Miniature Golf

On every street corner, there is a miniature golf place...and I'm not exaggerating! It seems like they all try to out-do the next one with the fancy themes and decorations! We had a hard time deciding which one to try, but in the end settled on this one called Mt. Atlantis. Up close, it wasn't anything to get too excited about, but we had fun anyways. I would also like to say for the record that I beat Zac by one point!

Medieval Times

One of the many tourist attractions in Myrtle Beach was a place called Medieval Times. It's a dinner and show with horses and lot's of theatrics and sword fighting. Zac and I had been to one similar when we went to Tennessee, except that it was called Dixie Stampede..but it's the same idea. We contemplated taking the boys...but found out it would have been $170 to take the 4 of us!

Anyways, when we were walking around the shopping center the previous night, we stopped in to talk to a lady selling discount tickets to local attractions. She told us we could all get into the Medieval Times show for $40..and all we had to do was give them 90 minutes of our time to do a tour of their facility. Well, we knew it wasn't really that simple, and that we would have to listen to their time-share spiel, but for the sake of our kids, we decided to sacrifice our time to get the discount! We went early the next morning, and all we had to say was that my mom owned 4 time-shares and really needed our help to use them, and we never have to spend money on our accommodations! After that...they really didn't even try to sell us anything. One guy did try to tell us that coming just for the discount tickets was "highly frowned upon"...well..why else to people come anyways when that's their whole marketing strategy! Anyways, we did spend 90 minutes of our time, but got our tickets and felt that in the end that the savings was worth it.

Sir Ben

Sir Lucas

The gang...we left Rachel home with my mom that night!

This was our knight fighting that we had to cheer for

The boys with the Blue Knight!

It was fun to take the boys here and see the show. There was plenty of fighting to keep them entertained. They also were surprised that there were no utensils for our meal!

Fort Sumter

One day we took a two hour drive to visit Charleston and Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter is where the first battle of the Civil War started. We took a boat over to the small man made island.

The bridge we crossed over into Charleston

A picture of the Fort....apparently it was never fully finished but has a brick wall around most of it.

Lucas in front of a cannon

Another cannon shot inside the Fort that was used to fire through a window in the brick wall

Rachel getting in on the cannon shot

Having fun being out of the stroller

Another cannon shot. I'm suprised this picture turned out cute because I could hear in the background some lady yelling at us to get off the cannons! Oh well...I didn't see any signs...and at least I got a good picture!

Zac really loved visiting Fort Sumter...he could tell you more history and facts. I'm really horrible at paying attention and remembering things...plus I had to keep Rachel quite while the Park Ranger was explaining the history so I didn't get to hear too much!

Charleston

After visiting Fort Sumter, we toured around downtown Charleston.

In front of a wishing fountain

Outside the Ben and Jerry's

A very old cemetery outside a church...some of the tombstones were dated in the 1700's. There was a sign here that said that there was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a signer the US Constitution that were buried here.

Zac and the boys walking down the streets of Charleston

On a cobblestone street

An old church in the middle of downtown

Outside the church and cemetery

We all liked Charleston. The streets were so narrow which leaves little room for all the cars. I liked the unique buildings and architecture. We also had fun walking through Market Street which is a local farmer's market and seeing the local women weaving baskets. I didn't want to take their picture because I was afraid I would offend them since I wasn't going to buy one!

Alligator Adventure

We all loved going to this place called Alligator Adventure. There were so many alligators and crocodiles it was amazing. This time of year is their dormant time, so they do not eat all winter long. They all just lay still as can be without even moving an inch. It looked like they were all dead!

The boys not too sure about all these alligators!
Across the pond were all the alligators up on the bank trying to catch some sun!

Up close and personal...I swear I thought he was dead...but I probably would have freaked out if he'd opened his big mouth at me!

I found this crocodile moving as he came out of the water. I didn't get a picture, but later he positioned himself with his mouth open and didn't move for who knows how long! It was funny.

They really are creepy looking..and I sure wouldn't want to find myself on the other side of that fence!

They also had a tiger exhibit...I never did figure out how they acquired tigers when their specialty was reptiles. Anyways, this was their feeding time.

Lucas hanging out with the tigers

This is an albino alligator. It just layed dead looking in the water.

The boys petting a blue tongue skink (South African lizard)

Getting a close look at a young alligator. Interestingly, this gator had just peed all over the caretaker!

Getting to feel the alligator. I'm not sure if you can tell, but his mouth is taped shut tight with electrical tape!

Ben wasn't too sure about touching this alligator!

The boys with my mom. We loved being able to spend time with her and were glad we were able to have such a great trip. We are grateful for her willingness to share her vacation with us and our crazy kids!

Waffle House

This was our last stop on the trip.....the Waffle House! We stopped there after our 2 1/2 hr drive from Myrtle Beach to Columbia to catch our plane. There was a really nice man there that wanted to make Lucas an honorary chef for the day. Lucas wasn't too sure what to say, but thought it was all amusing!


