Busy Bees

   I know I have been horrible about blogging lately and this time it is not for lack of topics but rather lack of time. With work, cleaning, and all our outings/activities we don't spend much time just hanging out at the house. I also detest blogging about our adventures without sharing some pictures too and I haven't been able to locate my camera since Sunday. Miss Katy is still staying with us, until Saturday. I expect things to remain hectic until that time. There have been lots of outings and photo worthy events and maybe a change or two that we can't wait to share. :)
   

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game

   Saturday night we went to watch a Myrtle Beach Pelicans game. We went with Jim's captain, his wife, their daughter, her fiance, & his son. The Pelicans do a lot of activities to get the crowd involved. They let three children throw the first pitch since it was their birthday... starting with a little guy who was turning six that day.

They have local little league players announced and run out with the starting line up to their positions.

There were many mascots. The pelican, a shark, and Lubie the Jiffy Lube guy. They also had 2 cows from Chick-fil-a there who hosted a dance off on the dugouts and a ball dog who brings the umpires more balls.

Then there was Dan the Horn Man. He plays various songs on his uniform of horns. He does a really great job and plays a wide variety.

Duke the ball dog!

After the game Jim's captain ran into some guys that worked at the same department he did up north. So of course they had to share stories and talk until we were actually told we had to leave the ball park.

While we were waiting we watched the little kids run the bases.

More Wildlife

 I am not sure if I just didn't notice animals in Ohio or if it really is something about living in SC but I feel like I am constantly stepping over, around, or in some cases completely avoiding these little creatures.

     Thursday when Katy & I came home from shopping and went to take Tucker out to potty we ran into this guy. Needless to say Tucker got to go out on the other side of the building. Jim thinks he probably lives here I prefer to think he was just passing through.

These other two are less intimidating.

Remembering the Charleston 9

  Three years ago yesterday nine Charleston firefighters lost their lives fighting a blaze in a furniture warehouse. It was the most costly since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

    In my opinion the best way to honor fallen firefighters is to support your local fire departments and encourage their training. Both hands on training (live burns) and in knowledge based training (classes) so that tragedy like this does not happen again. The following is a picture of the site of the Charleston 9 fire that Jim and I stopped by when we went to Charleston last year. There are flags where each of the 9 men were found, which was the most emotional part to me. It is not just a line of flags that match and blend together, they stand as individuals. My heart goes out to the families, friends, and co-workers of those who were lost. We will never forget.
  
   
  

Adventures with a Teenager Week 1 Day 3

  

   On Tuesday I had to go back to work :(  Katy got to experience her first day alone since Jim's ACLS class lasted all day. When he got home we ate a quick dinner and went to Broadway at the Beach to watch Avatar in 3D at the IMAX. We couldn't allow her to watch it the first time at our house on our tv! We enjoyed the movie with 400 others.

The movie was over around 8:45 so we walked around and shopped/checked things out till the fireworks started at 10. Our first stop was a little electronics shop that had lots of neat gadgets and then this ipod pig. It is a dock that has speakers for eyes. (My sister takes pigs to the fair so this is a reoccurring theme in our family).

Next we wandered through It's Sugar. They have some crazy candy themed items; lip gloss, candles, stuffed animals, and clothing. You can also make your own candy bar.

They had a great display of artistry. I happen to love Jelly Belly beans.

Then there were these monstrous Gummi Bears.... and I thought of my Uncle Bruce.

They even have them on a stick... cause you would want to eat them like a sucker? I mean I get that the ears, feet, and arms may be small enough to nibble off but the rest I think you would have to put on a plate and cut up in order to eat. Besides if they are real Gummi Bear consistency wouldn't they flop around? I just envision it twisting around on the stick while I try and chase the perfect bite or falling off the stick completely. And the alternative is what? A not gummy Gummi Bear? Eww. Have I ever told you the gross Gummi Bear story? No? Let's just say when you make jell-o shots Gummi Bears do not make a good addition, not sure if it was the refrigeration, alcohol, or jell-o.

After leaving It's Sugar... without any candy :( We walked past some of the newer activities. This one was just too amusing. They are flimsy plastic orbs that are blown up with air once the children/small adults are inside & the kids are never able to fully stand up. My question how long is it safe to be in an air tight bubble & what if it gets a leak? There are some ferocious and hungry animals in that water.

Just look what they do for a handfull of really expensive dog food!

