As if we hadn't had enough road trips this summer, our gluttonous vacation appetites beckoned us for one final trip before fall arrived. This time our Honda Pilot was loaded up and headed to Virginia Beach.
Day 1: After driving 12.5 hours each way to IL and back a few weeks ago, this 3.5 hour journey to the shore seemed like it took no time. The kids napped part of the way, and we arrived at the Holiday Inn Express that afternoon well rested and ready to hit the beach.
When we went to Ocean City last month, Dave and I had several discussions about how we were going to tote everything plus the kids from the hotel to the beach every day. A few people had these beach carts that I pointed out might be a good option for us. At first my hubby sort of scoffed at the idea, skeptical it wouldn't work. But, after trying to think of a better solution, finally decided to buy the cart. In the end, we were SO glad we had it! It was very easy to use, and we didn't have to make several trips every time we wanted to get going.
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| Caleb and Hadley really wanted to help. |
As soon as we reached the sand, both kids went right into it, grabbing large handfuls with delight. Unlike their mother, whose always been a little finicky when it comes to sand on her, these two embraced it.
Then Hadley saw the water! There was no stopping her. Down to the surf she raced. Caleb took a few more minutes to realize what awaited and then he too started for the waves.
Hadley quickly soaked her outfit and we got her into a swimsuit so she could get down to the business of some serious fun. She had no restraint when it came to approaching the water. Over and over, she'd flop herself on the shore facing the waves and laugh as the salty surf smacked her in the face. It was like nothing you've ever seen before! We'd help her get her bearings and then right back into the sea she went. If there ever was a beach baby, Hadley Jayne is it.
I tried to catch a video but this doesn't quite do the whole scene justice:
Caleb acted a bit more like a normal kid, splashing and enjoying the sand but without throwing himself face first into it. I love his smiles in these photos!
Mom and Dave thankfully got in the water with them for the most part so I could keep up with snapping pictures. :) Dave was especially getting a work-out chasing Hadley. While I tried to slow the pace down by showing them how to write in the sand, they weren't entertained with that for long. It's a good thing we only had a couple hours to play before dinner that day because I don't think any of us had the endurance to keep up with their enthusiasm.
While we know Ocean City pretty well, we weren't familiar with VA Beach's local restaurants and ended up choosing a pizza place called Albie's we saw in one of the coupon books. We should have asked around more I guess because this place was not kid friendly, they took forever on the food, and even when we got our meals they were mediocre. Guess we'll know for next time!
About half way through our surrey journey, we stopped so the grown-ups could regain their energy. The kids were a bit frustrated that we needed a break and wanted to keep going, but the adults they were with just didn't have the stamina. (Maybe we will have to build up some endurance before the next trip.) While we waited, NaNa took Caleb down the pier so he could look at the ocean and watch the people fishing. One lady even caught a fish while they were strolling by so he got to see the whole experience.
When we got back, we found some outdoor artwork right beside our hotel that the kids enjoyed while Daddy returned the cart. This became a good source of amusement a few other days during our trip as well. Sadly, poor Caleb fell the next day while playing and scraped his knees up which did not mesh well with the saltwater and sand as you can imagine. He was a trooper though and didn't complain much.
I think Hadley's favorite part of the sand was being buried in it and then pulling her legs out. Again, I repeat, she is nothing like her mother! Even watching her do this makes me feel itchy and gross. She also enjoyed rolling in it and ate several handfuls throughout the trip, but I think she was happiest when Dave was piling sand on top of her. Sadly, this activity pretty much ruined her light colored swimsuit though; I still can't get all the sand out. I guess it's a lesson for next time, but at least she had fun!
Our firstborn also didn't mind the feel of a little sand on his skin. Several times I caught him shoveling sand into the legs of his swim shorts. How can these children be kin to me?!?!
They definitely played hard, and when it was time to nap, they napped hard too!
For dinner the second night, we had a much better experience than the night before, going to an old favorite of my mom's, Captain George's. (You can't beat a good all-you-can-eat seafood buffet!) Since, Caleb slept so long, we had to get Hadley a hot dog before we got there, but she still sat at the table with us for a long time while we ate being a good girl until I finished and took her out to run around a bit. Caleb was also very well behaved and excited to try out all the new types of seafood that NaNa was introducing him to.
In order to keep this post from getting too long, I'll fill you in on the rest of the trip in the next one. :)
While we know Ocean City pretty well, we weren't familiar with VA Beach's local restaurants and ended up choosing a pizza place called Albie's we saw in one of the coupon books. We should have asked around more I guess because this place was not kid friendly, they took forever on the food, and even when we got our meals they were mediocre. Guess we'll know for next time!
