Beach Vacation 2013

Packed up and ready to go!

This year we were able to go to the beach for a week.This time we stayed a little closer and it was a good decision. We were able to run home for anything we forgot and with a potty training 2 year old, the closer the bathroom, the better.  It was nice that Hubby was able to work this in with his new work schedule. He was a little worried that with his current rotation he wouldn't be able to join. Fortunately that wasn't the case and he was able to join us.  The kids had a blast and the weather was great.  I loved living near the board walk that week. It meant that it would be easier to get home in the dark after we indulged in our nightly soft serve.  Last year we had to cross a busy highway to get back to our place and since there weren't any sidewalks it made Hubby and I nervous every time we made our way home in the dark with the kids.  My dad was able to join us this year and that was a lot of fun. He and I were able to get in a few training runs for our upcoming half marathon. There is nothing like a week without obligations. We enjoyed the sun, surf, sand, relaxation, and ice cream.

Picture with author/illustrator Brian Biggs 

We had a few highlights of our vacation. The first one being able to spend some time with my dad. We also were able to visit with friends who had a house at the beach. They joined us one night on the beach and one night we joined them for dinner in their home. It was a fun night filled with good food and conversation and playing games.  This year the beach had a movie on the beach and we met up with a family from our church who were also spending time at the beach. The beach movie was cute and it was fun to hang out a little late, eat popcorn, and enjoy a good family movie. We saw "Surf's Up" and I truly enjoyed the animated movie about penguin surfers.  One night as I was walking Mr. Bananas around the board walk we happened to stop at the book store where an children's author/illustrator was doing a book signing. We chatted with him and bought some books for him to sign. The store manager asked if she could take a picture with our kids and the author/illustrator Brian Biggs. Their picture is now hanging up in the local beach book store.  We went back the next day for a read aloud with Mr. Biggs. The boys were still sleeping, but Buggy and I dodged rain drops and puddles and enjoyed a pleasant morning in the bookstore.  If you get a chance check out his books. He does a series called "Everything Goes."  We bought his Everything Goes In the Air and he signed the book for us.  We hope to see him again next year!

Hubby and I enjoyed a relaxing vacation with our kiddos and we all wanted it to last a little longer. But duty calls and Hubby went back to work and we had to prepare for the new school year.  It was great while it lasted and we hope to plan another beach vacation next summer.

Mommy and Mr. Bananas

Buggy's annual burial

Lolo and Buggy checking out the waves

Nightly ritual of good night prayers, singing, and bedtime stories

Lolo and the grandkids

My Loves!

Annual beach farewell photo

A Week at the Beach

My 3 Loves Enjoying the Beach

Earlier this month we rented a small townhouse at the beach. It was our first time doing this and we wondered how it would go.  We invited my parents to join us because I thought they would really enjoy the week with their grandkids as they have in the past, but they were unable to make it.

Due to a snafu in our directions it took us a whopping 6 hours portal to portal. Ugh!  The trip really shouldn't have taken more than 4 hours, but you know. Fortunately, it did not put a damper on our plans.  The kids were excited and so were we.

Mr. Bananas on the beach for the first time

After arriving at our townhouse, we unpacked, let the kids choose their beds, had dinner, and we decided to walk to the beach for a quick look and then search for ice cream.  It was the very first time Mr. Bananas has ever been to the beach. It was neat to see his face as his little toes touched sand for the first time.  Boogie loved it and couldn't wait to race into the water. It was torture for him not to go into the water. We wouldn't let him because he wasn't wearing his swimsuit.

After a walk around the beach we quickly found ice cream and dug in. Nothing like a soft serve cone with sprinkles at the beach. Yum!

We spent the rest of our vacation on the following schedule:  wake up, breakfast, pack for the beach, go to the beach, picnic at the beach, walk home and straight to the community pool (0.4 miles and across a busy but easily crossable highway), swim for a 30 minutes, walk across the parking lot to our home, baths, naps, wake up for dinner, eat dinner, head out to the boardwalk, eat ice cream (I think we hit every ice cream joint on the boardwalk during our one week stay), walk home, put the kids to bed, Hubby and I watch the Olympics, head to bed, and repeat.  It was fabulous!

During our vacation I was able to catch up with a dear friend whom I haven't seen in months.  It was nice to see her and to catch up. It was nice that we were at the beach at the same time and I'm grateful she was able to meet us on the beach for a day.

Checking out Epito's ipad

We were also able to spend time with the beloved Epitos. Our friends from our church also have a home at the beach and we rented a home just a few miles from them.  We saw each other 3 or 4 times during our vacation and the kids enjoyed spending time with them. We spent an entire day at their beautiful home enjoying brunch, a walk around the neighborhood, and playing games. Boogie and Epita enjoyed a rousing game of Battleship and we found out that Boogie cheats. It was humorous.  He would bend down pretending to pick something up off the floor, sidle over and glance at Epita's board. She was very good natured about it.

Boogie and Epita playing Battleship

The kids loved spending time with the Epitos and we were very fortunate to see them once again at the beach the next day. On our final day at the beach, they spoiled us and provided lunch so that we wouldn't have to stop on the way home.  We also came home to find that my mom very graciously organized the kitchen, dining room, family room, front hall, and library. I really, really need to acquire those skills!

We brought home two pets: Goldie and Key Lime. The kids were thrilled with their new hermit crabs, but within a week poor Key Lime decided to leave this world.  I think it had to do with how excitedly Buggy shook her when she showed Key Lime to her friends.  Oops!

The kiddos enjoying some downtime at the townhouse.

We had fun and made memories. This is what I love about being a full-time Mom and wife to my family. I was able to focus on them and enjoy every single moment. All in all, it was a pretty fabulous vacation and hope to do it again next year with my favorite people!

Mr. B and Daddy

Feeling the sand between his toes.

Chilling at the townhouse

Boogie reading his new animal book at the townhouse.

Mr. B. checking out the sand for the first time.

Checking out the beach in the sunshine

Beach Babe

Boogie very rarely joined us on the sand. He was on the go and loved the beach!

How every trip to the beach should end!