Harvest Break - South Carolina

Jantzen on the plane

With the travel issues that Jantzen and Anna experienced getting home from Texas last summer (visiting Tif's family), we had airline credit with a deadline to be used.  A Spud Harvest trip to South Carolina to visit Liberty's family was the fortuitous result of that situation. So Monday morning (following an awesome General Conference weekend), I loaded up the minivan and drove the kids to the SL airport.  En route, we met up with G-ma and G-pa P who graciously looked after Quinn and Elsie in CV for a few days.  Aaron and Brinley were already across the globe...

Anna & Heather - ready for take-off

Quinn - eating pizza/pop

While I took Jantzen and Anna to a warmer climate, Quinn and Elsie bundled up for an evening of outdoor fun at a realtor event with C. cousins.  During our absence, they played with cousins, ate plenty of junk food, watched movies and enjoyed not attending school:).  Much thanks to G-pa P who looked after things mostly while G-ma P was working in SL for a few of the days.

Elsie riding a horse

Korinne, Jameson, Elsie, Quinn, AJ, Adam

Quinn, Jameson, Korinne, AJ, Elsie - at the corn maze

Land of the Free - Xander, Heather, Liberty

It was late Monday night in Myrtle Beach when the three of us were picked up at the airport by Liberty.  We tried not to stay up too late since the C. family starts the day mighty early.  After Liberty taught her Tuesday 5:15am fitness class and Benson got off to early morning seminary, we took Sadie to the charter school she attends at the opposite of town (from Benson's school).  By Tuesday mid-morning, Jantzen and Anna were awake so we headed out in search of a swimsuit for Anna (with no luck) and visited a few touristy spots along the way.  Boardwalk at Broadway has several photo-ops we took advantage of.

Xander and Anna - in the stocks

Xander, Anna, Heather, Jantzen - riding dinos

Xander & Jantzen

Candy store with giant nastiness - who buys this stuff?

It didn't take long to observe that Xander pretty much idolized Jantzen from the moment we arrived.  Because he hasn't started school yet, we spent the most time with this cute little buddy along and had some great laughs at his witty one-liners.  Jantzen and Anna especially love his version of a seat belt - Xander calls them celt-beats.

matchy-matchy hats at Ross

We were not particularly great at getting quality group shots during our visit but Liberty did snap a few - hooray!  Jeff cooked up some delicious meals while we were visiting.  Anna loved his fried rice! After dinner, Liberty and I were dropped off at the park for Liberty's 6:15pm group fitness class then Jeff headed to the beach in search of shark teeth with the kids.  I'm always up for a good workout - and I'm more than happy to follow somebody's lead so the group class was perfect for me.

Wednesday morning after getting Sadie and Benson off to school and Jeff to work, the rest of us went in search of seeing a live alligator - high on Jantzen's bucket list.  We explored Huntington State Beach with no luck of an alligator spotting but observed other wonders in nature.

Three kids and two giant chairs

This fortress/abode of the Huntington family near the beach was of strange interest.

Live oak tree behind Anna, Heather, Jantzen

After our time at Huntington State Park, we drove to nearby Brookgreen Gardens in hopeful anticipation of fulfilling Jantzen's bucket list item. And while the big gator was no where to be found (in his usual spot), we were rewarded to find a random little one sunning himself near an open pond.

Butterflies near the flowers

Giant koi - hard to sense its size in this pic

Love the vibrant contrast of purple berries/green leaves

Multiple turtles on a log

Jantzen and a gator...

Xander's turn to give Jantzen a ride.

Anna & Saide

After picking Sadie up from school, the girls were ready to swim at the clubhouse.  Jantzen had a few opportunities to play basketball outside in the beautiful weather.  The proximity of Libbie and Jeff's house to the clubhouse amenities was quite lovely.  I don't think an evening went by without a 'late night' swim or game of 21 for these kids.

Xander, Anna, Sadie

Wednesday evening, I took Jantzen and Anna to Dolly Parton's Pirate Voyage dinner show while the C. family attended YM, activity days, bishopric meeting, etc.  Besides having an excellent meal, the show exceeded our expecations.  The acrobatics and sheer strength of the performers was astounding!

pre-dinner show with juggling, seals, singers, etc.

We cheered for the Crimson team vs. Sapphire team throughout the evening and enjoyed our meal surrounding pirate ships in water.  Since the theater was near the church building, Jeff picked us up afterwards and we went back to their church until the kids' finished up with their activities - and the boys played a little more basketball:).

Thursday was our designated beach day and Libbie pulled Sadie from school.  She was pretty darn excited about skipping school and spending more time with cousins.  Benson's academic program is too rigorous to afford him that luxury but since he's not a fan of the beach, it all worked out well.

Xander and Heather - playing in the water

Xander the mermaid with Sadie, Anna, Jantzen

 

The kids loved playing in the waves, burying each other and making sand creations, walking along the pier and spotting several sharks and a scuba diver in the area, riding the waves and enjoying their beach experience.  Libbie's friend, Char (and son) joined us later in the day and we did a little coordinating with Jeff and Benson also.  In the end, Libbie and I (and Benson) left the beach to prepare for Libbie's 6:15pm fitness class and let Jeff bring the kids home via a stop at Mr. Donuts.  Win-win!

Jantzen posted live video of the shark activity off the nearby pier.  The kids counted at least five sharks swarming the area.  Needless to say, nobody went out far in the ocean with these guys around.

Char, Liberty, Heather after "Free 2 Be Fit"bootcamp.

Having two group fitness class outdoor experiences in the Market Commons area with Liberty and Char was pretty dreamy.  I'm only slightly envious of the weather and surroundings that afford that type of opportunity.  Too bad I had to fly home before the Saturday morning beach work-out!  Being outside instead of working out in a stuffy gym all the cold winter long was lovely!

Anna & Sadie - bonding over cold cereal after evening pool time.

Jantzen, Benson, Jeff at the court

Saying good-bye to Sadie and Benson as they headed to school on Friday morning with breakfast in hand...everyone is growing up so quickly!  We really enjoyed spending time with family we don't see often enough.  I'm already looking forward to a return trip - next up it will be Elsie and Quinn's turn.

Jantzen, Anna, Liberty, Jeff, Xander at Mr. Donut

Anna, Liberty, Jantzen - selfie at Mr. Donut.

Before heading to the airport for a 2pm departure, we played a game of miniature golf at one of the gazillion putt-putt courses in the area.  I think it was the hottest day of our visit (and we woke up to snow the morning after we returned home).  We also enjoyed lunch at a local burger joint before saying our final good-byes.

Jantzen, Anna, Xander, Jeff, Heather

Lil' buddy cheering

After miniature golfing

Liberty & Heather - sisters forever

After our Monday-Friday adventure full of laughter, work-outs, talks, foot zones, yummy/healthy eats, drive time, swims, outdoor adventures and spending time relaxing at their new house (moved into Mar. 2017), it was time for Jantzen, Anna and me to return to ID.  G-ma P picked us up at the airport and we spent the night in CV where we reunited with Quinn and Elsie.  Saturday morning we were en route once more and got home with time to get the HCP office cleaned, get unpacked, take dinner to the missionaries, etc.  I also joined the M. siblings and Bob and Janene for dinner that night as many were in town for Polly's baby blessing Sunday morning.  Aaron and Brinley arrived home by 10:30pm after their travels abroad.  After the flurry of activity that weekend, it was back to school for everyone by Monday morning!  Another glorious Spud Harvest break...