Beach 2010- Part One

Four days down, Four days to go so far on our beach trip this year. I'm sitting in the lovely lobby staring out at the ocean with the scent of coffee wafting from the ice cream/coffee shop in here and getting on my computer for the first time since I've been here. I haven't missed it either. :) I've been a bit of a slacker on the picture taking (I know, what else is new?) but I've been busy doing things like playing in the waves, swimming in the lazy river, and eating insane amounts of crab legs.

Day 1: We arrived at the beach around 4:00 after a drive that went by REALLY fast this year. It was 6ish hours but the boys were angels and there wasn't any traffic. YAY! We got to the lovely Sea Watch Resort which we loooove. We stayed here last year as well. We checked in, unpacked a little, and got out to the beach as quickly as possible.

He loved the sand.

Jackson tried to fight the waves.

Both Chase and Jackson absolutely adored the beach. It was so nice to discover that they are both at the age where they are completely fascinated and entertained by the sand and the waves. Chase sat contentedly with his bucket and shovel for the longest time digging in the sand. Jackson ran in and out of the waves like a wild man.
We switched over to the lazy river for awhile and eventually headed upstairs to eat dinner (PIZZA!). We were all pretty exhausted and I went to bed not much later than the little guys that night.
Day 2: This was Debbie (my mother in law)'s birthday! We ate a yummy breakfast and I spent some alone time with my coffee out on our balcony with this view:

Then we got the boys ready and headed out for a long day of the pool and the beach.

Boogie boarding (ish). 

Busy boys.

Coming back from swimming in the waves.

SUCH a smiley boy.

It's been wicked hot in Virginia the last few weeks so I kind of expected the beach to be hotter (given it's closer proximity to the equator and higher humidity levels). The weather has been gorgeous though. It's been sunny, breezy, and perfect. After Alan and I put the boys down for a nap I went back out and read for an hour until an older gentleman tapped me on my shoulder.
"Uh, ma'am. There is a giant storm headed this way. You really might want to head inside." I looked behind me to see that the sky had turned into a giant, almost black wall and looked around to see that there was no longer anyone in the ocean. I hurried inside and then sat outside on the deck as an epic storm came in. I love storms at the ocean.

Epic storm. The whole beach cleared out so you know it was epic. I also apparently love the word epic.

That night we went to an AMAZING seafood restaurant for Debbie's birthday. It was very elegant and VERY delicious. Jackson thought he had died and gone to heaven when he saw the dessert selection. Chase out ate all of us...as usual.
Day 3: We did the usual. Breakfast, beach, pool, lunch on the beach, more pool, nap time. Interesting fact about vacationing with two young children- it's not so relaxing. Last year was actually more difficult in a lot of ways because Chase was only 6 weeks old and had to be fed every few hours. He still would like us to believe that's the case, but it's not. He also was up at 6:00 most mornings but then would go back to bed for a couple hours. The boys are usually awake by 7:00 which means we are too. Our days of sleeping in on vacation are over for awhile which I don't mind so much. Something about waking up to the ocean and an impending day of fun makes it okay. Alan is less than okay with it. 

Alan's morning face.

Then the day consists of chasing two very active children in and out of the ocean. It's not relaxing in the way vacations were when it was just Alan and I and we'd sit on the beach in our beach chairs reading with our feet in the water drinking Pina Colodas. However, it is relaxing in other ways. It's so nice to know that a housekeeper is going to do all the cleaning for me, so awesome to not have to plan out and cook healthy meals, and most of all, I love that our main goal every day is to have FUN together as a family. There are so many smiles and so much laughter through out the day. 

Pool time

Jackson loved the waves...unless they knocked him over at which point he'd yell at them and kick them.

I walked to the Pier and back during their nap which was fun. It's so interesting to people watch at the beach. Such an interesting mix of people. That night we had a relaxing night in followed by a night swim and ice cream. 
Day 4: Today began with the hotel breakfast buffet. OH MY GOSH. Chefs made omelets and Belgium waffles, sausage, bacon, fresh fruit, yummy coffee, and everything else you can think of that a good breakfast consists of. Then it was off to the BEACH. Today Jackson finally got brave and went into the waves with Alan and I. We went pretty deep and spent a long time jumping over waves. That's one of my favorite parts of the beach even though every other thought is questioning how long until a shark bites me. The boys are napping and we're off to dinner and Putt-putt after nap time. 
This may sound cheesy, but I have gone to sleep smiling every night since we've been here and...(Becky, you'll appreciate this) the Taylor Swift song "Today Was a Fairytale" plays in my head. I can't help it! It does. The ocean is a peaceful place for me. Despite the people and the music and the other distractions, the sound of the ocean drowns out everything else and it's so soothing. The evening walks on the beach when the crowds have cleared out and the sky has taken on a golden hue and it reflects in the sand and the waves is my  very favorite time of the day here. 

Alan, Chase, and Jackson on our night walk. 

Alan and Jackson striking their "manly pose"despite the sling Alan's wearing. Chasey holding on for dear life.

 

Snuggly, sweet Chase.

..The night of day 4 after the boys were in bed, Alan and I went out and got drinks from the Tiki bar and sat on the beach watching the ocean and some beautiful lightning that was sort of a reddish color behind the clouds. We talked about the vacation and how grateful we were that we have in-laws who are so generous and give us the opportunity to take a vacation that we wouldn't have had otherwise. We know it's a blessing a lot of people don't have and don't take it for granted at all. It was fun spending some alone time with Alan. That's rare these days.

Jackson took this pic of us. I love my husband a lot.