The next day was cloudy in the morning so we went to Harbortown on our bikes. I forgot my camera, but Grady played at the really cute playground there (there is a cool treehouse and stuff) and we shopped some. We also just checked out the huge yachts and everything.
Once we got back it had cleared up so we headed to the beach for a bit. The boys played bocce, and Grady "helped" :)
bringing the guys the bocce balls
then Papa dug a really deep hole for G
don't worry, he is not throwing sand - it just looks like it
the 3 of us swimming
Here he is playing with "Mater Gator" (a new alligator that Grammy Pat bought him there) - he loves that thing and would play "bayou" with it. He also put it to sleep at night so it was looking out the window towards the lagoon (where the rest of his family was)
That night we got lost a little looking for our original dinner spot, so we ended up at a Bonefish Grill. Normally we would not go to a chain restaurant while on vacation (especially one we have about 3 miles from our house), but we ended up very happy with it! Grady got fish and LOVED it! He ate every bite of a huge serving. I was so happy about his new love of fish that I made it again for him last night. It wasn't a fluke - he gobbled it up last night too! The kid loves fish! Anyway, dinner was great and then we finished up the night with some more Dominos because it stormed again that night.
The next morning took a while for the clouds to clear out again (though it later got very nice). So we started the day with a trip to the Coastal Discovery Museum, which was cool.
got to love a giant ship's wheel
this was the really cool area - you could pull a real oyster trap out of the marsh area - there were crabs and all sorts of wildlife out there!
with Nana - I love this one!
That afternoon was gorgeous so we were back at the beach - we made a "bayou" for Grady's plastic gator and hippo. He loved that game and would have stayed forever if we had not needed to get ready for dinner eventually
Here he comes with water for the bayou
That evening was really pretty outside. We headed over to South Beach Marina (inside our resort) to the famous Salty Dog. Those of you in the Southeast have certainly heard of this place!
Before dinner on our last night - finally a decent picture of me, but Grady is talking, of course!
hugging the Salty Dog Statue
throwing himself into the Marina?
the area is so super cute!
Pat and Grady, considering the water
It was perfect timing because just after we ordered our food, we looked out the window and saw that the REAL Salty Dog was meeting and greeting. Nana and I took Grady out to meet him. He loved it! Grady's picture is up on their website now too :)
the live music had just started outside, so Nana danced with him a little before we headed back inside
After dinner we stayed to watch some more of the live music. We would have stayed longer since Grady was so very happy and loving it, but we are strict about his bedtime, and it was already about 1/2 hour late. First I danced with him. Then, he sat in the chairs in front with the big kids
THEN, because he is Grady, he started dancing up in front and even tried to get on stage. The singer even stopped to comment and say "boy that guy sure does have some grin on him!"
After we put Grady to bed, Pat stayed back at the house while Nana, Papa, Eric, and I walked down the beach to the beach bar for one last evening.
The next morning everyone packed up the house while Grady and I took one last swim in the pool. Then Nana got him dressed. They were having so much fun giggling together
At about 10AM we left the house :( The Massachusetts people had to leave to start their 2 day journey home. But we stuck around for several hours. We hit Harbortown and checked out the Mariott time-share property there, shopped some more, went to the top of the lighthouse, and had lunch. It was a nice way to finish up the trip.
Grady climbed all 122? steps himself!
Eric and Grady at the top!
a few pretty views
marina
golf course
waving to the webcam
sad to be leaving?
It took us about 3.5 hours to get home, and Grady napped some of the way, so it wasn't bad. When we were leaving Grady and I were both talking about how we didn't want to leave. I said "It's a little sad to leave the beach", so he told me "It's OK Mama, we can come back really soon - does that make you feel better?" Yes, Grady, it does.
Now for some cute videos - the one at the horse stables is particularly funny
first full day - in the ocean
burying Grady in the sand
in the pool - he's pretending to be different bugs
