Beyond Our Wildest Dreams: beach

We just spent a wonderful week at Surfside Beach, S.C.
Believe it or not, but this was my 23rd year spending my summer vacation at Surfside.

Twenty-three years of playin' on the same beach, riding the same waves, and visiting the same sites.

And although every year is the same in many ways, the memories made and the time shared each year is unique and special!

This year was especially different in the fact that my sweet Grandpa passed away while we were out of town. Our vacation was interrupted by a quick trip home in the middle of our week away. We attended the funeral and memorial service for my Grandpa and then headed back to the beach for the remainder of our vacation. It was such a blessing to be able to return to the beach and spend uninterrupted time with my entire family. We cried a little, laughed a lot, and shared lots of "Grandpa" stories with each other.
It was such a sweet time!

We spent MANY wonderful years with my Grandpa at Surfside beach! It just seemed fitting for us to be there, and to talk about him at a place where we had shared so many sweet memories.
And even though my grandpa wasn't physically with us this year, our trip was indeed filled with lots of memory making moments!

So here are my TOP TEN memory making moments of Surfside Beach 2011!

Memory Making Moment #1

Each year as we head out of town, we stop at Quincy's and enjoy their BIG ole' breakfast buffet.

It's the ONE time during the year where my kids are allowed to fill up on doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip pancakes, and french toast.

If you look closely at Miss Sophie's plate, you'll even notice a few fruit loops thrown in the mix too;)
Yup, it's quite the breakfast, but my kids LOVE it!
What a GREAT way to kick start our vacation!

Memory Making Moment #2

Cruisin' the strip in our cool set of wheels!

This year, Shane decided to rent a golf cart for the week.

We had a total BLAST cruisin' around each evening.

We discovered some fun new places that we may never have noticed before had we not had been able to just cruise around town;)

Memory Making Moment #3

Eating a yummy treat at Sophia's!

Of course, when we saw the name of this little cafe', we knew we HAD to check it out!

It was a great place to enjoy a sweet treat!

Memory Making Moment #4

Playing fun games with Papa!

My dad is great at coming up with random competitive games to keep everyone entertained.

One day it may be a swimming game and the next day it's a jumping contest.

Whatever it is, everyone has fun participating!

Memory Making Moment #5

Sweet time with cousins!

What a blessing it is to have cousins around,

who also serve as built in playmates!

Memory Making Moment #6

Spashin' around in the pool!

The kids enjoy the fact that they can go back and forth between the pool and the ocean as much as they like.

We usually spend as much time poolside as we do on the beach.

My kids can't get enough of the water and all of them have become REALLY proficient swimmers!

Memory Making Moment #7

Beach time!

Of course, the beach is where we spend most of our time while on vacation.

Around 9am every morning we stake out a spot,

set up our tent,

put out our chairs and hang out until about 6pm!

Needless to say we soak up EVERY minute of our beach time that we can!

Memory Making Moment #8

The Yum Yum Shop

We visit this ice cream shop every year while at the beach!

It's a definite family tradition and one we all look forward to it each year!

Memory Making Moment #9

Family pictures

Getting sixteen people to smile, look in the same direction and do BOTH at the same time is no easy task.

We tried to get some good beach shots, but unfortunately it started raining the night we planned to take these. We settled for some pics on the balcony instead!