Preface: So, my child does NOT step out of his comfort zone.. EVER. It really takes a LOT to get him to do that.
This weekend.... we hauled our behinds, all our clothes and personal hygiene stuff and some favorite snacks to Myrtle Beach. We spent hours in a car which is usually not a good thing for JJ. This time, he did magnificently! The kids did not argue, did not fight, did not bug us a million times about how much longer... further.... when will we get there. So, the trip began well. We set down some ground rules.
1. NO thinking about IEPs
2. NO thinking about Dr. appts
3. NO thinking about upcoming moves
4. NO thinking about Dad being gone
5. NO thinking about lost jobs
6. NO thinking about job searches
7. NO thinking about school or homework
8. YES to fun
So, we had planned out our day on Sunday but for Saturday after all of our traveling, we had intended to find a redbox, rent a movie, go for a swim and sit in the hot tub, then watch the movie as a family and go to bed. We arrive at our hotel, check in and are given a scan card that we are told is for the "brown box" it's like redbox but free for the guests of the hotel. WIN. That accomplished one of the things we wanted to do, was free, and didn't require us going back out. We rented "The Duff" (cute movie) and went to our room put down our stuff and changed into our swimsuits. Now, where our room was, we had to go out the door, down 15 floors, into another building and down a long hallway before entering PARADISE! This "pool room" had a huge pool, an indoor lazy river with a small pool in the middle, a "cool tub' (like a hot tub but cooler temp than the pool) and a HOT tub! The kids jumped in the lazy river, Dave and I... the hot tub. I did get out and play with the kids in the lazy river some, but overall I spent my time relaxing in the heated gloriousness of the hot tub. When we finally got out, and back to our room it was around 12. Change into PJs, pop some salted caramel popcorn, and relax with the movie. JJ crashed out around 1 (missing the end of the movie) and the rest of us finished it out. Then bedtime at 1:45.
I woke up Sunday morning to the sound of my alarm going off at 9:30. I got up and did my hair and makeup before waking everyone else. We then went to Krispy Kreme for donuts and hot chocolate since it was so COLD. Then off to start our RIPLEY'S Day.
Ripley's has 5 attractions in Myrtle Beach. We did 4 of them. We started with the 5D theater... it was cute 2 movies took less than 10 minutes. While cute... not worth the price. Next was the mirror maze. In the words of Jeffrey, can you really call it a maze if there is no "fake" areas for you to get wrong and wander into? It took us 5 minutes to run it forward AND backwards. ALSO not worth the price of admission. After those 2 disappointments, we went into a few gift shops, bought little goodies for friends and family, and then went to Ripley's ODD-itorium. That took a few hours and was a LOT of fun. Super interesting. It ended in a game room where we played for about 15 minutes before walking back to the car and heading to the Aquarium.
OMG the Aquarium. Talk about FUN! We got there at 4:00, left at 7:30. We spent HOURS learning about the aquatic life and getting to interact with it! Here is where JJ's adventure begins... remember that preface? Ok here goes. JJ talked to a stranger (one of the employees running ray bay where he learned about the sting Rays. Then he TOUCHED ONE! After that we went to learn about the jelly fish where NOBODY but Dave could be talked into touching one of those! Then back to ray bay to watch the rays be fed and then get to pet them some more! Then we went through the HUGE tank where sharks and fish and rays swim around on both sides of you and over your head! AMAZING! Getting to view these creatures in ways most people will never get to see was truly worth the price to get through the doors. Then we spent some time talking to a marine biologist (Stephanie) who LOVES her job there. She talked about all of the animals like they were family! We learned so much. While Kassi, Dave and I talked to her, JJ who was feeling a little overwhelmed, stayed outside the tank (he had already walked through once) and was looking around at some other animals when he saw the same employee (John) standing by the horseshoe crab/shark interaction exhibit. Somehow, John talked JJ into doing what I had been unable to talk him into.... he pet the horseshoe crabs AND a shark!
So, all that done, and being hungry and tired, we went to cheeseburger in paradise for dinner. It was ok. Not what I remember. We left there and went back to hotel. Arrived there at 9, changed again and OFF TO THE POOL! Around 11 JJ spotted a 14 year old girl (the only one around that was his age) and went up to her and talked to her! HIGH FIVE JJ. He initiated conversation with a teenager... on his own! He even got her to go to the lazy river with him where they spent an hour floating and talking before the pool closed and we all had to go. He even exchanged phone numbers with Anna!
I am so proud of my son. He did so great this weekend! I call that a major win!! Take that Autism!
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