Even More Snow Birds!

As Zoe likes to say... MORE!  More snow birds, more beaches, more grandparent-visits!  This time: Myrtle Beach.  Unfortunately we flew down there, so there was no stopping at South of the Border, but the view once we got there sure couldn't be beat.  More breathtaking views from the balconies!

Glancing left from the balcony.

And to the right of the condo...

That's right - this condo too had a great balcony with a view; it was 16 floors above the mighty Atlantic pond.  If you look real close you can just see Western Sahara in the distance.  (* No, you can't. Not even with binoculars.) 

Little did the seagull know, he'd be immortalized on some silly human's blog.

With the beach literally at our doorstep, it was the first, and most frequently visited destination - for good reason.  Zoster developed a real love of seafoam, chasing the bubbles back and forth, back and forth, all the while exclaiming "bubbles!"

Come'ere you bubbles... Run away, run away!

Somehow both Tommy and Cara came down with something akin to food poisoning while travelling down to the Myrtle.  Strange, since we hadn't even eaten the same meals, but golly jeepers, we sure tested the glaze on the porcelain in the condo all morning on our first day there. Thankfully it was only a 24-hour bug, so we were right as rain the next day.

All fun and games until someone gets cold feet!

Even Papa braved the shark-infested waters to help the Zoster chase her beloved bubbles.  However, his gastrointestinal malaise must have slowed his normally sharp reaction times, and a rogue wave caught Zoe Mae by the ankle and left a devastating wash of saline solution on her shins.  She was none too pleased, despite the added buoyancy one finds in saltwater.

Must not let my friends see me having fun with the family.  

As luck would have it, there was a swinging bench nearby, and wee Zoe was able to dry off and bask in the comfort of her mama's warm embrace, all while displaying a decidedly adolescent-level of ambivalence on her little face.  (Rumor has it that she learned the trick from Aunt Amy, who herself had pioneered the look in Hawaii so many years ago.)  Either way, Grandpa and Mama weren't buying it, and they laughed it up.  Good times, great oldies.

Three generations of Haagillipselloes chatting in the afternoon sun.

Now Grandma, of course, knows the way straight to the Zoster's heart, so there was no fooling her.  Back up at the condo we conspired for an even more fun outing... the pool!  Zoe had walked by it a few times, exclaiming "wawa!" but little did she know that this wawa was for basking in! 

Well, you've gotta learn how to dive some time...

It begins with a jump in the pool - something the Zoster grew to absolutely love.  She'd stand on the edge and then lean/jump into whomever was willing to catch her.  Giggling up a storm the whole time, and shrieking with delight.

Come one, bump me one more time. I double-dog dare you.

Then it was on to the tubes, where Zoe player bumper boats with Cara.  For a little kid, the Zoster sure can be ruthless when there's a competition on the line!  (*Also untrue.)  The condo had myriad pools and water features, and Zoe did her best to make it into all of them.  Only brute force and quick wit were able to keep her from the hot tubs and outdoor unheated pools!

"Lazy" River my arse  - this thing is AWESOME!

Finally, what better way to wind down after a long day relaxing than a float down the Lazy River?  Or was it a race: tubers vs. swimmers?  Like a little creek, the lazy river meandered around the other pools, and Zoster enjoyed the ride while Grandma provided a little extra propulsion.

Stay tuned, because coming up next week we've got: A Quiz!  But first, one last picture of the fabled winter shellhunter of Myrtle Beach...