But wait.....funny quotes...

There were alot of funny things that happened this past week but these quotes are some of the most memorable:

Jordan while at Landshark Bar and Grill:
"This burger tastes like butt."  

Jordan on the ride home:
"Shitzus (the dog) aren't even real dogs.

Jake:
"Hotel farts smell different than real farts."

Dad:
"Hello puppet!"  (from Pirates of the Carribean)

Jen on the ride home:
"Shitzu-Rex" 

The Trip Home - But We Will Be Back!

As the sun started to rise over the water, I realized the day had begun and that meant we were leaving.  The days that seemed so far off several months ago have now come to an end but we still needed to take our long last looks, pack, and begin the trek back home.

Making selections at the Pier

After getting gas for the van, it was time to start packing.  Quick folds and throw in the bag!  Papa and Grandma had their boarding passes and were ready to head to the airport for noon.  Our goal was to get on the road by Noon.  Around 930, Jill and Jake returned some towels to the towel shack by the pool and went down to walk by the beach.  Jake with is net in hand and Jill looking for some shells for a gift for friends.  We gather up our vouchers from the skee ball and games at the pier and cashed them in.  Granted they are not elaborate gifts but it is a fun tradition.  Shock gum, whoopie cushion, Chinese finger puzzle and some Tootsie rolls.  We were all done!


We walked back along the sand.  You can tell none of us wanted to leave.

It was now time to pack the van and get ready to go. Ryan helped with getting the carry bag strapped down and the bags loaded.  It was alot of fun to have him along for this crazy beach week! We were sweating as the humidity was getting pretty heavy.  But we needed to get one last photo as a group with the beach in the background.

Bad Moment with a rock hitting the windshield

As we pulled out, we cued up the movie and for about 2 hours we laughed and all experienced various fun memories.  I looked back at my posts over the years and there is a consistent theme....we love being with each other.

Beach Dune Buggy!

 There is something about a vacation that tightens up bonds.  Yeah, there are moments of drama and aggravation but they are dwarfed by so many more laughs, smiles, and fun times together that you don't normally get to experience back home.

The Best Beach Location!!

Our Beach Home

10th Floor Express!

Lobby view from the 10th Floor

For me I know when we return we will all be a little older, interested in different things, and maybe not as spry!  But what I do know is that we will be doing our beach routine that our family does and we enjoy so very much.  I love this family and there is nothing in the world that can replace this feeling.  Smile and start looking forward to our next big trip together.


Addendum:
The trip is still going on for some.  Papa and Grandma's flight out of Charlotte was cancelled.  With no bags and getting soaking wet, they were forced to stay at the Marriott.  They should be back home later this morning.  I am sitting at the Toyota dealer getting tires rotated and then I heard some calypso song playing on the loud speaker.  Perfect!!

Day 6 - Beach Day, Water Fun and the Aquarium

My morning routine this vacation was a relaxing one.  I would get up before everyone and make coffee, sit on the balcony to watch the early sun rise and see the beach before they set it up for the day.  The room is quiet except for the sound of the waves in the ocean.  Peaceful.

But the fun of a beach vacation is when everyone is up, talking about the evening before and what we will do for the day.  The talk touches on weather and in SC, how hot it will get.  Today was one of, if not the, hottest and most humid of the days we had at the beach.  Jen took a morning walk and I hit the gym one last time before everyone was up and ready to go.

We headed down to the beach where Jill and I arrived first with the beach stuff and jumped into the water where the waves were quite good.  We began our last sand castle today (which lasted all the way to the morning!) and Jill performed her aerials which are so cool to see.  In a little bit, Jen, Jake, Jordan and Ryan joined us and we were enjoying a classic beach day.

Castle AFTER the Rain

Jake mounted his GoPro camera to one of the boogie boards and got some great shots from the water!  It was really a cool idea.  The waves were some of the biggest we had all week so the riding was fun.  I returned to building the castle which started out as a ball track but we converted it because of some high tide waters.  In any case we also picked up a new water ball that you bounce of the waves and play catch.  It was fun having the ball skip over a wave and then you dive and catch.

