A Beach-y Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving found us at the beach. Yes, the beach. I think this is the first year since we've been married that we didn't go to, or have one or the other's family's at our house for the holiday, and since I don't know the first thing about cooking a turkey we decided to team up with my brother Devin and his family and rent a condo at Myrtle Beach. We threw all familiar traditions aside and decided to wing it at the grand strand.

Wednesday after work we loaded up the car and headed south. We got there around 7 p.m., settled into the condo that Sarah's sister Teresa had found (and who's family was also sharing the condo), and had an exciting cousin reunion between Eva, Sophie, Lucy, and Zach that lasted into the wee hours of the night....not really, but it felt like it.:)

Early that morning we all did some exercising on the beach to tone up before the influx of Thanksgiving calories later that afternoon. The kids LOVED the waves, the sand, and nice sea breeze! We were blessed with BEAUTIFUL 70 degree weather!

That afternoon we headed to Cracker Barrel for our feast, but when faced with the prospect of a 2 hour wait for a table, we ended up doing it take-out style and eating at the condo. It was definitely a yummy meal, but I got to admit, I missed our traditional fare.:)

We were all so hungry by the time we got back even our little picky eater Zach enjoyed his whole meal!

Our condo literally faced right onto the beach and we were sure grateful for a beautiful sunset that night!

I passed on heading out late that night for some of the Black Friday sales, but Jon, Devin, and Sarah were out until 2 a.m. nabbing some deals. I did convince Jon to go back to the outlet mall with me Friday morning though where we made the kids shop till they dropped! Luckily we had to be back by noon though for the guys to go golfing.

Saturday morning we took the kids mini-golfing at Captain Hook's, and the kiddos loved the Peter Pan theme throughout the course!

Lucy posed in front of poor Tiger Lily. Myrtle Beach is the capital of mini-golf after all!!

While Jon and Devin duked it out on the second course for 1st place, I watched the kids out front where Zach chased a few butterflies, found a lizard, and dug up the flower bed.

Then we headed to the Little Pig's BBQ for lunch, where (because of more long waits) we got more take-out and had an impromptu picnic in an abandoned lot nearby full of kudzu.

It was worth it though! That was one good pork sandwich topped with Carolina coleslaw!

That evening we headed back to the beach to enjoy the wind and waves and AMAZING sunset one last time. Such a pretty way to end our Thanksgiving trip! When I see something as awesome as this sunset was, it really confirms how loved we are by our Heavenly Father, to give us such a beautiful place to live. And for that I am grateful!

After our beach photo shoot the dads braved the hot tub with the little darlings. My kids love, love, LOVE to swim, and love staying in hotels for this very reason.

Sunday morning we enjoyed one more beautiful sunrise and packed up, swung by the local church to take the Sacrament (since I forgot our church clothes!), and headed home. We loved our unconventional beach-y Thanksgiving but are glad to be home safe and sound.