The Miltons From A to Z: First Family Beach Trip

It's been a LONG time since we took a trip that didn't involve visiting family...I'm talking China...not counting trips to Hong Kong for doctors appointments or our trip back to the states the last time we took a trip was when Zack was 3 months old. I feel like we have an excuse...I mean we did move 4 times since then and we fixed up a house and we had a baby. It may not have been like the "once in a lifetime" trips we took while we lived in China but this one was pretty special. It was both Zack and Hunter's first beach trip (to the ocean).

Zack was too excited about the little puddle he found to care too much about the ocean right behind him.

Hunter wasn't sure what the big deal was...we kept putting his feet in the water and in the sand and his facial expression didn't change at all.

Adam and I realized how different beach trips were with children. Not only were we the first on the beach but the whole weekend we only spent one morning at the beach and a couple hours at the pool. It may have been the weather but we talked about it and neither of us were disappointed in the time spent doing "water things".

Our camp consisted of a blanket for snacks and play time, a tent to get H out of the sun, 2 chairs, a wagon filled with sunscreen towels snacks bottles and an umbrella which we didn't end up needing because of the lack of sunshine.

Quick Recap:
Several weeks ago Adam said "we should go to the beach sometime in June"...originally we were thinking Outer Banks but with the lack of condos available and only having a 3 day weekend it made more sense to go closer so we decided on Myrtle Beach. I found a place to stay...packed...shopped...cleaned and we were off...
Thursday: arrived at 10:00 pm with a wide eyed toddler

Friday:
Woke up and about 6:00 (sort of sleeping in for us) and were at the beach by 9:30
Played in the sand

took a nap

ate some lunch and went for a swim

After naps we went to barefoot landing to hang out and have some dinner

the downpour that happened 3 min before walking out the door

Zack's first trip to an arcade...he had a blast!

We may have become "those parents" who give their kid an i-pad to play with but it helped pass the time until our food came and gave Adam and I some time to relax and chat.

Zack found a nest of baby ducks...I wish I got it on video but he imitated them shaking water off their backs and eating (???) their pants (as Zack called it)

We ride in style

thankfully the tiger didn't attack Zack (maybe he got a free pass since he doesn't know how to read)

We stayed out late (8:30) and the boys seemed to hold up pretty well.

Saturday:
Woke up 6:30 (hallelujah) and because of the promise of rain we played it safe and went to Broadway at the Beach giving us the option of walking around outside or going to the Aquarium.

this is how Zack says fish

Daddy helping

"Sakkkk do" (Zack do)...in other words he wanted to do it on his own

Went home...no nap just a short sleep in the car, threw on our suits and went to the pool.

why we didn't spend the whole day at the pool

Zack is still a little afraid of the slides but he loves the water and both boys loved the lazy river!

fun times on the lazy river

so exciting

We came home gave Zack dinner and put the boys to bed...Adam and I ate take out and relaxed on the couch watching crime dramas and trying to stay awake until at least 10.

Sunday: We woke up to a beautiful morning. Unfortunately getting pool or beach ready and packing to go home and getting car ride ready seemed like too much so we hung out on the boardwalk which was new to Adam and I since it had been built while we were in China.

gotta love those cheeks

While on the boardwalk we went on the Sky Wheel...we weren't sure how Zack would respond but we brought him up to it, asked him if he wanted to go and he said yes. He actually loved it!