Not sure what that title means, because I do not know what we would bust if we had not made it to Kiawah this year. But, Dad did exclaim this phrase as we were hitting the road, so I thought I would repeat it.
I love going to the beach, it is so much fun. I love playing in the sand (it is a huge sandbox). I love playing in the water (especially since I know how to swim). I love splashing in the waves. I love the ice cream truck that drives down the beach (although we did not see it this year). I love playing with the family. And I love staying up late, going out to dinner, and eating lots of treats (e.g., ice cream on the beach and other places).
Unlike prior years (2013, 2011) where we flew to South Carolina, this year we drove. It was a fun road trip full of traffic, accidents (none involving us), and no sleep (but plenty of quiet time because we always thought someone else was sleeping).
Mom and Dad woke us up and carried us to the car at 12:01 on Saturday morning. While they hoped we would sleep, we were too excited to sleep. There was a ton of middle-of-the-night construction going on, resulting in a lot of middle-of-the-night traffic. I got to see lots of cars while we tried to leave DC. Once we were finally moving fast on the highway, I was wide awake and did not want to sleep; but, Dad kept telling me that Amelia was trying to sleep (although her eyes were open) and I should be quiet. Ultimately, the only one who slept for the first 3 hours of the trip was Mom (and she claims it was only for a few minutes). After a stop for coffee, a driver change, and a potty break, Mom told me it was my turn to sleep. During the next 2 hours (as we drove through NC), I was too excited to see all the other cars that I only "took a long blink." I'm glad I didn't fall asleep, because I would have missed the school bus that was converted into a tow truck (kind of like this in concept, only different in execution). I'm still talking about that bus.
After another brief stop for gas, breakfast, and a walk on an abandoned bridge, the sun was up and there was no way Amelia and I were going to go to sleep. After a little bit more driving, we stopped at Cypress Gardens (no, not the one in Florida with the girls in big hoop skirts and waterskiiers that everyone keeps talking about). Cypress Gardens SC is a preserved swamp land, where you take a boat trip through a black-water. As we paddled between cypress trees and lily pads, they suggested that we might see alligators. This was Amelia and my first boat ride. Mom and Dad let me help paddle.
Amelia did pretty good on the boat. But about halfway through, she decided she was done and wanted to stand-up and get out. She cannot swim yet, so I am not sure where she was planning to go when she got out. Maybe she wanted to try and swim in order to attract an Alligator (because we did not see any). Ultimately, Mom made her stay seated in the boat and even let Amelia 'help' paddle.
After the great boat ride, we were all hot and sweaty. So we sought refuge in the butterfly house and Swamp-arium (a reptile house) at the gardens.
In the photo above, I am checking out a butterfly that almost let me lick it. Can you believe that?! Not sure which is more surprising, 1) that the butterfly let me get close enough to lick it, or that 2) Mom and Dad let me get close enough to lick the butterfly. Dad finally stopped me as I was extending my tongue. I guess I will have to wait until later to figure if a butterfly tastes like butter or a fly.
After a little more driving and a stop to see Papa and Nana arrive at the Charleston Airport, it was on to Kiawah and the beach! We had a great house by a lagoon, with plenty of room for the 8 of us. Amelia and I even got to share a room, which is always fun. Although, we do like to wake each other up.
From our house, we could see alligators float through the lagoon and golfers hit nice tee shots. In this photo we were looking for alligators.
Everyday after a morning bike ride (I rode in the carriage in the back with Amelia), it was beach time. We would play and splash in the water. Look for shells (Here Amelia is trying to use the binoculars to find nice shells). Dig in the sand. Look for the ice cream truck. Have a picnic. Go for a beach walk. And ride the bikes back to the house (sometimes Amelia or I would sit on Dad's lap while he rode his tricycle home - if we all did not leave at the same time).
Like I mentioned earlier, many of the nights were highlighted with a trip to the ice cream store! Here I am eating Dad's favorite flavor (Pistachio), while Amelia ate pink cotton candy. We are not sure what cotton candy is, but she sure liked it - she at the whole cone.
After ice cream, we would head back to the house, play for a little bit, go to bed, and then wake up and do it all over again! So much fun!
For those wondering, despite all of our digging, we never found any buried treasure. Maybe next time. You can check out all of our Kiawah Photos here or see the professional photos we had taken via this link.
Peace Out,
Phin
I love going to the beach, it is so much fun. I love playing in the sand (it is a huge sandbox). I love playing in the water (especially since I know how to swim). I love splashing in the waves. I love the ice cream truck that drives down the beach (although we did not see it this year). I love playing with the family. And I love staying up late, going out to dinner, and eating lots of treats (e.g., ice cream on the beach and other places).
Unlike prior years (2013, 2011) where we flew to South Carolina, this year we drove. It was a fun road trip full of traffic, accidents (none involving us), and no sleep (but plenty of quiet time because we always thought someone else was sleeping).
Mom and Dad woke us up and carried us to the car at 12:01 on Saturday morning. While they hoped we would sleep, we were too excited to sleep. There was a ton of middle-of-the-night construction going on, resulting in a lot of middle-of-the-night traffic. I got to see lots of cars while we tried to leave DC. Once we were finally moving fast on the highway, I was wide awake and did not want to sleep; but, Dad kept telling me that Amelia was trying to sleep (although her eyes were open) and I should be quiet. Ultimately, the only one who slept for the first 3 hours of the trip was Mom (and she claims it was only for a few minutes). After a stop for coffee, a driver change, and a potty break, Mom told me it was my turn to sleep. During the next 2 hours (as we drove through NC), I was too excited to see all the other cars that I only "took a long blink." I'm glad I didn't fall asleep, because I would have missed the school bus that was converted into a tow truck (kind of like this in concept, only different in execution). I'm still talking about that bus.
After another brief stop for gas, breakfast, and a walk on an abandoned bridge, the sun was up and there was no way Amelia and I were going to go to sleep. After a little bit more driving, we stopped at Cypress Gardens (no, not the one in Florida with the girls in big hoop skirts and waterskiiers that everyone keeps talking about). Cypress Gardens SC is a preserved swamp land, where you take a boat trip through a black-water. As we paddled between cypress trees and lily pads, they suggested that we might see alligators. This was Amelia and my first boat ride. Mom and Dad let me help paddle.
Amelia did pretty good on the boat. But about halfway through, she decided she was done and wanted to stand-up and get out. She cannot swim yet, so I am not sure where she was planning to go when she got out. Maybe she wanted to try and swim in order to attract an Alligator (because we did not see any). Ultimately, Mom made her stay seated in the boat and even let Amelia 'help' paddle.
After the great boat ride, we were all hot and sweaty. So we sought refuge in the butterfly house and Swamp-arium (a reptile house) at the gardens.
After a little more driving and a stop to see Papa and Nana arrive at the Charleston Airport, it was on to Kiawah and the beach! We had a great house by a lagoon, with plenty of room for the 8 of us. Amelia and I even got to share a room, which is always fun. Although, we do like to wake each other up.
After ice cream, we would head back to the house, play for a little bit, go to bed, and then wake up and do it all over again! So much fun!
Peace Out,
Phin
