Spring Break 2009 (April 10-14): Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Since I had time off during spring break from ASCS and Jeremy also had a couple days of leave saved up, we decided to take a little 5-day trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, just the three of us. We stayed at the Patricia Grand Resort Hotel, in a King room, with a balcony over-looking the ocean. This hotel had an indoor pool, lazy river, and three hot tubs, as well as an outdoor pool and two tubs. Besides enjoying the hotel and soaking up rays under the palm trees on the hotel's private beach, we also enjoyed visiting the Carolina Opry, Myrtle Beach State Park, First Baptist of Myrtle Beach (for Easter Sunday), Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing, Ripley's Aquarium, IMAX Theatre (two shows: Dinosaurs and Under the Sea), a couple of yummy seafood restaurants, beach shops, and both Tanger Outlets. Jeremiah was a trooper through it all (what an incredible 11-month-old!) and we had an amazing time together as a family. We enjoyed it so much that we hope to go back someday.

Here are some pictures from our wonderful vacation:

Our hotel room was just perfect for our little family of three!!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

This is our view of the ocean, from our balcony. I enjoyed sitting out there, marveling at God's amazing creation.

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

As soon as we would open the patio doors each morning, Jeremiah would cruise along the walls/furniture, over to the door, and out the door, onto the balcony. I have to admit, it make me just a bit nervous!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

What a cute boy in such an adorable little Nike outfit!!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Do I blend in with the palm trees?! The following four pictures were taken at Myrtle Beach State Park. What a gorgeous place!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Jeremiah is trying to say "Mommy, put me down! No more pictures! I want to play in the sand!"

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Playing in the water with Daddy!!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

I love this picture! Safe in Daddy's arms!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

The day before Easter, our hotel hosted a little Easter party for the kids, complete with treats and the Easter Bunny himself! Of course we had to take pictures! Jeremiah went straight for Mr. Bunny's nose, so Mr. Bunny decided to grab his nose back! So cute!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

We sort of got a half-smile, after we finally convinced him to let go of Mr. Bunny's nose. :)

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

We enjoyed lounging by the pool. :)

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Jeremiah says, "Hey Ladies. I know I'm cute."

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Of course he flirted with every lady that passed by. Each person that saw him that afternoon would comment on how beautiful his big blue eyes were, his crazy amount of hair, or how cute he was in his little matching swimsuit and sun hat. I have to admit, he is pretty adorable, although, I know I'm just a bit biased....just a bit...:)

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

He loved snacking on the animal crackers that the Easter bunny gave him.

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Here's a cute little palm tree for my cute little guy!!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

This is the view of the hotel, from the poolside, looking up, toward our room.

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Here's the outdoor pool and hot tubs, surrounded by palm trees, of course!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

This is the indoor pool and hot tubs with cool murals on every wall.

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Jeremiah wasn't too fond of the lazy river, but we thought it was pretty cool!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Jeremiah says, "Happy Easter, everybody!" The cute little outfit with matching hat and socks, is from Grammy and Grampy Stults. If you look really really really close, you can just barely see his four teeth (two big ones on the bottom and two teeny ones on the top). He usually won't open his mouth wide enough for me to take pictures, so this is all you get to see for now. :)

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

OOOOOOOO, the Easter basket! He got two different kinds of Peeps, marshmallow candies, bunny ears, an Easter book, chocolates, and some other little toys.

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Diggin' in!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

"These look yummy! Hmmm....how do I open them?"

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

"Peeps! My favorite!"

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

"I guess I'll start nibbling at the box, and eventually I'll get to the chocolate, right?!"

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

He loved dumping the whole basket out and crawling through it. :)

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

This is my Easter outfit. It's actually a really old dress, but I was just excited about being able to fit into it, which hasn't been possible for about three years or so!!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

For Easter Sunday service, we attended First Baptist Church of Myrtle Beach. Instead of putting him in the nursery (which is what we usually do at our regular church on Sundays), we just kept him with us in the service. He actually did quite well, and of course he melted the hearts of the older couple behind us, who just had to pick him up and hold him after the service. He's so friendly!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

This is what Daddy and Jeremiah did while Mommy soaked up the sun on the beach.

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

This was Jeremiah's first aquarium visit!!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

Jeremiah's favorite part of the aquarium was the fish tunnel, where he could look up, and sharks, fish, turtles, and sting rays swam over his head. How fun!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

We also got to explore Barefoot Landing, which was a really neat place with over 100 little shops, connected by floating docks, on a river. Attached to the shops, was a mini zoo. As soon as Jeremiah went up to the fence, a little monkey came to greet him. It was so cute!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

We visited both Tanger Outlet locations! We got some pretty great deals!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

New swimsuit for the "new bod." (My cover-up that I've had for many years just happened to go perfectly with my new swimsuit! How convenient!) Since starting the South Beach Diet in the end of January, I have lost two pants sizes, 2 1/2 inches off my waist, and about 20 pounds, which puts me back at my wedding weight and about 10ish pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight. Woot woot! Praise God!!

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC

I took this picture, right before we left. "Goodbye, Myrtle Beach." :( We'll be back someday! :)

From Spring Break 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC