OBX 2012 (part 2) Beach Day!

I haven't been to the beach in YEARS. It was the summer before we got pregnant with Audrey. I went to Disney with my family and we went to Cape Canavral to see the space shuttle launch from the beach. I did nothing but sit in a chair and enjoy the sights and sounds of the beach.

Friends, going to the beach with children is so much different.

Chris and I were loaded with a huge bag, buckets & shovels, towels, an umbrella, floaties (that we never used) and 2 wiggly kids. We didn't walk too far until we settled on a spot far enough from the water but not too far from the pier.

Chris set up the umbrella and took Audrey to see the ocean while I got Abby changed into her swim suit. Audrey didn't LOVE the water, but she was ok getting her feet wet. She came back and decided it was much more her speed to sit in the sand with her shovel and bucket. Chris took Abigail out to the water and of course she LOVED it.

I blew up the small kiddie pool (a good $5 spent!) Abby only stayed in the pool for about 5 minutes, but it was nice to have something for them to splash around in (Audrey ended up shoveling sand into it, lol.)
Love this sweet face!
I took Audrey back to the water for a few minutes. She thought it was fun to let the waves chase her.

Turns out she doesn't like sand very much, either. I'm really hoping she grows out of it because we really want to go back!

I took Abby down to the water and held her hands as we waited for waved. She had the biggest smile on her face! She'd laugh when the waves crashed over her feet. Totally adorable! I wish I would've given Chris the camera :(



Kid was completely covered in sand, and also had sand in her mouth (she literally shoveled it into her mouth...ugh.) And of course I had forgotten to but the baby powder in the beach bag. We were a sweaty, sticky, sandy bunch!

After a couple of hours we'd had enough and it was nap time. We got the girls showered and Abigail had no problem falling asleep. I didn't have Audrey take a nap all week...I knew she'd fall asleep better at night if she was exhausted! So it was just "down time" for her...milk and cartoons. Chris and I alternated going to the pool. It was nice to have some quiet, by myself time to just lay out and enjoy the water. When Abigail woke up we all went to the pool for a couple hours.

We went back to the room and got ready for the evening. First we hit the outlets...I took Audrey and Chris took Abigail in the stroller. I ended up buying just a few things, including a backpack for Audrey (which is HUGE on her, BTW!) I was thisclose to buying her a little beach fedora but at the last minute she decided on a pair of shoes instead :) We went to dinner at Sugar Creek (1 minute down the road from the Oasis.) I had yummy fried shrimp. Everything was very good. There was a clown on the lower deck making balloon animals so we hung out while Audrey had a teddy bear made (I was hoping she'd ask for an alligator!) When we got back I took Audrey (and her teddy bear) for a walk. When Abby went to bed we sat out to watch for dolphins.

Next up: Day 3 at the Aquarium!

OBX 2012 (part 1)

Our first family beach trip was fantastic! I've been looking forward to it since we decided back in April to give it a try. After hours of Internet research I found a lovely little hotel right on the sound just a few minutes drive to the beach. We stayed at Oasis Suites. It was clean, the people were very friendly and helpful, and the overall experience there was incredible.

I did most of our packing/cleaning on Saturday- good thing because I was ill all day Sunday. It felt like I had the stomach flu- aches, chills, and everything :( I was thinking we'd have to delay the trip but miraculously I felt better Monday morning.

We left Monday morning after the girls woke up and made good timing (it's about a 4 hour trip and we stopped for breakfast.) The girls were very good in the car. Abby slept a little bit. I think Audrey was too excited :) We got there around 1:00 and it was little too early to check into the hotel so we drove around a bit and got some ice cream.



Ice cream makes her super silly :)

We stopped to pick up some beach towels and then headed back to the hotel. We had planned on using the pool until our room was ready but we were able to get in and unpack right away- good thing because a small storm came through as we were unpacking.



We finally did go to the pool. Audrey hung out on the stairs with her little tube and Abigail loved hanging out in her float. They also liked the kiddie pool (perfect size/depth for them!)



We went to dinner at Owen's...OMG- best food ever! I had lobster bisque (I order it every night in Maine!) and I think it was the best I'd ever had...so rich and creamy....delish! I had the crab cakes and Chris had some kind of seafood trio. He loved it...It was for sure our favorite place. The girls were very well behaved (phew!)

We got home and put Abby to bed. I was so nervous that she wouldn't be able to go to sleep in an unfamiliar place but she was wiped! Chris made me a drink and I sat out on the back deck to read and look over the sound. The view was beautiful. The owner said that dolphins often swim around right in front of the walk. I was skeptical that we'd get to see any, but sure enough, they were out almost every night. Amazing :)



Next up, beach day!

Summer!

So far summer has been UH-MAZING! Hanging out with my girls, spending time with friends and family, reading lots of books, getting things done around the house...not having anywhere to go has been such a nice change of pace.

A typical summer day consists of me waking up before the girls and having my coffee/internet/reading time. The girls are up anywhere between 7-8. We have breakfast and play until nap time (noon.) While they nap I get things done around the house (mostly I'm cleaning up the tornado of a mess they made!) I really love nap time...it's so quiet and I can just relax and read without interruptions. I swear the quickest way to get my kids' attention is to sit down and look comfortable :)

After naps (which can last anywhere from 1-3 hours) we have lunch and play all over again. They eat dinner between 6-7 while I make dinner for Chris and myself (unless he's cooking.) Since he's home so late we can't really eat all together. Abigail is in bed between 7-7:30. With her having one nap a day, she is more than ready for bed by then. Audrey stays up until 8-8:30. Usually we'll go out and sit on the front porch with a popsicle and chat. I love that time with her. She is so fun to talk to. I think it's so important to have alone time with each girl...I hope I can always manage to get that in somehow.

I stay up late reading or catching up on TV. It's not like during the school year when I go to bed right after the girls. I love the fact that I don't have an alarm to wake up to the next day. I think I'm getting less sleep but without school to constantly think about, I really do have more energy and feel well rested.

With that being said, I'm already (slightly) looking forward to getting back to a daily routine...especially with Audrey going to school! Not only that, but these girls need a break from each other! Abigail always wants to be near Audrey- she follows her around and is always going after the toys that Audrey is playing with. I know that she is just trying to be like her big sister. Unfortunately Audrey is not nearly as understanding. She freaks out and SCREAMS if Abigail is coming near something that Audrey has been working on. It's like Abigail is Godzilla. I spend a lot of time refereeing between those two!

Abigail doesn't seem to play as independently a Audrey did and I'm sure it's because Audrey didn't have anyone to follow around. When I separate them (at Audrey's request) I can usually get Abigail distracted enough to play in her room by herself and she does well for short periods of time. When we go back to school she will have Grandma (and on some days Chris) all to herself. I'm hoping she'll learn how to entertain herself better.

For now I'm enjoying every moment with the girls (even the not-so-great ones!) I heart Summer :)

Last day of dance class! I love sneaking in to watch them sleep. Totes relaxed :) See? Wherever Audrey goes, Abigail is not far behind... They made up a game where Audrey chases after Abigail and swats the ball with the fly swatter. They laugh so hard! One of the few words she says is "ball!" First night in her big girl bed...she did great! Another game they like to play... She also says "WEEEEEE!" when something is fun :) Abigail LOVES to float around in the pool. She seems completely relaxed and content to watch everyone else swim around.