Sun

The weather here in South Carolina has been perfect for a beach vacation. The highs are only in the low 80's, so it's not as blistering hot as it was when we were in Virginia last week, but it's warm enough to enjoy the beach and swimming pools. One of our neighbors is feeding our guinea pigs while we're gone. She said they have had heavy rains almost every day while we've been gone. Thankfully our basement is still dry. The only time rain has affected us on this trip thus far was when we were on Roanoke Island. It rained while we were in the Visitor Center. Then there was a break from the rain and we explored a little bit of the park. It didn't rain during most of Act 1 of the Lost Colony production, but then it started pouring so we left during the intermission. The vacation that rain was the biggest problem was in 2012 when the six of us (I was pregnant with Oliver) went to Grand Cayman.

The boys have been waking up early every morning, even when we've been out way past their bedtime. Thankfully they slept in this morning! Wooho! I was the first one up, and I didn't get up until 7:30. Thank you, boys!!

Prior to having kids, Paul and I took all of our vacations just as a couple. Starting in May 2009 (when Nadia was 10 months old), we have invited grandparents to join most of our vacations. This vacation is the ninth one in eleven years that Paul's parents have done with us. The only years they didn't go on a vacation with us were 2010 and 2017, which was the year Paul also didn't go on vacation. The kids and I spent a week in Chicago and a week on Long Island that year. From 2010-2016 we went on five vacations with my parents (and in some cases my siblings, nieces, nephews, etc.) - two trips to Florida, one to the Poconos, one to Williamsburg, and one to Ohio (that one was taken after my mom passed away).

Today will be another relaxed day where we spend most of our time at the swimming pool and beach. I think we might go miniature golfing this evening. That is one of my favorite memories from when we visited Myrtle Beach when I was a child - SO many miniature golf courses! In addition to playing in the ocean, the kids also like playing in the sand and collecting shells. I loved collecting shells when I was a child, but I don't recall every finding as nice of a conch shell as Ian found yesterday!!!