In the Tiki Jim store we found these while the spelling is off our names were right next to each other!

Sisters :)

Outside of the new Ron Johns (which just opened) they had this really pretty sand sculpture.

 

Then finally it was time for what we had been waiting for.

And on the way home we had to stop and get ice cream. Sonic has this great deal that you can get sundaes for 99 cents after 8pm.

Katy's Here

   As I have talked about  a bit before my sister is staying with us for three weeks this summer. She got here today! It was also her first time on a plane and her seventeenth birthday! Mom snapped a pic of Katy getting ready to go through security.

And an hour and a half later she was in MB!

 

We easily found her luggage (the MB airport is small and easy to navigate) and made our way into the 94 degree heat which felt like 105 and 60% humidity! Welcome to South Carolina no need to drink water you breathe it in. Katy's first request was for food.

We decided to eat at Bonefish Grill for her birthday dinner. Katy actually tried new food! This is the girl who will order chicken tenders with ranch at EVERY restaurant. She had the chicken marsala and loved it! I'm so proud of her for trying new things. We discussed what she'd like to do and see while she's here and picked the must do's and maybe trys.

On the way back to the house Katy gave me a present! Silly Bands in OSU shapes! The new logo in red and a buckeye leaf in grey. These are my first silly bands and while I feel a bit old for this trend since they are OSU themed I feel I must.

Once we got home Katy was able to settle into her temporary bedroom. She also got to see Tucker and Scarlet who were excited to see her. Scarlet has never properly met Katy as the last time she was here they brought Cruiser (my parents' monster of a black lab) and Scarlet spent the next 4 days under Jim's bed. Scarlet was a bit more curious this time. Turns out Scarlet doesn't just attack my hair she like's Katy's hair as well!

Once we all changed and our food digested a bit we went to the beach!

South Carolina State Competition

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      This past week the South Carolina Fire Rescue Conference has been here in Myrtle Beach. They have a bunch of seminars, a big hall with vendors selling all things fire rescue & some fire trucks new and old, and a state Combat Challenge competition. Last year we were unable to make it to the convention center to see all that stuff so we made it a point to stop in this year and check things out. We enjoyed walking around and looking at all the equipment. They even had an Omniflight helicopter in there which sparked two debates 1) How did they get it in there? and 2) Could Jim fit in one of those? They used a trailer type thing and we were told that Jim could indeed fit. Although from looking inside it appears the patient's head is literally on the medic or nurses feet. I don't think I could focus on what drugs to administer when and how much when flying in that tiny thing.... kudos to those who can and do.

Beautiful old fire trucks.

And I HAD to have my picture with this truck!

     We each got a little something.... I got a t-shirt and Jim some sort of belt that he has been wanting. We had to leave to get to Broadway at the Beach where the Combat Challenge would be taking place. We arrived with plenty of time and I was able to watch the Explorers (teenagers) competition

     This ended up taking much longer than I think they had planned and the Combat Challenge portion didn't start till almost 4. I sat with Jody (Jim's station 8 captain's wife) and Kristin (Team Horry member Ken's wife). There was much girl talk to pass the time and Jody and I quickly found that Kristin was prepared for ANYTHING! She had an extra strength tylenol, vitamins, tissues, hand sanitizer, two kinds of gum, an umbrella, a digital camera, a video camera, two phones, and much much more! My new theory is who needs to pack just invite Kristin! Despite the slow start we were excited to see the guys warming up on the course.

The following are pictures from the HCFR Team Horry Relay team #1

 Arron W. pulled the rope but I missed that (sorry Aaron you were just that fast!). Medeiros on the stairs.

Howell with ten stitches in his right index finger hitting the keiser.

Howell running the cones as well.

Noreck with the hose pull.

Jim on the dummy drag.

Team Horry won quite a few trophies that day.

1st in Team Relay

 Mike Medeiros, Aaron Windsor, David Howell, Mike Noreck, Jim Edbrooke

1st Team Horry 1  and 3rd Team Horry 2 in Team Challenge

2nd Mike Medeiros & 3rd Jim Edbrooke in Individual Challenge

2nd Matt Smith in Cheif's Indivitual

3rd Pam Wingate and Lt. Rainbolt in Co-ed Tandem

NOW Kristin has everything in her purse! :D

I did video Jim's run but due to Blogger being difficult I will have to upload that in another post.