Backtracking to Myrtle

June 27-29, 2010

After our very short visit to Pinehurst, we went south of the border for a two night stay in Myrtle Beach. Our little family got there on Sunday, and our friend Jess drove down on Monday to join us. That's the only way we happen to have this family beach picture.
Unlike the previous trips we've made there, we actually spent a decent amount of time on the beach itself. We were on the sand in the mornings and late afternoons. And we did more than just stroll around looking for seashells. Thanks to Special Agent Oso (he's a unique stuffed bear who's on a special assignment to help a kid somewhere), Ally was all excited to build sandcastles with Daddy. She also finally conquered her fear of having water splashed in her face and therefore loved walking into the waves with Mommy and Daddy. She would laugh and giggle and hang on tight as the water pushed her around. Even when the ocean stole her shoe and tried to eat it, she was happy.

Cora put her feet in the water and wet sand once, but she didn't seem to appreciate the experience. Her tiny feet also went Godzilla on Daddy's sandcastle stacks; that was a little more up her alley. Cora spent a lot of her time getting ready to go out in the sun, and then watching her big sister play from the comfort and shade of someone else's lap.

Other notable memories include walking along the new boardwalk, a visit to the Gay Dolphin, Daddy's NOT winning the baseball game in the arcade, and being harassed by a fudge-selling man (who probably loves the name of the afore-mentioned gift shop). We skipped the seafood buffets and instead opted for Chinese take-out, Jimmy Johns, and Cheeseburger in Paradise. And some ice cream. The following video adequately defines Cora's favorite 5 minutes of our Myrtle Beach excursion.

This is a funny picture of Ally being a pirate. What makes it even funnier is that Ally doesn't like pirates. Ally is helping me write this part, and she says (while trying hard to squint one eye closed) to make sure I put "AAAAAAaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh!"