handsful

So, back in July we went to North Myrtle Beach for about a week.

Some of us enjoyed the water. Thankfully, no sharks to be seen.

Others decided to soak up the rays.

I preferred to hide under an umbrella, with my toes digging in the sand. I’d love to feel that again right about now.

Digging to China. Bad joke.

Surprisingly, Lainey found a new place to tumble. Not very surprising, actually.

This looks miserable. Lainey volunteered.

Lainey and Abbey soaking…

Payton, braving the sun to show off his guns.

Mommmmm…..

A sort of baseball with sand shovels and…sand.

Had to visit the aquarium…last time we had a family vacation to Myrtle, the bigs were littles. In fact, it was the last visit to this aquarium where we lost Ethan for about 10 agonizing minutes. He was 3 years old, and followed “me” (another lady) into the bathroom. He stayed in there until someone brought him out. Heart re-started.

After hanging out with all those fishies, we were hungry. The food here was awesome, and the music was even better. Favorite part is when all the waiters and waitresses lined up to sing along to “YMCA”.

If you go to Myrtle, you’ve gotta spend at least one night on the main drag. Where all the action is. We split up to go see a couple of attractions. Abbey, Lainey, Dylan, and myself checked out the Ripley’s museum, while Randy took the other bigs to a haunted attraction. Afterwards, we met up and let the littles did the bungee jump while Randy and the bigs rode the slingshot.

I was a happy observer to both.

When Dylan got to the front of the line for this, the operator saw his leg and said “I don’t think that’s allowed”. We respectfully told him that he’d done this type of thing before, as well as rock climbing with no issues. He had to ask his manager, which he did, and said all was well. Good thing. Randy would have been unpleasant had the answer been different.

Sunrise. Or, at least our best shot at sunrise. Apparently the sun was just around the corner from our hotel.

More beach time.

Trying the new boogie board.

On Thursday, we decided to hire a private fishing charter and go catch some shark.

The boat was nice, with a captain and his trusty mate doing all the dirty work.

Ethan being Ethan.

So, we ride out quite a ways (can still see land on the horizon) and the plan is to throw out a huge net to catch bait fish.  Randy is confused, because on charter trips he’s taken before, you actually FISH for the bait fish.  Oh well, they must know what they’re doing. They throw out the net and we ride a bit more.  Randy mans the helm while…

Captain, mate, and helper extraordinaire Payton pull the net in.

It’s almost empty.  With the exception of a few cool things that they let us play with.  “Us” meaning people other than myself.  Here’s L with some type of jellyfish (we were assured it wouldn’t sting her).

Lo and behold, a baby shark.  A quick pic and back in the water he goes.

This is a ribbon fish.  Very pretty, looked like sterling silver on his scales.

drama queen

Baby sting ray…the mate held this for us, just in case.  Then threw him back in.

So, they try again with the net, and basically the same thing happens….a scarce supply of bait fish.  They aren’t sure why the nets aren’t working well.

We decide we’ve wasted enough time and start the actual fishing.

Meanwhile, I’m trying to ignore the fact that I’m starting to feel a little queasy.

Long story short, they set up 3 poles and we waited.  When nothing happened, they drove the boat to a different spot, casted the lines, and we waited.  We did get two fish to bite, but one bit through the leader (metal thingy at the end of the line) and another bit through the hook.

The HOOK?!

They thought following behind a shrimp boat might help our chances.

Nah.  We did see some dolphins, though :)

Nice shot of Marley waiting.

Waiting.

Ethan was the most “active” waiter, since he manned one of the poles most of the time.

My queasiness slowly turned into full-blown, think-I’m-gonna-die-I’ll-pay-anything-to-get-off-this-boat sea sickness. Thankfully, I stopped just short of having to lean over the side of the boat.  Abbey was sweet to snap a pic of me trying to pretend I wasn’t miserable.

I guess you guessed we never caught any fish.  Randy was very bummed, and even though I felt bad, I REALLY wanted someone to catch a fish.  Oh well…

All in all, we had a great vaca.  It was over far too soon.  We checked out of our hotel and did a little shopping on the way home.  Randy and I had to re-live past spring breaks at Myrtle by stopping by…

Goodbye Myrtle…from the Clark clan.

