I just got back from an awesome week long summer vacation with the family. We all survived another long road trip. The kiddies were great in the car. I really think they are little pros at this point. They completely get it. Bean even shouts out “Cracker Barrel!” when he needs a break. He knows that is where we stop to change the diapers and stretch our legs (and rock on those old fashioned rocking chairs for a few minutes). The car DVD player is still very important to our sanity, as are all the books and the giant tote bag of snacks.
Our first stop was Maryland for my niece Kate’s 3rd Birthday Princess Party Extravaganza. My sister and brother-in-law really did it up right. There was a sandbox scavenger hunt, water balloons, pool fun, and a piñata. Plus lots of juice boxes and a big gorgeous, yummy cake. Oh, and the key ingredient: beer for the adults.
Daniel and Annabel were in heaven. They love their cousins and we don’t see them very often. It was a blast to watch them all run around and play. The following day was Baby Luke’s Baptism. My husband and I are his Godparents. Annabel spent most of the ceremony outside with Grandpa, but Bean was just amazing. He stood on the church pew kneeler and watched, completely mesmerized with the entire thing.
Then we were off to Myrtle Beach for FOUR WHOLE NIGHTS. I say that really LOUDLY because it was SO NICE to just stay in one place and not have to pack up everything up and move it into a car again for FOUR WHOLE NIGHTS.
Our days were spent at the beach and the resort’s “indoor water park” which was a lazy river pool that had some water slides. It also had a really cool baby pool with sprinklers. Daniel LOVED the beach and the sand. He played in the waves with his Daddy and built sandcastles. Annabel would hang out with me and lounge in the chair. She really is a “Mini Mama.”
We would try a new restaurant each night. Annabel is still in the “picky eater” stage mixed with the “sudden urge to scream at the top of her lungs for no apparent reason” stage. So going out to dinner is sometimes a little…challenging. But we found the perfect place: Joe’s Crab Shack. My kiddies love crab, and corn on the cob is their favorite vegetable. We ordered sides of corn on the cob as appetizers for the two of them. Plus with the crabs and some Mac & Cheese and the waiters singing and dancing around, both kiddies were happy…and quiet. That meant Mama and Daddy could enjoy our meal and have a conversation too! (So we went there two nights in a row, of course.)
The final night we strolled around Broadway at the Beach and bought some souvenirs. We also took Daniel and Annabel on their very first Carousel ride. Bean also went on this really (kinda) scary looking car ride, but he loved it.
I was also able to enjoy some quiet moments with a book on the beach when the kiddies were napping and Daddy was relaxing with them in the room. As a mom, I completely understand the rejuvenation power of just an HOUR of alone time. Add in the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves and it was perfect.