We took a stroll up the boardwalk after dinner. Unlike Ocean City's wooden one, Virginia Beach has a cement boardwalk. Dave and I really liked that there weren't souvenir shops all up and down it and that there weren't drunk teenagers/college students all over the place like there were when we went to O.C. in July. For the most part, people were dressed a lot more modestly too. It may have been the time of year that we took this trip since most teens and college kids are back to school, but we felt like this experience was much more family friendly.
Day 2: Rather than taking the kids to the beach immediately the next day, we decided to rent a family surrey and go for a ride together. This worked out great because it meant we didn't have to clean all the sand off Hadley before her morning nap, plus the kids loved it! Poor Dave was a bit wore out though since he was doing the bulk of the pedaling. Mom was having back trouble and I had a hard time staying on the seat let alone pumping the pedals with my oversized middle, so though we tried our best, Dave was the main engine keeping us going.
About half way through our surrey journey, we stopped so the grown-ups could regain their energy. The kids were a bit frustrated that we needed a break and wanted to keep going, but the adults they were with just didn't have the stamina. (Maybe we will have to build up some endurance before the next trip.) While we waited, NaNa took Caleb down the pier so he could look at the ocean and watch the people fishing. One lady even caught a fish while they were strolling by so he got to see the whole experience.
When we got back, we found some outdoor artwork right beside our hotel that the kids enjoyed while Daddy returned the cart. This became a good source of amusement a few other days during our trip as well. Sadly, poor Caleb fell the next day while playing and scraped his knees up which did not mesh well with the saltwater and sand as you can imagine. He was a trooper though and didn't complain much.
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| Don't you hate those Marilyn Monroe moments when someone has a camera. Geez! |
After our morning excursion, Hadley needed a nap so I stayed with her while Dave made a Walmart run for a few items we needed. Caleb got the good end of the deal and spent the rest of the morning on the beach with NaNa playing in the sand and loving the water.
Later, we all met up for lunch. Our hotel was right on the beach and had an outdoor eating area so it was pretty easy to just walk off the sand, grab some food, and head for the waves again.
Hadley, who hadn't been in the sand yet that day, was more than eager to get going finally! Caleb, after being recharged with an PB&J, some raspberries, and a few Goldfish crackers, was ready again too.
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| You have to have pineapple sunglasses to accessorize with your pineapple swimsuit, of course. |
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| We tried to get her to stay towards the back portion of the beach for a while because she was so hard to keep up with once she got to the water. There was no holding her back though. Salty water here she comes! |
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| Though it wasn't a popular idea to get out of the waves for a bit, she did appease us at times and spent her fair share of time in the sand too. |
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| While most preschoolers would probably be trying to build a sandcastle, Caleb kept pretending instead that the sand was birdseed and he was feeding his chickens. He said this red funnel toy that is sitting on top the cup in this picture looked like a potty, and so then the cup turned into a "seed potty." |
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| Dave and NaNa thought bringing buckets of water up to where we were sitting would keep Hadley from running back down to the shore. |
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| It worked for a little while. |
I think Hadley's favorite part of the sand was being buried in it and then pulling her legs out. Again, I repeat, she is nothing like her mother! Even watching her do this makes me feel itchy and gross. She also enjoyed rolling in it and ate several handfuls throughout the trip, but I think she was happiest when Dave was piling sand on top of her. Sadly, this activity pretty much ruined her light colored swimsuit though; I still can't get all the sand out. I guess it's a lesson for next time, but at least she had fun!
Our firstborn also didn't mind the feel of a little sand on his skin. Several times I caught him shoveling sand into the legs of his swim shorts. How can these children be kin to me?!?!
They definitely played hard, and when it was time to nap, they napped hard too!
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| Caleb was being so extra good all day that I waited way too long past his normal nap time to get him back to the room. Coupled with all the extra energy he had expelled playing so hard on the beach, he finally got to his breaking point. As a result, when I finally said it was time to go in, he had one of the biggest meltdowns ever and I had to carry him a good portion of the way back to the room flailing and crying. You can imagine the scene we created; people were definitely staring as this very pregnant lady toted her screaming kid down the boardwalk. I kept thinking I was surprised no one thought I was trying to kidnap him! Finally, he got the LONG nap he desperately needed and was back to my fun-loving, sweet boy once again. |
For dinner the second night, we had a much better experience than the night before, going to an old favorite of my mom's, Captain George's. (You can't beat a good all-you-can-eat seafood buffet!) Since, Caleb slept so long, we had to get Hadley a hot dog before we got there, but she still sat at the table with us for a long time while we ate being a good girl until I finished and took her out to run around a bit. Caleb was also very well behaved and excited to try out all the new types of seafood that NaNa was introducing him to.
In order to keep this post from getting too long, I'll fill you in on the rest of the trip in the next one. :)
