Does Pixie Dust Help with Decision-Making? A 2012 PTR! NEW! 6/30 pg.85

[Charleston Princess]

Jackie! I am behind an update but will catch up tonight!!! It looks like a good one!!!

Have a great day!!!!

No worries! These updates aren't going anywhere.

Palmetto tree:

Palm tree:

I'm ready for a beach trip do over and Tybee Island sounds like just the place!

Yep, see the palmetto looks like it has "crazy hair" compared to the palm tree.

Tybee is the perfect place. Your DH would probably love it, too, since he and Charles are so similar.

Well, you got me with the palmetto tree, I always thought that the tree on the SC flag was just a palm tree. So I guess that's why SC is the Palmetto State!

DH won't have 2 places, too much of a worrier & too tight! I'm working on renting for the winter.

That is why SC is called the Palmetto State.

LOVE your first night so far! Certainly did miss the food porn though

I know -- I didn't do a good job with food porn at all on this trip. I took a few drink pictures, though.

I tell ya, I don't know what it is about that age, my cousin is 14 now and man, what a difference a few years can make! She's totally in that eye rolling/judgmental stage. Hopefully you can get a few giggles out of Chelsea on the trip!

Yes, that is so Chelsea!!! Hopefully they both outgrow it soon!

 

[Charleston Princess]

When I woke up the next morning (May 31), everyone else was still asleep. I padded quietly through the house to the kitchen, noticing along the way, that both kids were asleep on the sofa in the living room! What? We rent a cottage where everyone has their own bed, and my kids opt for being squished together on the couch? Go figure. Later, when they woke up, I asked them why, and they both said they were scared to sleep by themselves far away from our bedroom. Now keep in mind that the cottage is only about 900 square feet, so we weren’t talking about a lot of space separating anybody.

I made coffee and took it out to the screened-in porch where I sat reading my book. It was perfect. You could smell the marshes that were one street over, and it was so quiet. It was just me and the squirrel who was gathering something in the yard.

Here is the squirrel. The camera wanted to focus on the fishing net, but if you squint you can see him.

When Charles woke up, he joined me on the porch with his coffee, and we discussed the plans for the day. He was flipping through the Where to Eat at the Beach magazine Mermaid Cottages had left us and came across an ad for something he wanted to do.

“I want to go jetskiing.” (Or wave running or whatever it is called.)

“You want to do WHAT???” Remember I am not an adventurous kind of girl, so I can’t imagine wanting to do something like that. Charles is the exact opposite.

Anyway, to make a long story short, we decided he and Chelsea should go ahead and do it (I knew Connor would be of the same mindset I was in regards to taking a small machine out into the ocean). I called the place and made a reservation for them. It was in the same marina as our dolphin tour which was scheduled for Wednesday night.

Chelsea was the next one awake, and this began her normal daily interrogation.

“What are we doing today? What is for breakfast? What time are we jetskiing? What are we doing for lunch? What time are we eating lunch? When are we going to the beach? How long are we staying? What’s for dinner? What time is dinner? What are we doing after dinner?”

Poor thing has been so brainwashed by the minute plans for a Disney trip that she could not for the life of her (or me) unwind at Tybee. She needed to have explicit plans each day, and it was exhausting. We kept trying to explain to her the concept of just going with the flow, but she was having none of it. She wanted a touring plan for every minute of the day.

Soon, it was time to head to the marina. I will confess here that I was a complete nervous wreck about Charles and Chelsea doing this. I kept envisioning all sorts of worst case scenerios where they flipped the jet ski or fell off or something equally horrible. I was texting Anita and Happydog during all of this. I know Anita was dealing with her men folk at Animal Kingdom that day.

I took a ton of pictures before my two brave people went riding out of sight.

They were both very excited!

Good-bye! I hope I see you both again!