Ridiculously behind.

Sorry.

Can’t believe Summer is over!  How did THAT happen?  We’re in school mode, with the big kids beginning their Mitchell CC classes tomorrow.  We will begin a couple of things with Lainey and Dylan this week, with their official start on August 24th.

So, what DID we do this summer?  Testify concerts, Testify tour, summer day camps, Acrofitness day camps, 5 birthdays, two kids got their braces off, family and friend visits, a family vacation to Myrtle Beach, sewing camps, boating time, sleepovers…

I realize that’s a lot to include in one blog post.  But, time is of the essence.  So below are some snapshots of some of the above.  I’ll add the rest in another post.

Enjoy :)

After going back and forth on whether she wanted to cut her hair, she finally made the decision to cut!

I think having her bff go first is what pushed her over the edge.

She donated 8 inches, which we are sending to an organization called Children With Hair Loss.  They make wigs for kids who suffer from several hair-loss related condition, never charge them a cent.

I took her to a hair salon that’s connected to our Acrofitness gym.  One of her coaches, Rachel, cut her hair :)

Her first thought?  It’s so short!!

I think she looks older.  Which will match her “8 going on 16” attitude.  ;)

Payton and Elaina’s prom was last.

They were both rockin’ the coral pink.

We took pictures at the lake in her neighborhood.

Hardest part about this photo shoot?  Keeping them from goofing around.

Which actually gave us some pretty cute shots afterall.

Payton was trying to re-create last year’s pic…

See?  Is it just me, or do they both look SO young here?

Randy wants it known that Payton is NOT taller than he is yet, this picture just makes it look like he is.

And, I’d like it known that I WAS standing in a hole for this picture.  Or, maybe Payton really is a tall guy.

Love this one.

Sweet.

Winner of the most unique prom picture ever.

Another prom season is in the books.  :)

Abbey graduated last year, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying ONE more homeschool prom.  This particular one (there are several in our area) welcomes graduates…and, the girl loves dances.

They were practical, though.  Abbey wore one of her prom dresses from a few years ago, and Daniel (rather than renting a tux) went out and bought a new suit.

Apparently, it started to sprinkle while they were outside.  And, this was apparently the logical thing to do when you’re in prom clothes and it starts to rain.  When did she grow up, again?

The rest of the Clark clan was out of town, having a belated Easter with Gram.  I HATED not being there…to see them off and to take about a zillion pictures.  Thankfully our great friend Janice and her girls were with Abbey and helped her get ready, and then Abbey’s friend Aaron came and took some great photos of them.

From what I hear, they had a wonderful time and enjoyed being one of the returning graduate couples.

Abbey informs me there were couples there in their early 20’s, so she’s maybe not done with proms yet.  Ha.

Love this one!

A favorite…but, I can’t just choose one.

These were taken at the prom…no boring, posed pictures for these two.  They always have fun together.

So glad you got to enjoy a “bonus” prom, Abbey!

This stands for Daddy Daughter Dance, and it was held last weekend.  Same evening as Ethan’s prom.

It was a busy day.

She picked out a new dress and shoes for the occasion.  And, I curled her hair.

She has a lot of hair.

Before we know it, Lainey will be off to her prom.

Slow down…

Remember last year?  When all 3 of my prom-going kids went to the SAME prom?

Not this year.

Ethan and Kailee’s prom was last weekend.  Abbey and Daniel’s was last night.  And, Payton and Elaina’s is May 2nd.

So, here are pics from Prom #1.

They attended an area homeschoolers prom (same one as last year).  We met Kailee and her family at a friend’s lake house for pics.

But, first, a shot of the handsome guy at our house.  He makes a blue tux look good, eh?

The hug hello…

Boutounneire’s are tricky business.  I’m never sure if I’m spelling that right.

Ethan has the easy part…velcro instead of straight pin

The lovely couple

They’re such a cute couple.

Happy Prom season…