Family Weekend

We spent the past weekend at the Hilton at Myrtle Beach. We were lucky enough to be invited to a deployed family retreat hosted by the Chaplin. Not our chaplain...but another units chaplain. Not that it matters. The hotel was paid for as was all meals at the hotel. All I had to do was go to classes about how to build stronger families and how to be sure that kids know they are loved. None of the classes were earth shattering, but I was reminded of things I need to do better and was reassured that on the whole we are doing pretty good as a family. The kids were in childcare (also provided by the retreat) while I was in classes. Saturday we spent an afternoon having fun. We did things that I thought the kids would like, and I really focused on them rather than me. We went to the aquarium, rode some rides and had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe...where we were all like rock stars.

They actually wanted to share a bed at the hotel

Checking out the sharks. Logan is into sharks right now.

Being brave and holding a horseshoe crab

Maybe not too brave

They have added a mermaid show at the aquarium. Kids loved it. I was kicking myself because we just had a big talk about how mermaids and unicorns are not real...only in stories. And then we go to the aquarium and there is Vivian's proof of mermaids.

Enjoying the rides at the boardwalk

Missed the presidential candidates by an hour or two. Vivian was pissed that we weren't staying for the rock n roll concert.

Sunday morning breakfast.

Sunday night we get home. Vivian is so out of her routine that she insists on sleeping at the top of the stairs. I moved her to her bed when she was sound asleep.