The jet ski experience would last an hour, so Connor and I hung out at the dock while Chelsea and Charles were off in the middle of the water -- we couldn’t see them once they passed under the bridge -- and amused ourselves with making friends with the resident cat and taking pictures.

There was a restaurant at the marina, and they proudly proclaimed that all their shrimp came from the shrimp boats that docked there. We planned on eating at Coco’s the night of our dolphin cruise.

Local wildlife.

Hurray! They made it back alive!!!

Windblown but happy!

Charles and Chelsea had a great time jet skiing and were full of stories when they came back. I was so relieved that my fears had been groundless.

UP NEXT: Bringing some Disney touches to the beach!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Jackie I can so relate to having a hubby who is adventurous and being too chicken to do the stuff he wants to do. My DH is even worse though. He wants us to go parasailing!!!!! NO WAY is that happening! And I am just like you with my DD. I don't want him taking her to do crazy stuff like that either. Glad they enjoyed their ride though. I think jet skis are probably pretty safe. I might would have even done that. They were some really big jet skis too. I don't think I've ever seen any that big before.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Looks like a great adventure!

My girls are just like Chelsea...can't imagine where they get it from

My family just wakes up at the beach and plans the day as the day unfolds...this is unnerving enough to me, but since I know how to pretend that the world doesn't revolve around me , but it is problematic for my nine year olds.

Did Chelsea think her dad was cool to take her for an adventure?

 

[mousescrapper]

I had to chuckle while reading the latest update....

1) the kids sleeping on the same bed...the twins are like ill no way maybe it's the same age concept

2) what you had no plan?

3) Chelsea and all her questions that sounds like my house everyday

4) go w/ the flow...that is a hard concept huh?

I love a beach vacation...but my crew thrives on that structure, want to get back to beach someday...but it will have to be a mixture of flow and routine...

I would never do jetskiing either but could see Matt and several of the kids into that.

J~

 

[CanadianWDWfan]

Jet skiing sounds like it would be alot of fun. I would love to try it someday.
Glad they liked it!

Connor is awesome! I don't eat seafood either and now I have a new excuse...he is briiliant!

Why is it that every beach town has a photo OP with a huge chair...

Lovely pic of you and Charles.

Awww, the portch with twinkling lights, smell of the marsh and palmettos....sounds so tranquil and perfect!
You sure do make this beach vacay sound amazing.

I never heard of palmettos before. Very cool info to know.
I will have to see if my DMom knew that since she is the gardener in the family.

 

[Megablocks]

I had to laugh while reading your update, b/c in Charles's and my relationship, I'm the slightly more daring one and he is the one freaking out when I do, or want to do, weird things. Even yesterday, when I finally decided to jump off this rock in the river we went swimming in, he was freaking out b/c I wanted photo and video proof and he wouldn't be there to help me (the water was well over HIS head there, so of course way over my head.) He confessed to being relieved when our parasailing in Disney got canceled, too.

 

[MickeyReeds]

Way too funny about all of Chelsea's questions and her need for a plan! I have a 14 1/2 year old daughter as well--and well, I totally understand!

 

[micandminforever]

The pictures of Chelsea and Charles on the jetski were great. I am trying to talk my DH into trying it the next time we are at the beach.

I loved the story about sleeping on the sofa. They had a common enemy fear of sleeping alone in a strange place. Did they ever go to there separate rooms to sleep at night?

 

[swwake]

Love reading your report and seeing the pics Jackie! Connor cracks me up with his book. I would have been one of the ones on the jet ski. So glad your fears were unfounded - I bet they'll go again one day. Chris and I took a tour around the island in Key West on jetskis and really enjoyed it. Maybe if y'all ever get down there...

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Jackie, I'm with you about jetskis. Our son had one & had a couple of accidents with his. One was a 10 yo boy ran into him. Son's jetski was totaled & he hurt his back. Now he no longer is into that stuff. Mortality caught up with him! He is ok now, no lasting effects to his body.

