On any trip with my kids, something dramatic will happen: Within 10 minutes of arriving at the beach house, Eli fell (doing "cool tricks," of course) and hit his forehead right on the corner of a wall. How he didn't split his head wide open I'll never know, but I'll be forever grateful. I prefer not to tour every ER in the 50 states. I also prefer this to watching Elena nearly get swept out to sea. When I left Mike said, "I love you. Don't let the kids get killed." Mission accomplished
Good Intentions, also known as What the Road to Hell is Paved With: I polled you for your favorite car distractions, I spent weeks gathering things here and there to pack in their travel bags, I lovingly packed four! totes with an array of fun things to do in the car. All for my children to use the same five things over and over and ignore the rest.
For what it's worth, the only things my kids really cared about in the car were Pringles, an old Tiger Beat magazine, my phone, flarp, and a Thomas the Tank Engine doodle pad. I, on the other hand, really enjoyed the View Finder, the giant Richard Scarry book and the Miley Cyrus biography.
If you hang around long enough, the kids will forget you're there: You'll hear gems like this one, from Elena as she's getting into the hot tub: "At first it feels like ouch! And then it feels gooood." As my sister wisely pointed out, "Been there, done that."
Sleeping single in a king size bed is divine: I love my husband, and wished he could have joined us, but me and all that space? We got along real nice.
I can survive a road trip without a single stop at Starbucks: It's not that I didn't want to, it's just that my dad's car doesn't seem to have the magnetic pull to the Evil Beast like mine does. And if someone else is willing to drive me and my kids halfway across the Eastern United States? I'll gladly drink gas station coffee and keep my trap shut.
3 o'clock Happy Hour may just be the key to life: I don't know what it is about the beach that makes parenting your kids with a beer in your hand not only acceptable, but highly encouraged. I don't know the answer, but I have a feeling that kind of thing is frowned upon in the Midwest. Too bad.
My family is a blast to be around: As happy as I am to be home, I'm missing the rest of my clan. I loved watching Elena and Eli play with their cousins. I loved sitting around and laughing with my sisters (Hairy Teeter. "She's a lot of fun, I hope she doesn't die."). I loved seeing my parents walking the beach together every morning. Most of all, I loved hanging out with these two kids, sandy crevices and all.
Who knew you could learn so much at the beach?
Yeah, I have a CA king size all to myself. Can be a bit depressing at times, mocking even..would rather have to share. Glad you had a great time
Love it! There really isn’t anything better (that I’ve found) than a beach vacation!!
Geez, I think you need a helmet for Eli!
Seems like you guys had a great time! I love the family picture at the bottom!
I’m taking the kids up to MI in July (by myself) so I’ll be asking you for more tips then!
Sounds so lovely. Especially the part about having a drink at 3pm.
3 Things I want to tell you about this post:
1: This is the best blog title I have read in a long time.
2. That is a beautiful picture of you and your kiddos.
3. Miley Cyrus cannot possibly have a full-length biography. You made that part up, right?
I wish I was making that part up, but its very real. You know its bad when even the 7-year-old who adores Miley gives up on it after 50 pages (also known as when Miley Goes To Middle School).
Dude. I’m completely with you on every part EXCEPT the Starbucks part. I think I’d rather be water-boarded than drink gas station coffee. (But I still love you more than my luggage…)
Glad to hear vacation was great! We’re headed to the beach today for a day trip. I’m preparing myself for a day of “I’ve got sand in my butttttttt” by putting beer in the cooler now.”
awwwwww. Yes, a GREAT picture of the three of you. Your vacation sounded a lot like mine….. We also enjoyed the daily 3:00 happy hour as well as beer with lunch at 12. And Grant suffered a huge strawberry on his head after a wave crushed him into the sand on the second day.
Were we at the beach the same week? We were supposed to go to Gulf Shores, but then there was this little ol oil spill . . .
Yes, we seemed to have parallel experiences. Are you having beach withdrawal, too? Thats the hard part about going on vacation right at the beginning of summer.
I used to laugh at the kneepads and padded helmets for babies and toddlers in the One Step Ahead catalog. Now Im reconsidering . . .