Redneck Rivera Recap!

We decided to do a annual family trip to the beach a little earlier this year for 2 reasons. One, Bill has very limited time off with the new job and I need to see how much time I truly need to be available during the day since I have to lead online classroom activities daily and teach what normally takes a semester in 8 weeks.

The boys and I are driving to Hilton Head in late August to meet up with my in laws and the house they have rented for a week, but we wanted a separate long weekend trip as a family.

We went to a resort in Myrtle Beach after friends had stayed there last summer and more recently in May to high praise. Bill and I both wanted somewhere we could relax, not feel the need to get out unless we wanted, and most importantly have time with the kids.

I have been to MB more times than I can remember with friends and family. The drive down is beyond boring. Bill refused to play my game of: name a misspelled business sign, point out a church with the word "Tabernacle, Praise, Full Gospel, or Assembly" bonus pts if they contain all of the above, and are the number of pawn shops= title loan storefronts=chicken restaurants in proportion to the town populuation? All bets are off if a Confederate flag is flying at the entrance.

Sissy... he knew he would loose playing against a veteran. Seriously does your state have just gem town names as Turbeville, Fitchtig, or Monks Corner?

Yep, been to MB more times than I want to count and have several shirts to prove it. None of which have seen the light of day since anyone questioned George Michael's sexuality.

We did most everything we wanted ordering room service, gorging ourselves at the breakfast buffet, sitting by the pool, walking/digging in the sand/jumping in the water on the beach, heading out one night to ride Go Karts and to an amusement park, walking on the boardwalk.

One of the features of this hotel was a splash park with lazy river for kids. Seeing that Ben loves the pool at home, we were doubtfounded that he was scared to even get in the water. We tried playing with him on several of the spray parts and Bill did get him to go down the smallest slide one time with no tears. He instead wanted to float on the lazy river, so we spent time there playing sea captain on the boats before moving to the pool.

Both days we moved to the pool and later at night the hot tub, which he loved and kept trying to scoot further and further down into the water. Why did I keep thinking he is 15 years shy of a starting role in Boogie Nights 2 as much as he kept asking to go back and get in?

Overall we had a great time, we loved being in a place where everything was close and doing nothing an option. As always we did the trip recap of fav things:

Bill- Go Karts with Ben, Room Service as well as out great meal at the Chesapeake House complete with an alligator, watching the Apple Developers Conference online while I watched the kids

Heather- spending time with the family in a relaxed place aka not at home, sleeping, and a distant 3rd but it makes my list drinking by the pool while finally finishing thank you notes and birth annoucments (seriously wanted to finish these for the last month)

Ben- digging in the sand, esp at night with a special headlamp and flashlight with Daddy, Riding Go Karts and Bumper Cars, the lazy river, early birthday gifts of new water guns since we have already broken 2 this summer

Ian- sleeping, eating, pooping, all things he can do at home for free might I add

Great trip and time together which was the goal.