Sadly, a really heavy but short lived thunderstorm rolled in.  It started off slow but then it opened up which had everyone jamming the lobby to get on an elevator.  So we headed up for a late lunch and waited for it to clear.  While we were up Ryan had his phone interview for a teaching job and it sounded like it went well.  Hopefully it will turn into an offer!

Once the weather cleared I wanted to get down on the beach and take it all in one last time.  Most had left the beach due to the weather but the sun was back out and it was still great pool and beach weather.  The rest of the gang hit the pool and jacuzzi.  But Jill, Jake and I did a did stroll over to the Big Bucket and Lazy River for old time sake.  It is still alot of fun.

Dinner at Key West Grill

Snow Crab Legs for Jake

Once dried off we headed back upstairs and started getting ready to head to dinner at Key West Grill.  We arrived at 630pm and got seated inside.  Jake ordered his first ever snow crab legs and was impressed by the look of them.  Our meals are good and it was a great dinner to wrap up a really fun, active, and entertaining week at the beach.

When we finished dinner we headed to the Aquarium where there were no crowds and took in all the amazing sites of the sea.  They had a great Jellyfish display this time and of course sharks.  Jake was intrigued by the rays where you can pet them and Jill had her try and petting and picking up the horseshoe crabs.  We even caught a glimpse of the 'mermaid' ...LOL  Then she disappeared to get changed and walked out.

On our way back we stopped at Kirks for ice cream (the best beach treat) where Jordan jumped when she saw a cockroach (aka Palmetto Bug) on the sidewalk.  I guess he wanted an icecream.  One thing about Kirks is that the ice cream is good but the service.....not the friendliest bunch!

We headed back to the room where we got ready for bed after Ryan, Jordan, Jill, and Jake got another round of the Goat jumping game in on their phones.  That has been the killer app of the week for this group!  Some of us caught the lightning show out at sea and then we turned in for the night which is our last night at the beach.  :-(

Day 5 - Rains Roll In

Our streak of awesome beach weather days came to an end today as we saw light rains disrupt the morning and early afternoon.  However, we waited 2 years to get here and I don't think a little rain should not stop you.  Jen headed out to some of the conference sessions and I got a chance to take a longer than usual beach run.

When I got back Jill and I strolled over to the Starbucks in the lobby and got some different breakfast items for a change up to the morning routine.  In all reality the rain was a welcome change of pace that I think we needed.  We hung around the room for a bit then Jake, Papa and I took a ride to the Bass Pro Shop to exchange some driving glasses for Papa. What a HUGE place that is.  Jake picked up a fly swatting dart gun that has quite a punch.

When we got back Jen took Jordan, Jillian, and Ryan out to Barefoot Landing to check out the shops.  They didn't get any rain so it sounded like a good trip and Jillian got the Life Guard sweatshirt she was seeking.  Jake and I headed down to the beach where a light drizzle kept falling.  We took out his metal detector and began scanning the beaches.  Not many people were there but the ones that made it out all seemed to be enjoying themselves.  After a some tosses of the football we decided to head back up to the room and get ready for dinner.

Dinner this evening was going to be a 'grab and go' type idea down at the Boardwalk.  Papa and Grandma headed to Carabas while the rest of us headed to the boardwalk which we really never visited in all our years going to Myrtle Beach.  The boardwalk itself is nothing like what you find in Atlantic City or Ocean City, MD.  It is more like a combination of shops and restaurants on a small walking area along the beach and the main road.

We made our way into the Landshark Bar and Grill which is also owned by Jimmy Buffet but is themed more like a beachfront place.  We walked right in and got served.  So there was no wait and the food was really good.  Although Jordan's strawberry diaquari got spilled the dinner was the usual vacation banter and we all enjoyed each others company.

Sky Wheel

Jill really wanted to ride the sky wheel but no one else seemed ready to take it on.  Maybe another time Jill.  :-(   But we did stroll around and poked in and out of some shops.  Needless to say we are kinda like beach snobs and didn't feel like hanging with the crowds there too long.

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk

We drove over to Broadway at the Beach and jumped on board the speed boat.  Jill, Jake and I zipped, spinned and jumped around the lake with our captain 'Duff'.  LOL.  Before we parted ways Jen grabbed reservations at Key West Grill and the rest of us checked out this cool toy store with all sorts of items.  Jake grabbed a water ball and hopefully we will try it out Wednesday.

Jordan and Ryan stayed to meet an old roommate of Ryan's and enjoy some of the nightlife where they caught a dueling pianos show.  Jen, Jake, Jill and I headed back to the room.

But that wasn't the end.  Jake was still ready to go.  How he doesn't slow down, I don't know but then again, I don't mind one bit.  We did another round of hunting sea creatures at night and he really hit the jackpot.  Minnows, fish, blue crabs, and sand crabs were all caught and released.  But he was catching them left and right. When he got back he was curious to know what type of fish they were and spent some time Googling them.

I on the other hand.....was ready for bed.

Day 4 - Round 2 of the Mini Golf Tour

As with most of our days here, I started off with a coffee, Papa stops in for a bowl of cereal and a muffin delivery from Starbucks in the lobby.  With the heat already coming up, the second round of mini-golf was on the schedule and the trash talk began with Papa declaring is win for the day.  We actually went a far way down the 'Grand Strand' next to the airport to get on a the Jerassic World Course.

It was a nice course but not enough dinos!  It was a close round but Papa took it by 1 stroke over Jake and I.  Jill who was on fire the last round only finished 2 strokes behind.  Fun morning.

Once back everyone was down on the beach.  Ryan has been reading by the water and Doro by the pool.  The kite was put up and held steady for hours.  Jen and I enjoyed the view of the ocean from our umbrella while Jake went hunting for more sea creatures.

Elevator Selfie!

We headed out early to Margaritaville knowing the wait would be long but when we got there we learned it would be a 2.5 hour wait!  While outside I got a tip from the bartender to go in an see one of the servers who handles unassigned seating.  As it turns out we had him before and his family was from the Scranton/WB area.  Go figure.  Needless to say we were seating in 35 minutes and had great dinner with all the usual antics going on at a Margaritaville.  

 Margaritas, Cheeseburgers, and nachos!!! Having listened to his channel by the pool this summer, it was kind of like a homecoming.

We headed out to the shops and Jake got an update to his RideMakerz car and we poked in and out of some other shops before heading back.  You can see that the long days are taking their toll on everyone as we were all tired.

Day 3 - Mini Golf and Beach Walk

Today was our first round of miniature golf.  Papa, Jake, Jill, and I drove down to Broadway at the Beach to take on the Dragon's Lair Mini Golf.  We ventured onto the Viking side.  The course, like all the courses here, was in perfect condition.  Although, as Jillian stated, it didn't have alot features, it did have a soundtrack and was set along the water.  While we played the heat of the day was getting up there.

Before leaving Broadway at the Beach we visited the sweet store and picked up pralines and taffy.  Once we got back we grabbed some lunch and met up with everyone at the pool and beach where we spent the remainder of the day.

Adding Up Tickets

Jake and put on the goggles and went snorkeling again.  It is really alot of fun and we found a number of hermit crabs who were given a temporary home in a bucket but Jill really wanted them to get back home to the ocean.  Jordan, Ryan, Jill and Jake took a walk to the pier for some photos while I started another sand castle.

Beach Walk

Building sand castles has a long history but it is probably my favorite activity.  At one point a young girl walked up to me while building and she seemed pleasant enough.  Then later when we came up to the room Jake and I witnessed her stomping on it!! We were hoping to see the tide take it away.  LOL.

Ryan and Jordan left to go to some shops and then later to a place Ryan knows called Ocean Annie's.  We ordered pizza and wings and stayed at the room.  Once we got done eating we headed back down to the beach.  Jill, Jake and I played catch for a bit then walked to the pier for some skee ball where we piled up some more tickets.  On our way back we used the flashlights to find some sea creatures.  Jill found a bunch of tiny crabs and Jake caught three fish in the net.

Tomorrow.....on to more adventures.