Preservation Station at Barefoot Landing

The kids and I saw a segment on The Today Show a few weeks ago about an orangutan who can swim who lives on a preserve near Myrtle Beach.  I ran to the computer to look it up because, of course, we wanted to go.  Unfortunately, it was almost $200 PER PERSON to tour.  So, I kept digging around the website and found out that we could go to Barefoot Landing, just a few minutes north of Will's parents' house, to have our picture taken with baby tigers.

We arrived at 4:00 and were the second group in line.  They didn't open until 5:00, but it was totally worth it to be in line early because we were up close when they started bringing in all the babies.  We finally were able to pay and meet the babies.  They were SO cute and it was totally worth the wait...

It's hard to say who was more excited.  We didn't know that they would take our pictures with a little teeny fellow like this one.

Look at that sweet face.  His ears were so tiny and his fur was coarse; I expected it to be softer and smoother.  McIver hadn't put much thought into it, so he didn't really care.  He was just excited to be that close to a tiger!

Here we are with a white tiger named Jenny.  She was HUGE and HUNGRY.  She went to town on that bottle.  I was glad they told me I had to be the one holding the bottle or it could have been a deal-breaker if the kids had argued over it.  We were in line for an hour (a really hot hour!) and had about 60 seconds with the animals.  It was like waiting in line for a ride at Disney World - totally worth the wait.  This was an experience we will not soon forget!

July 4th weekend in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is such a fun place to be for the July 4th weekend.  So many of the 'kids' (i.e. the people our age) come back for the weekend with their children, so we're able to visit with so many people.  We had dinner at the pool on Friday night with Jay and Robert and their families.

Saturday was spent on the beach - all day and it was the most perfect weather ever.  I didn't end up taking a lot of pictures, but thought this one was pretty funny.  Lots of people had worked hard to get the hole this big, but McIver got all the credit when people walked by.  He just smiled and nodded when they commented on how big the hole was.

We had dinner Saturday night with everyone at GranGran & GranDaddy's house.  Olivia loved playing 'big sister' to Amelia and JuliAnna.

You've got to admit that's a pretty good shot of all six grands!

McIver's run-in with Carter

Kelli and Robert were kind enough to take Olivia and McIver home with them after church on Sunday so that Will and I could try to score some furniture deals in Myrtle Beach.  Apparently, it was a no-win situation on all parts.  

Carter, their 3 year old yellow lab, bounded into the house and landed on McIver.  McIver ended up with a little puncture and a few claw marks on his cheek.  He was fine by the time we got home and was a good sport while Will cleaned up the wound with a giant Q-tip and a steri-strip.

(I couldn't get this picture to rotate for the life of me.)

Rest assured, McIver is fine and, to be perfectly honest, a little proud of his injury.  It has given him plenty of fodder over the last few days to make even more conversation with anyone who will listen (the lady at the farm stand where we stopped on our way home from the beach, the deli manager at The Pig, the store manger at The Pig, our neighbor, the lady who checked us out at Lowes and Home Depot and more...).

Myrtle Beach

Went to Myrtle Beach last weekend to meet the newest cousin, Jenna.  Friday afternoon we met Jay & JuliAnna and Robert & Amelia at the beach.  This was the most time that Olivia and McIver have spent on the beach in ages.  They had a great time playing with their cousins and riding the waves.

Amelia & McIver digging a lake in the tidal pool.

Sweet Amelia was playing hard despite missing (or just not taking!) her nap.  She had a great time as long as she was able to do what SHE wanted (who wouldn't!?).

McIver spent a great deal of time collecting oysters.

JuliAnna climbed the 'mountain' and was so pleased with herself.

Olivia taking her turn on top of the mountain.