I also wanted to record a little of my experience traveling with a 1 1/2 year old. It's kind of like giving birth and having a newborn....you get through it and kind of forget it all until the next time...and then you remember..oh yeah..this is really hard! I figure I better write it down, so I don't forget the next time I'm tempted to take a trip with her....it will have to be when she's a little older!
Anyways, I traveled alone with Lucas and Rachel on the first leg to Dallas. Zac and Ben took a red eye flight later that night because we weren't sure if Ben would still be playing Football. Rachel did pretty good that flight...it was all still new and exciting! I met up with my mom in Dallas, do I did have some help the rest of the way. Unfortunately when we were trying to leave Dallas, our plane had some problems, so we had to go back to the gate...wait...unload the plane...wait in the terminal...reload a different airplane...and wait some more. Well, at this time...Rachel was way over due for a nap. All of a sudden she started getting really fussy....then all right mad. She went ballistic! We were still sitting on the plane, waiting for it to be ready...and I couldn't calm her down at all. I went up the front of the plane and asked the flight attendant if I could get off and wait right outside until they were ready to leave. Having a ballistic child was convincing enough. She still wouldn't calm down after standing outside with her..but at least everybody couldn't hear. Shortly after, the flight attendant told me they were ready to go, so I had to get back on the plane..Rachel still screaming...and to wait another five minutes or so until we started to move. It wasn't until we started to taxi out to the run way that she finally gave up and conked out. The whole episode probably lasted about 20 minutes...but to me it really felt like hours! I do have to admit that I had slipped a natural herb that is a sleep aid into her juice that she had started to drink before all this happened, and I think it probably made her too loopy or something. Anyways, it was horrible, but at least she slept that whole flight...and most of the 3 hour drive to our hotel...and slept through the entire night!

Needless to say, I didn't give her any on the way back. She had a few fussy moments but nothing like the big freakout. She liked to push Lucas out of his seat, and most of the last flight was with Lucas on my lap and her in own seat! She did finally fall asleep on her own and I was able to have 45 minutes of stress-free traveling!


So, lessons learned....

1- try out any sleep aids before the flight

2- toddlers might be better off with their own seat....even if they are free until 2

3- I will never have to see any of those people that we completely annoyed again in my life...so what's a little screaming!

Pumpkin Patch Hayride

A couple of weeks ago we went to our favorite pumpkin patch for Family Home Evening. We had a lovely hayride out to the pumpkins, and then the kids searched high and low for the best pumpkins to cut and take home. We've done this for the past few years and have enjoyed carrying on the tradition!

Rachel wasn't too shy about picking out her pumpkin!

I thought it was so nice of some random lady to offer to take our picture....after I saw the picture I didn't think she was so nice after all!!!

Yuck E Cheese!

Lucas just celebrated his 7th birthday. Lucky for him, it was UEA weekend and he didn't have to go to school. We started out the morning cooking his favorite french toast for breakfast and pulling out the special occasion blue plates.


Later, we met up for lunch with Zac's family at Crown Burger, since we didn't think that everyone would want to eat cardboard pizza at Chuck E Cheese. Uncle Terry got him this real spider...in a key chain.

All he wanted for his birthday was a Nintendo DS. We kept telling him that he might have to wait and ask Santa for Christmas, but since we couldn't think of anything else that he would really love...we gave in.

Lucas eyeing his favorite carrot cake made especially for him by Grandma Bonnie.

Lezlee and Lydee

Me and two crazy boys!

Rachel fascinated with the mouse' teeth.

I think that Zac likes Yuck E Cheese as much as the boys.

We had a fun day celebrating Lucas' birthday. He got to finish out the day going to the BYU football game with Zac. After the game he told Zac..." It wasn't as boring as I thought it would be!" He's not as much a sports fanatic as Ben...but he did like Cosmo and the cheerleaders!

It's a Miracle!

Rachel just turned 18 months this past week, and still prefers to crawl as her method of transportation! It has been a long summer of her crawling through the dirt, sand, grass, cement, pool...you name it...she'll crawl through it! Anyways, I have been ready for her to walk so she will stop ruining her clothes and I could stop carrying her so much. She has been walking around furniture and taking a few steps here and there, but she is determined to do it on her own time and pace...and hates to be forced to do it. Well, I was suprised when she decided to walk across the room the other day and I thought hooray...she's finally doing it! Well luckily for me, I happended to crab my camera and catch these videos, because after these couple of tries, she's back to crawling the majority of the time and walking here and there. I know she can do it when she wants to.....but she sure is taking her sweet time!

I guess we will have to keep bribing her with corn dogs and cookies!

Off to School!

After a long summer (it really wasn't as long as most because they didn't end school until July 2 this year...but it seemed long to me!), it seems like the first day of school can never come soon enough. Now we are back in the swing of things, and I must admit it is so nice having both kids in school all day. I sometimes feel guilty I only have to take care of Rachel...oh well...she's plenty enough!

Anyways, the kids were excited for school to start. Lucas seems to be adjusting well to all day school...except that he complains that it breaks his back to sit all day at school! He really likes getting to have school lunch!