Little Personalities: Beach Bums

We headed out last Sunday after church to the BEACH!

Our first solo week-long family vacation :)

Surf Board and Guitar- check

A packed out van- check

Two sweet sleeping kiddos- YES!

We hit the beach as soon as we got there and got our bags in!

We borrowed the life vests from the river house so that we'd feel better about the kids actually going in. It turns out they could only get in Sunday and Monday b/c a tropical depression was out in the ocean causing "dangerous shore break and rip currents" the rest of the time.

Holly was with us for the week (woohoo!) so she and I took one and Mike took the other.

It was perfect. The kids LOVED it!

our little camp... tho we never really spent any time sitting there, as you can imagine, with two bambinos on our hands ;)

The kids were MOST excited that the house had bunk beds. Lily couldn't stop talking about it the first day. Thankfully, there were 2 sets so they each got a bottom bunk. We told them they couldn't bunk on top til they were at least 10 and 12 (maybe not that long, but one of my kids has a reason not to sleep on top... well, that and a broken arm and surgery from falling off a bed). ;)

But they did thoroughly enjoy sharing a room... tempts me for home.

As you know, we have an early riser in the family. So here was an art session our first morning there. I have to say (as I have before) that Peter has come SO FAR in his interest and ability in coloring/fine motor. And it never grows old to be thankful for that progress. Mike and I appreciated it over and over during the week. He seriously colored the entire coloring book last week that Aunt Emily had given him for his 2nd, maybe 3rd birthday (that he'd barely touched before)!!

Its easier to wake up for sunrise when you know you'll have a view like that!

And it was fun to have coffee with Holly each morning before work for the rest of the week.

{such a picture of Peter's life... ;) }

showing Woody the sunrise

soooo nice to see this all week!

We were thrilled to have Holly with us the whole first day since it was a holiday.

We had sausage for breakfast and thought of Alvin.

The kids enjoyed each other (look at Lily's smile)

One afternoon we went to ride bumper cars (we really wanted go-carts but this was the closest thing). We had to, esp since the kids' story is about that each night. The kids loved it.

Each day after lunch we had popsicles on the deck

(tho Lily is eating yogurt this day... and making SILLY FACES!)

It rained only two afternoons... Mike showing Lily the rain.

Mike couldn't be outdone by Uncle John. So he painted Lily's fingers and toes while we were there.

The kids would say their favorite part of "our new house" as they called it (we can dream!) was the POOL.

We splurged a little to have one since it was off-seasons rates. And it was so worth it!

We didn't break out their floats til half way through the week. Before that, they were swimming, swimming and looking like little water bugs. But after we broke them out, there was no going back.

Don't look too closely at Peter's lower half.

My handsome, hot wannabesurferdude husband. :)

Kathy and Ski spoiled us and came down for the day at the end of the week. We thought we were trying to get them to enjoy our beach house but really they just babysat our kids for us all day!