Myrtle Beach

Wow...I have to say that I had the most amazing time last week.  I don't remember the last time I had an entire WEEK's vacation but, as I figured it would, it went by way too quickly.

The boys were fantastic.  They all got along the entire trip which made it soooo much easier.  We had little day trips every day to break up the beach life, but what I loved most was laying out or sitting on the balcony watching the ocean.  Listening to Buffett and Chesney take me away to magical places.  (didn't hurt to have a bottle of wine beside me) :-)

Day 1 (Sunday): Beach and Benjamin's Calabash (Happy Father's Day)
Day 2: Beach and Put Put
Day 3: Beach (but of course, and I'll stop writing that) and our fishing excursion (pics below)
Day 4: Alligator Adventures then Phil and I went out to dinner in Little River (yum!)
Day 5: Myrtle Beach boardwalk (ate at Landshark Grill) then Phil and I went to New South Brewery for a tour and "tasting"
Day 6: Phil and I went to Barefoot Landing and then we all went to the Pirate's Voyage!
Day 7: Phil left and the boys and I went to Broadway at the Beach and ate at Planet Hollywood
Day 8 (Sunday): homeward bound, with a stop at mom's!

summer summer summer tiiiimme (Will Smith)

The boys have been out of school for three weeks now and you can tell they're loving it.  Staying up late, sleeping in late (sometimes till after 12pm) and doing absolutely nothing.  Jeff and I were going to the pool today but there was a neighbor there that we don't particularly care for so we're going to wait another hour and go back.  Love that my lunch hour consists of pool time.  AHHH, the life.  :-)

We're heading to North Myrtle Beach soon and I can't wait!  We've been planning this trip for a year, literally!  Phil has invited his best friend James and Jeffrey is bringing Stephen along again.  I think I've used all but one of my recycle-able grocery bags for food and I hope I've bought enough food for 4 teenage boys. I think I'll do one (maybe 2) more coupon shopping trips and then we'll do the milk, eggs, bread, meat, fruit, etc. purchases when we get there.  We've decided to go backwater charter fishing instead of deep sea.  Phil didn't think I could handle it.  Kinda bummed but probably best for all involved.  We're also taking the boys to see the Pirate show (similar to Medieval Times).  Besides that we don't have much planned.  Well, Phil and I will visit a local brewery and wine vineyard. We'll probably do some miniature golf and go down to the touristy party of Myrtle Beach where the arcades, rides, etc. are.  We'll go out to eat a couple times but spend most of the time on the beach.  My mind is already on vacation LOL

Update on the boys - Jeff had another tournament this past weekend and they came in 4th (out of 12 teams) in their division.  Not too bad.  Phil is working at a Defense lacrosse camp this week.  Basically, he's the guy the defenders are beating up on as they learn new techniques.  He's definitely got the bruises to prove it already.  No biggie though, he did it last year and survived...oh, and he's making money!  :-)

Mom and Dad are officially out of MD and "down south"...they closed on the MD house on Wednesday and they close on the new house on Friday!  WOOHOO

Think that's about it for this week.

Charleston

Wow, what a weekend!  I never knew a lacrosse tournament could be so drama-packed!  Let's just say that the Loggerheads will do anything to host a tournament to win a tournament...including playing a full team of HS-aged players in U-15 to win the division.  Takes cheating to a whole new level...and they're U-15 wasn't much better...completely dirty players. I called it the first day we played them and they literally started a fight and beat two of our players up the next day.  In the end, Karma bit them in the a**...the HS team was disqualified due to age and the "B" team was pushed out of 1st b/c of sportsmanship.  We came home as the champions after winning against the only true other "B" team in the tournament.  Fun times.

I did have a great time with Robby and the family and here's an awesome picture of Jeff and Cody.