Vacation with Jill

Jill and I had a wonderful time at Myrtle Beach. Well, so did Dave, Mickey and Garrett, but Jill and I had more fun. At least WE think so.

This is a view of the beach from Pier 14.

Here is Jill and all the boys hitting the waves. I walked along a few times letting the waves flow over my feet, but I avoid actually getting into the ocean. There are sharks, jelly fish, stingrays and those little fish that look like rocks that can poison a person. Garrett and Mickey went fishing off of Pier 14 and saw people catch a small shark and a stingray. That just goes to prove my point, land is better.

Jill and I took a walk on the wild side and got our hair braided. I got the cornrows and Jill got one threaded braid. Ok, I went a little wilder than her with the hair, but SHE is the one who got a tattoo.

She wanted one of an angel but the man didn't have one. She had to improvise, that's what we do on vacation, so she got one that says "angel" in Chinese. It's supposed to last for 30-45 days but she had to keep getting it "touched up". It may be gone by now.

Her braid will last longer than mine, though. Hers will last about two months and my braids should last about one. My family likes my braids, except Nick requested that I wear a hat when I took him to school this morning and had to go with him to the office. He said the guys might not think it's cool. I told him he could be wrong. They might think it's hot. He didn't seem to think that was a better situation. So, I put on my Ohio State ball cap and in we went. He wasn't in trouble I just had to fill out a form. I might also add, being the proud mom that I am, that he held both doors open so mom could go in first. Such a gentleman.

This is a beautiful Myrtle Beach sunrise. Jill and I were up at 4:30am to go hunting for seashells. Yes, 4:30am. Mickey and Garrett were out the morning before at 6am and found some gorgeous conk shells. They said that there were people out before them who found even better ones. Jill and I wanted some for ourselves so there we were, out in the sand with our plastic bags, and ready to go. Well, in case you did not know this, I will let you know. It is still dark at 4:30am. It is hard to see the beach and even harder to see sea shells by the seashore. We eventually gave up and Jill went back to bed. I did stay out long enough to get a few good pics and then I was off to breakfast at the Pancake House. We did find a few pretty shells later on in the mid-afternoon. You know, when "normal" people are up and at the beach.

We took a cab to Broadway on the Beach. This is the whole crew enjoying the day. We wanted a picture of all of us so I asked a very nice lady (one who didn't look like she could outrun all of us and take my camera home with her). She took the picture. (she actually had to take a couple because she was blind in one eye, yes, I found the ONE person in the whole place to take our photo who was blind in one eye.) I think it turned out quite nicely.

Part of the vacation was a steak dinner for Garrett that Jill had promised him. We ate at Landry's. The waiter brought his cake with a candle and five forks. He enjoyed the steak very much and we all enjoyed the cake.

The flight both ways wasn't too bad. I'm not very fond of airplanes. They defy the law of gravity, like bumblebees. I'm not afraid to die, mine you, but I'm not at all a fan of pain or the intense fear of plummeting to the sky towards the ground. The day after we arrived at the Yachtsman we saw a story on the news of an airplane that was hit by lightening, fell to the ground and split in two. Let's just walk home from the beach?

Jill did very well on her part. It was a bittersweet vacation. She usually went on this vacation with Larry. She had fun most of the time but there were a few teary moments remembering him. She did say that if he had been there she probably wouldn't have gotten the braid or tattoo. It's good for her to take some baby steps outside of the box.

We both stitched a bit in the evenings when the fun of the day was over, but neither of us finished anything.

Now, vacation is over and it's back to life. Phoebe went back to work today after having her tonsils taken out a week and a half ago. She's doing really well. She said it just feels like a sore throat now. The girls are back to daycare. They enjoyed the time off as much as she did but I think they missed playing with all of their little friends. And, I'm back. Dirty dishes, floors and clothes await me. The fam did a pretty good job of keeping things in order while I was gone but they are glad I'm back to take things over again.

I have a list of my own of things to do as well. One of which is work on the gifts for the TANA Promise Pieces and create a great gift for the TANA Christmas party. The theme is "white". I have an idea for what I want to do and have already started on it. I need to finish the finishing and hope it looks as good in reality as it did in my head. I will have to let you know.

Family Visit

I had a wonderful day yesterday! My dad and Carolyn drove down and spent the day with me. They brought Chipper their dog. When I visited them earlier in the summer, Chipper wouldn't have anything to do with me or Nick. He's a very picky puppy. This time, he crawled right up on my lap like we had been friends for life. Nick will be so jealous. He usually makes friends with dogs before anyone else even has a chance.

We tried several times to stop by so dad could watch Nick practice football but for the first time all year they decided to practice all day in the gym. Partly because we had a really severe thunderstorm in the afternoon. It sounded like it was right over the house. There was no delay between the bright lightening and almost deafening thunder. It hit one time and my dad was off that chair in a second. I'm not sure I've every seen him move that fast in my life. It was a freaky storm.

We ate lunch at the Texas Roadhouse. Carolyn and I had salmon and dad had steak. After lunch we picked up the girls from daycare and went home. The girls took right to dad. Usually they are both a bit shy, especially Alyssa, but not this time. Emma talked constantly and Alyssa enjoyed playing "don't copy me" with dad.

Chipper didn't like getting in on the photo action. He's not used to being around children. I think they made him nervous. Emma loved snuggling up to her Great Grandma, though.

Dad loved it that Emma just jumped right up in his lap. She's not usually shy but it did surprise me she just climbed right up there. Dad has a way with kids. Carolyn said that he communicates with them on the same level. I think dad just rolled his eyes and went on. They have a great relationship. They tease each other back and forth and don't get mad. It's cute.

Carolyn brought me a stitching book. (A woman who knows how to get to my heart.) Dad brought me a picture of him and my mom when they were still very young. I think I was just a little over a year old when the picture was taken. He also gave me a picture of his parents when they were first married. I have to get my scanner signal to connect with my computer signal and then I will scan and post them here. I have to admit I have some very handsome and beautiful people in my family. (Maybe good looks skipped my generation and picked back up after me. LOL)

I sent them home with the apple coasters I made and a welcome banner that I stitched and finished the edges with the Finishing With Flair class I took from EGA. I think they liked them. I usually don't give stitched items as gifts but I know that they will both appreciate the hard work that goes into making something by hand.

Before the snow gets here this winter, Phoebe, the girls and I are going to get up to see them again. Nick and I had such a great time, he's ready to go back soon, too.