I love that Chelsea wanted structure. Conner & the kitty is fun also. We always seem to find kitties while on a trip.

 

[Happy Elf]

While I may not need minute by minute plans, I completely understand where Chelsea is coming from. It is driving me completely nuts that the rest of my extended family won't lay down any type of plans for our beach trip next week. I told DH I was making a rough itinerary and we could go from there. I think he just laughed at me!

The jet ski's look fun! Glad they had such a great time!

 

[TarzansKat]

Poor Chelsea!

She's so Disney vacation trained!

I have to be honest, I'm with her. We've got a cruise on the horizon next year (long story) and when one of my girlfriends, who has been on a few, said to me, well you could read on the boat, I thought...what...I can sit and read?

We're so used to doing. And then I got really excited! All that uninterrupted reading time! I know you know what I mean.

I like to see how your Disney family meets a relaxing vacation, it's really neat.

 

[MeMom]

I think jetskis would be a blast!

Connor with longer wavy hair looks just like you, Jackie.

It's sweet that brother and sister found comfort in each other in a 'strange' place.

Morning on the screened-in porch with a book sounds lovely.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Even Charles was super excited. (That’s his excited face, by the way.)

Love it.

Just as darling as the pictures! In fact, it was cuter than the pictures.

It is adorable!! I keep thinking we should do a long weekend at the beach. Long Island has to have something like this! So glad Charles was loving it, it's fun to see him excited and so into it!

The kids explored, and Connor quickly found a stick.

You mean I have that many more years of sticks in the house?!

Very cute!!

Living here in NYC I have come to LOVE the ocean. I want to be there every single weekend! There is nothing like it!

“Mom, all of those grown-ups are acting like teenagers and dancing. It’s sad.”

“Really, Chelsea??? What? We get to a certain age, and we can’t enjoy ourselves anymore?”

She just rolled her eyes at me, and I danced a little just to embarrass her. LOL!

Glad you did the little dance!!

See where I am going with this?

If you know my children, you know that by the time we reached the cottage, they were wearing as much ice cream as they had eaten.

And I have many more years of this to look forward too it seems. Sigh.

So glad Charles and Chelsea made it back and enjoyed it! I would have been a nervous wreck myself. I am NOT a fan of those sort of things either. And like Charles, Joe loves them.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

The more I hear about that porch...the more I like it!

Jet skis are fun and we've been on them several times (well, Ramon and I, not the girls)...but, yes, it is very easy to flip them over and fall in the water.

Chelsea with her questions sounds a lot like Miren (DD7) and our friends' DS6 while we were down in the Keys last month: what are we doing today? when are we doing it? is it time yet? when are we going fishing? when are we going to the pool? when are we going to eat? when are we going fishing? when are we going fishing? when are we going fishing?

 

[Roxychica7]

Blake and I talk about having a porch by the water in the first house that we buy and being able to drink coffee on it in the mornings. So totally jealous of your mornings on yours!

For a second there, I thought that Chelsea was on her cell phone in the last picture! My cousin is totally in that, I can't NOT text stage. Glad to see that Charles and Chelsea survived and had a great time!

 

[sunny_stace]

Sounds like a fun way to spend the day! Relax in the morning and then try jet-skiing in the afternoon! It certainly looked like fun! I've never tried it but I would like to some day! I should use the Disney voucher some day!

Poor Connor and Chelsea! That is so sweet that they were spooked so they hung out together! Some people are like that in unfamiliar places! And I love Chelsea's Disney-brainwashing! What do you mean there are no set plans for the day?! I'm glad she and Charles had fun on the water while you and Connor had fun hanging out on the shore!

 

[Poolrat]

A fun, yet relaxing day. My DS is like Chelsea. As soon as I could understand what he was asking as a toddler it was always about food or plans. He likes his structure.

 

[Native NYer]

I love the cottage! It is so adorable.
Charles and Chelsea very brave! I could never jetski.
Tybee looks so peaceful and relaxing.