Merry Christmas to you!

Myrtle Beach

Our first little family vacation was a success. We made a checklist with the girls of things to do, like go putt putt golfing, find a shark tooth (we didn't), float on the lazy river, finish a big puzzle, and "ride into the sun" (Cetty's addition to the list). We tried to really focus on the kids and make it a true family vacation, and I could tell the girls were soaking it in.

I don't think I would choose Myrtle Beach during the summer since it's more developed and touristy than I like but in October it was quiet and the weather was perfect, plus Bry's mom gave us a week from her timeshare and you can't beat a free condo. The time together just us was so great and so needed.

And here are a billion photos because it's too much work to narrow them down.

My very favorite part of the week: Brookgreen Garden. Love, love, loved that place! I pretty much want to live there forever. There was a zoo of animals native to South Carolina, a million incredible sculptures, a poetry garden, huge trees, historical rice paddies...acres and acres of loveliness.

Photo by Cetty

...and Poppy :)

Our cute little dancers

Restaurants with kids are not the best. fussy baby, spilled drinks...but also a basket of fresh hush puppies to make us feel like we were really in the south that almost made it worth it.

Murrell's Inlet marsh walk

And this, Folks, is a sand version of Middle Earth...The Shire, Bree, Misty Mountains, Beorn's house, the Lonely Mountain with Smaug inside. Bry recently finished reading The Hobbit with the girls.

Fife was much displeased with the water

Poppy's crab