Where is Myrtle Manor????

Yesterday started off with a few hours at the pool.

 It was time for the van to get an oil change, so we left the pool to visit the car dealership.  Yes, we have gone well over 3000 miles now! 

Then we were off to Myrtle Manor!  For those who don't know their reality T.V., Myrtle Manor is a show based on life in a trailer park in Myrtle Beach.  DISCLAIMER:  I have NEVER seen an episode...but Jane and Rose have seen EVERY episode!  We pulled into the park and they saw the main character Becky come walking around the corner, they both screamed!  We stopped and talked to her and her dad, Cecil, the park owner.  They told us to head down to the opposite end of the park to see the other "scenes" from the show.  As we get out to take another picture, Jane sees one of the other "character's", Taylor, coming out of his trailer, I think she may have stared tearing up!  It was hilarious...

After the culture lesson at Myrtle Manor, we went to the Boardwalk to ride the Sky Wheel.  It was VERY cool.

 That was about the only thing that was cool about the Boardwalk though!  It is basically like the Midway at the MN State Fair multiplied by 500.  Not really my bag.  Definitely good people watching though.

Savannah and such....

We started off Sunday with a carriage tour of the Historic District of Savannah.  It was very interesting. The architecture is beautiful.  The city has a lot to tell, it is considered one of the most haunted cities in America, for many reasons, but a big one is that many of the cemeteries have been paved over to erect buildings or monuments to people that aren't even buried below. We walked through some of the cemeteries that are still there and it was amazing how old some of the gravestones were.

  Luckily we didn't see any ghosts.

We did our own walking tour through the city and visited some landmarks from the movie Forrest Gump that was filmed in Savannah, like the church that the feather is falling from in the very beginning of the movie.

The place where the bench was placed when he is eating his "box of chocolates".

 The bench is not there, because it was a movie prop and is now in the Savannah visitors center.

We had lunch at Mellow Mushroom, an East Coast Pizzeria.

This morning we left Savannah and started our journey up the coast to Myrtle Beach, SC.

Mark never makes these pictures, so I wanted to be sure he was included in at least one.  The kids asked if we could stop taking pictures when they have to look into the sun.  I told them that I don't have much control over where the signs on the side of the highway are placed or where the sun will be at any given time that we stop.  So that is why there are many squinting faces here and also, Rose HATES having her picture taken, so she is usually looking quite sour in most of them.

 The kids so badly wanted to stay in oceanfront accommodations and their wish came true.

 I am blogging from the balcony of our condo.  I wish you could hear the waves with me.....

So long AMI.....we will miss you....

Friday was our last full day on Anna Maria Island and we wanted to make the most of it.  We had to add in a picture of the view from our bedroom.

Mark has made multiple bets with all of the kids for years trying to get them to try something new to eat, and not even once has he lost, so he thought he was in the clear making this one.  Well...he lost and the he paid big time!  Ted got a "Nickel" skateboard and I refuse to tell you what the food item was, I would be way too embarrassed. 

Mark, the boys and I did some shopping while the girls walked around town and hung out at the house.  We had dinner and our last ice cream on the island.

 

 

This morning we reluctantly packed up.....

 and left our house headed north.  The drive took about six hours and went smooth.  We arrived in Savannah around 4:30 and checked in to our hotel.
Everything we had heard about the town is true.  Very charming, friendly and full of character.  The weather is beautiful.  Hopefully we can take some well rested children on a tour of a plantation and a carriage tour of the city tomorrow.

Happy Fouth of July

Yesterday we decided to drive to Ft. Meyers to give Thomas a tour of the Twins Spring Training Facility.  Sometimes the best laid plans don't turn out quite how you would hope.  We thought the drive was an hour and a half, thanks to road construction and not reading the GPS correctly, it was closer to two and half!  Literally the SECOND we pulled into Ft. Meyers, it started to downpour.  We decided to stop for lunch in the hopes that the rain would let up and we could continue on to Hammond Field.  No such luck, it continued to rain...We went to the stadium anyway, so Thomas could at least see where they practice and he bought a hat for the minor league team the Ft. Meyers Miracle.

 Of course on the way home, the rain stopped!


Just in time for my favorite holiday of the year, (for any of you that may get that question in trivia someday) the weather was glorious!  We went to the Anna Maria Island 4th of July Parade, which runs the entire seven mile length of the island.

 The residents of the island are VERY big into their pets...they have their own ambulance.

 Jane and I waited in line for the BEST donuts that I have ever had and I consider myself somewhat of a donut connoisseur.  They are made to order vanilla cake donuts.  So,  you choose the toppings, i.e. chocolate with Oreos, chocolate with sea salt, vanilla with sprinkles, etc.  And they are warm...needless to say we will be stopping there on our way out of town for a dozen for the road.

 

 

After the parade, we spent a few hours at the beach and then back home for pool time.

 We took the trolley to dinner and on the way back, there was a "cute" boy sitting across from Jane and Rose, but right next to Mark.  As they were giggling and whispering about him, Mark leans over and says to him, "I'm sorry if they are staring at you and making you feel uncomfortable, but I think they think you are cute."  I have never seen that shade of red on any of their faces before.  I laughed so hard, I cried.  

The island does their fireworks on the beach.  It was a great display!  Couldn't have asked for a more perfect fourth!

Rain, Rain Go Away!

July 1 - Not much to say, we woke up to rain, found that it was supposed to rain, ALL DAY!  Mark, the boys and I drove into Cortez to explore the city and decided to see "Man of Steel" at a local theater. The girls stayed back at the house and hung out with the tv, dvd player and Rose's Justin Bieber dvd.....



With no storm sewer system, the roads flooded quickly!

July 2 -  The sunny paradise weather is back! After sunning ourselves like lizards on a rock, we found a surf shop where the girls each bought "Penny" skateboards and Mark bought something called a "Longboard." The kids spent the rest of the day sharpening their skills skateboarding with Mark being the only one ending up with an injury.....old dog, new trick thing comes to mind!



                                                                    

Here on the island there is the iconic restaurant, Rod & Reel Pier where we went for dinner. It was neat having pelicans flying and waves all around us while eating, it was very good! The seafood was "Off the hook" fresh! (Pun intended!)   Check out this link to the restaurant....