Love & Laugh & Anchors

Love, laugh & anchors.

That pretty much sums up our week at Myrtle Beach!

Just to get you up to speed,

here's how it all went down...

Several years ago,

I found CaSandra's blog.

Or maybe she found mine.

I really can't remember the details,

but that's not important anyway :-)

 

We kept in touch with one another

on a surface level

for a couple of years.

Until we both registered our kids

for Classical Conversations.

Once we realized we had that connection,

we started e-mailing regularly.

And then texting.

And then the phone conversations began.

Over the last 7 months

CaS and I have formed an incredible friendship

which I treasure!

 

We decided to meet up in Myrtle Beach a while back

and the girls and I have been counting down the days!

Crista and Addie Grace have been pen-pals

with Kensley and Nolan

this whole time

and they just love receiving surprise mail

that's just for them,

and sending little blessings as well!

Our girls felt like they already knew

Kensley and Nolan

and they got busy right away

with the important job of playing.

 



 

 

 

We were fortunate to be able to do some

fun activities while we were visiting.

We hit up Broadway at the Beach first!

Lots to do there

and lots of grins and giggles too!

 

We ate at Johnny Rockets

for lunch.

My girls loved the dancing and singing.

And the French Fries.

They loved those too!

 

There was a HUGE candy store

that was calling out to us...lol.

You can't visit a candy store without buying

a little something!

Crista picked out her favorite

and Addie grace decided to forgo the candy for....

lip gloss.

Classic Addie Grace.

 

 

The girls worked hard and saved up

some spending money

for their trip.

They decided they wanted to spend it at

Build-A-Bear.

Crista loves this place

and Addie got to do her very first bear.

 

We walked away with some very happy customers!

Kensley named her bear Lovie Dovie.

Crista's bear was named Fuzzy

and Addie Grace decided on Rosa for hers.



 

 

The sweet side of Addie Grace

(4years 4 months old)

 

Annnndddd...

her silly side.

 

 

Our precious Crista

(7 years 8 months)

 

Just hanging around!

All the kids loved playing on the hammock.

 

 

After asking for 3 days,

we finally took the kids to see the ocean.

The weather flip-flopped all week.

Cool one day, warm the next.

This day was actually on the warmer side.

It was my intention for them to SEE the water,

stick their toes in it, maybe.

And look for some shells.

 

Can you see how this is quickly

going from

SEEING the water

to PLAYING in the water?

 

{the Ralphie Spin!}

Crista's favorite ;-)

 

They may have gotten a little wet.

Just slightly.

So glad I had my camera

to capture it all!!

 

 

Pretty early on,

CaS and I claimed

Hebrews 6:19

as our friendship verse

and the anchor

as our symbol.

Might I add,

we claimed it as ours long before

anchors became the next big fashion statement...haha.

But it totally worked in our advantage

that its the "in" thing for this season

because finding cute matching outfits for the girls

was super easy!

That,

of course,

meant...

PHOTOSHOOT!!

 

 

I got a few good shots at a local park

and then we treated the kids to Putt-putt.

This was new to them all

(Crista doesn't remember playing years ago)

and it was a hoot watching them learn to play!

 

Crista got a hole-in-one

on the second hole!

This kid amazes me sometimes!

 

Addie did this each and every time

she hit the ball in the hole.

Even if it did take her 20 tries!!

 

 

We hit the beach again that afternoon,

but it was chillier

than the night before.

The girls were only allowed to play in the sand that afternoon.

 

 

It was so hard for our little fish

to be so close to the water and

yet not be able to get in.

Crista was obedient and stayed on dry land

and decided to dig a hole instead.



 

 

The last full day we were there,

CaS and I decided to do separate activities with our kids.

So I headed South to another part of Myrtle Beach.

The first thing the girls noticed

was another candy shop!



 

We don't have candy shops like this where we're from

so its kind of a big deal for the kids.

 

Crista decided on assorted flavors of rock candy

and Addie Grace chose gummy bears.

 Walking along the boardwalk,

Crista stopped me

and asked to take pictures.

That rarely happens these days with her

so I took advantage of the opportunity!

 

 

 

This is the real reason

we came.

The Sky Wheel!!

The girls have been talking about it all week

and we couldn't have been more excited

that we were so close!

 

 

Going up!!



 

The girls loved the Sky Wheel.

And I have to admit,

I loved it too!

It was fully enclosed so no chance of us falling out.

Tried to do a little selfie,

just to prove I was there too!

 

 

Our last morning with our friends.

It was bittersweet.

I was really missing Jake,

so were the girls.

But I didn't want to say goodbye to our friends either!

We had a great week

and hope we can make this an annual trip.

All the kids were so well behaved and cheerful,

despite being off schedule.



 

 

 I'm so thankful God brought us together!

Friendship really is a great treasure.

I'm excited about what our future holds

and where God leads us!