Vacation 2012 - the going

Somehow, it took us  months to decide on a vacation location.  Then we sort of decided and everytime we would find a house or condo we liked it would be rented within about 24 hours of our first looking at it.  So, we finally got the hint and jumped on a condo in Myrtle Beach - probably not either of our first choices for location, but sun, sand, and pool were the big requirements so we were pretty flexible. 

We booked the condo and had less than 2 weeks to anticipate the trip.  That sent ListMaking Cara into list making overdrive.  Oh, how I love a good list! 

The drive was supposed to be 12 hours and check in was between 3pm and 6pm on Saturday the 16th.  We figured we would leave Friday - eat lunch, leave around 2 and hope that Max napped in the car and the other two boys would just chill out and watch a movie or two.  Then we could stop for dinner and then drive a little farther, leaving us just a bit of a drive the next day.



It's not the best pic - but Max was dumping out all the goldfish he could get his hands on while I was attempting to pack totes of food, beach toys, etc.  Then there was a walk to the neighborhood pond to expend some energy.

Well, plans schmans.  Dave's mom had been staying with us, recuperating from an illness.  She went to the doctor Friday afternoon and got some unexpected test results which necessitated another doctor's appointment then some other decisions had to be made. 


We finally pulled out of our driveway at 7pm.  It was a very long day of packing, cleaning, entertaining boys who thought we should be leaving, and worrying about Dave and his mom.

We drove a few hours and stopped for a late and icky fast food dinner.  Then we got back into the car and, gloriously, everyone eventually fell asleep.  We drove awhile longer but were both pretty ehausted from our day so we stopped at a hotel, unloaded, and deposited everyone into a bed.  The pack and play was buried deep in the back of the van and it just wan't worth getting it out so Max and I attempted to sleep in a chaise lounge type of hotel chair in the room.  Ugh.

Saturday morning we set out to finish our adventure.  Apparently, and I'm not sure why it didn't occur to us, everyone checks in around the same time so the last few hundred miles were just bumper to bumper traffic heading into Myrtle Beach.  It was very slowgoing.

A little peek'boo to pass the time.

We finally arrived and found the place to pick up the keys to the condo.  It was after 6 when we arrived but thankfully they were still open.  We got the keys, drove to the condo, and started unloading all of our stuff.

The condo was fine - not the nicest or newest accomocations, but you could see and hear the ocean from our balcony (out the front room door and our bedroom door).  Plus, the beach was just outside the door (well, down the elevator and out the door).  

We did a little unpacking and settling and then headed to walmart for groceries and other items we didn't want to pack (diapers for Max, sunscreen, etc.).  Again, not sure why it didn't occur to me, but Walmart was a mad house.  Insanity.  People everywhere.  We were probably at least 5th in our line and I think most aisles were open for check out.  The boys were tired, Dave and I were tired, and I really could've cried right there.

Thankfully, we survived and made it back to the condo nearly fully stocked for the week.  Ahhh....

 

Then we all collapsed into bed!  Well, Max took some coaxing, but eventually we all collapsed!