No shirt, no shoes, no problems

We have realized that we don't really know what a vacation is.  When Shannon and I take time off from work, it is usually because we are going to see family, friends, or we are traveling to a wedding.  Outside of our honeymoon, the rare work/pleasure trip, or the occasional long weekend to the mountains, we haven't really taken a vacation.  So when my brother told me about the fantastic time he had with his family last summer at Seabrook Island in South Carolina, I was naturally a little jealous.  In fact they had such a good time, they were talking about going again this year... and they said that we should go with them.  A week at an oceanfront condo, uh YES!

And so we did...  It was a week filled with plenty of fun in the sun, bike rides around the island, eating good food, and seeing some of the sights around Charleston.  Of course there were plenty of good times, but one of the most memorable moments was when we would step off the boardwalk at the beach.  Grant would immediately say, "shirt off, shoes off" and take off running around on the sand.  :)

Here are some pictures from our first few days.

Checking out the beach with Jacob for the first time upon our arrival

"Wow! This is a HUGE sandbox!"

First time splashing in the ocean

Jana leading Jacob around on Peanut, the pony

Diving into the waves for the first time

"I wonder how deep this goes down?"

Building a moat for Jacob's sandcastle

View of the Atlantic from our condo

On Tuesday, it was rainy so we ventured into Charleston.  We went to the South Carolina Aquarium and to Fort Sumter.  The highlights for me at the aquarium were seeing a shark and an albino alligator.  Little did we know that we would see a baby shark the following day at the beach that was caught by someone fishing.  I must admit that it made me a little bit nervous thinking there must be a mama shark swimming nearby, but thanks to iPhones and Google we soon learned that sharks do not care for their babies after they are born, so we were safe.  The ferry ride to Fort Sumter was peaceful and we briefly got to see a couple dolphins.  It also completed the superfecta of modes of transportation for Grant on this trip.  We rode a (1) bus from the parking lot to the airport, then a (2) train at the airport from security to our gate, of course a (3) plane to Charleston, and finally the ferry (4) boat.  He had a lot to talk about!

The shark at the South Carolina Aquarium

Jacob (or Japub as G calls him) at the Aquarium

Monkey see, monkey do (and say)

Fort Sumter

Cautiously checking out a canon

The next day and for the rest of the week the clouds cleared so there was plenty of beach time and checking out the island on the bikes.  It seemed like I was constantly covered in some combination of the 4 S's: sunscreen, sand, sweat, and salt.

Grant loved the sand

Jacob and Eric (cool glasses Jacob!)

He was not so sure about his "boat" at first

But soon he loved getting pulled around

Getting ready for a bike ride

Are you ready Grant?

The majority of the people on the island used bikes to get around

The one and only family shot!

One last run on the beach before going home

Playing in the water for the final time

Historic homes in Charleston, "the three sisters" (we stopped on the way back to the airport)


... so long Seabrook!