Life's A Beach

Every year as I am packing for the beach, I swear it will be the last time we go.  It is truly a labor of love to pack everything that we need for 1 week at the beach.  I could travel around the world for a year with less than I packed for 7 days in New Jersey.

It’s not just the clothes (warm ones and cold ones), and the swimsuits (with extras so you don’t have to wear them wet), and the jackets & sweatshirts X 6, it is also the beach toys, and the beach chairs, and the beach tent, and the beach umbrella, and the wonderwheeler to get all the Beach *%#*# to the beach, and the coolers to transport our lunch, and the 10 bottles of sun tan lotion, and hats & sunglassses for everyone, and the flip flops to walk to the beach, and ...

our plot of sand for the day

Then there is also the food that I pack for the week (which still doesn’t stop me from having to go to the grocery store at least 3 times while on vacation), the laundry detergent (I do appreciate coming home with clean clothes, but doing laundry on vacation feels like ... oh yeah, NOT vacation!), the paper goods, oh, the linens for all the beds and the books, games, DVDs, & electronic toys for the kids (OK, for me too – I don’t travel without my nook and my mac!!).  So, every year while I am gathering this behomoth pile of stuff I think, “never again”.

But then we get to the beach, and get unpacked and this happens …. 

In one moment it all becomes worth it...my kids actually seem to like each other on vacation:

Ethan photo bombing my shot!

crazy dancing on the deck

We have settled into a comfortable routine for our yearly treks to the beach.  I still remember playing mini-golf, walking on the boardwalk, and renting bicycles when I vacationed at OCNJ as a child, and I am so happy I can continue the same traditions each year with my own family.

hole in one ... really!!

Taffy Sherpa ... this too happens every year!!

Visiting with our friends from church

We (well, I) also try every year to get that quintessential family shot (well, "family" minus the parents -- it's all I can do to get the kids the cooperate, let alone trying to use a self-timer!!).

We were lucky that my parents could join us for a few days -- so they were subjected to posing for some family shots as well!!

We do actually go to the beach as well (much to Joy's chagrin!!) 

mmmm ... a "beach"-L-T

God help me ... I'm not ready for the teen years!

Charlie & Mama's tunnel

Charlie & Mama's canal 

Shadow Dancing

nothing is better than lunch on the beach

Hannah's BFF and her family joined us on the beach ... playmates for everyone!!

We had a great week of family bonding that all too soon had us (well, by "us" -- you get the idea) packing the car and re-entering into the "Charlie-threw-his-shoe-at-me" car ride zone.  Thankfully we had some wonderful memories to help calm our breathing while refereeing the "he said/she said..." drama on the way home.

So, even though we just got home from our beach vacation this year, I am already dreaming about next year's trip.

Hip, Hip, Hooray for OCNJ 2014!!

Now, no more "Mom-a-razzi"!!